By Reid Laymance, Globe Staff, 4/16/2003

cyclist will help Marla Runyan navigate the Boston Marathon course, race officials confirmed yesterday.

Runyan, the top-ranked American marathoner, is legally blind. Along the course race officials also will give her notice of fluid stations or any potential road hazards.

Starting at about the 1-mile mark, an official on a nonmotorized bicycle will follow Runyan to provide information on the course and position of other runners.

The amount of detail that Runyan will receive will be limited to those competitors in her immediate vicinity and those participants who are easily visible to her competition.

Runyan is the leading American in the field for Monday's race.

This story ran on page F9 of the Boston Globe on 4/16/2003.
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