When the Pittsburgh Marathon kicks off on May 5, Point Park volleyball coach Mike Bruno will stand out from the crowd as he runs the race blindfolded to raise money for vision research.“I took a few steps on the Montour Trail with my eyes closed,” said Bruno last Thursday at Smithfield Deli. “I believe it first was 15 and then went to 20. After a 20 year hiatus from running, I couldn’t believe how trendy running’s become and how many people are doing it for charity. I combined all of these ideas and said to do it for charity and do it blindfolded, and I think the amount of awareness raised and fundraising for the charity, we can knock it out of the park.”Running blindfolded is difficult and Bruno knew that he needed a sighted guide to help him, and he looked to Point Park cross country head coach Jim Irvin for help.“Vision is our primary sense,” Bruno said. “I just got done running three miles before work, and I sent Jim Irvin a text asking him if he would be interested in becoming my sighted guide. Two minutes later, I believe his response was absolutely, and it manifested into something beyond my dreams.”Upon agreeing the two spent 200-400 hours running. Both have their challenges as they have to run 26.2 miles with Bruno blindfolded and Irvin having to guide, something he had to adjust to.“That was probably the hardest part,” said Irvin in a phone interview Monday. “He is totally depending on me. Until we ran our first time with him blindfolded, I didn’t understand the responsibility of having to get him across the line as well.”Something else Irvin did not expect was the amount of support in donations Bruno received.“It’s usually a few people that fundraise, and they may get $500, but I think we just cleared $14,000 as of yesterday,” Irvin said.Bruno feels that despite both his and Irvin’s efforts, it is his wife Jennifer who is the “real hero.”“The magnitude of everything has done my wife wonders,” Bruno said. “She has a great burden of being the mother of a special needs child and has been supportive throughout the whole process while holding the family together.”Despite all of Bruno’s efforts, there was a point where he thought he might be finished. A couple of weeks ago, he suffered a class one calf strain and thought that it was the end of the road. Still, Bruno battled through “extensive rehab” and changes in diet to recover.Further complicating things are the recent events in Boston during the Marathon that will add extra measures in security.“We’re going to be securing runner only areas and security and spectator areas,” said Pittsburgh Marathon Executive Director Patrice Matamoros in a phone interview Monday. “The runner only areas will be at the starting line and will be only accessible to runners after they drop their bag off at gear check. Only runners with numbers will be allowed in those areas. The finish line will be just like it was in the past.”Matamoros also said that the police force at the event will be heavier although an official number will not be given until a meeting later in the week.Despite this, Bruno is ready to move forward.“The incident in Boston strengthens my love for my family and increases my desire to succeed,” Bruno said. “I am concentrating on the good and positive impact of this. Honestly, I am more worried about the potholes.”Bruno knows when he hits a rough patch or the nerves become too much during the race, he will think of his supporters and the money they have contributed so far to VRRF.“Mike and his entire family have been the most amazing family I’ve encountered in supporting everything for Cassie and for us in terms of finding cures for retinal disease in children,” said Paula Korelitz of VRRF. “He’s just been spectacular.”When he finishes, Bruno knows exactly what he wants to see the first time he takes his blindfold off.“My hopes are that the first thing I see when I take my blindfold off is my family,” Bruno said. “I think it’s going to be very emotional because of how near and dear this cause is to my heart.”While preparing for the marathon, Bruno noticed that it has changed the way he sees things.“I wake up in the morning with a greater purpose and a passion beyond comprehension,” Bruno said.