Olympic runner reveals terrifying moment she lost her VISION during Valencia Marathon: ‘Lights fully went out’

Eloise Wellings talks about the terrifying moment she lost her sight during a race in Spain.

Marathon runner Wellings, 41, crossed the line 26th overall at the Valencia Marathon on Saturday, with an Olympic qualifying time of 2:25.47, her second best performance.

She finished about two minutes behind her compatriot Genevieve Gregson, who finished eighth in 2:23.08.

But it was a frightening moment mid-race that left Wellings in a reflective mood after the race. She was 2:23 on track before she started losing her vision.

In a lengthy post on social media, Wellings said: 'Yesterday was something different.

Eloise Wellings lost her sight last weekend during the Valencia marathon

“Ninety-five percent of them were some of the best micro-moments of my running days so far. I've never laughed so much during a marathon and the things I loved about this race have me excited to show up again.

“Yesterday I once again revealed the things I love about this sport… and also one of the things that kinda sucks: marathons are a game of margins.

'The less-than-ideal five percent included a hypo-episode of blurred vision that started 23 miles away.

'I lost valuable time over the next three kilometers trying to control the blur until the lights went out completely at 41km, stopping, hanging over the barricade with only 900 meters to run. I had a seemingly incoherent conversation with a Spanish man (which I have no memory of lol) and then set off again in what I hoped was the general direction of the finish line.

'In the last five kilometers I lost a few minutes because I missed the 28 km water station. Margins.'

The mother-of-two is still hungry for more racing despite her ordeal in Spain.

“So here I am, lying in bed at 3am and Googling marathons in early 2024… because that dream day is just a margin away,” she continued.

'Mad love and respect for our three other Australian women in the race. What does that say… 'A rising tide floats all boats'. There has never been more accuracy in running the women's marathon in our country and it is a privilege to stand alongside all of you.”

Wellings, 41, has represented Australia numerous times and plans to continue racing

Wellings represented Australia at the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games, as well as the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Fellow countryman Gregson commented on the message: 'Oh man. Our dreams collided so perfectly step by step out there.

“It was my favorite stretch when we had a few words and decided to go for it.

“I'll be here to help you chase that marathon dream. It's right there within reach.

'Love you. Thank you for being my role model twenty years ago, and even more so today.”