Guide Dogs Help Blind Man to Historic Finish at NY City Half Marathon

Thomas Panek is the CEO of New York-based Guiding Eyes for the Blind, an organization that trains guide dogs, and he put some to the ultimate test when they helped him become the first blind person to finish the United Airlines Half Marathon in New York City on Sunday

Three highly-trained running guide dogs, Waffle, Westley and Gus, aided Panek as he ran the 13-mile race through New York City. All three are Labrador Retrievers and Gus -- who paced Panek for the final 5K of the race -- was the first running guide dog ever to complete a New York Road Runners event.

"It's a long race, but dogs are running creatures and they love to move and run," Panek told local ABC station WABC-TV  ahead of the race. "A lot of times, when we're walking our dogs, we are holding them back. They want to get out and have fun, and they love it."

Panek ran the half marathon to raise money for blind athletes to be able to get service dogs that can both guide them and run with them.

He added that the dogs help him to navigate curbs, other runners and potholes.