PHOTOS: Blind Half Marathon Runner Makes History With Guide Dogs

NEW YORK, NY — The CEO of an organization that provides trained guide dogs to blind people made history this weekend by running the New York City Half Marathon with the help of three guide dogs.

Thomas Panek — who is blind — became the first person to run the 13.1-mile race from Brooklyn's Prospect Park to Central Park with the aid of dogs as opposed to another human, according to Panek's nonprofit Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Three labs — Westley, Waffle and Gus — aided Panek during separate legs of the race.

Veterinarians and volunteers with Guiding Eyes for the Blind monitored the dogs' conditions during the trek, according to the group. Westley ran the first five miles of the race, Waffle took the next five miles and Gus anchored the final 3-mile stretch and crossed the finish line with Panek.

Check out photos of the race below:

All photos courtesy Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Guiding Eyes For The Blind