‘The struggle is real’. But what struggle? The marathon – of course, it’s not easy or else everyone would do it (allegedly). Running? Yes… but perhaps not as you might think. Sure, running itself is as easy – or as hard – as the person doing it wants it to be. I know some amazing folks who comfortably – comfortably – complete the 26.2 miles of a marathon in 2 hours 20 minutes. That’s amazing running. I will never be one of those folks, they are very few and far between, and train hard to maintain such incredible standards.
In that first paragraph, the key to ‘the struggle’ are present. Running. Training. Doing it. Runners need to train, to be able to… run. To be able to race, runners need to train. To run a 5k, a 10k, a half marathon, a marathon, an ultra marathon (coming this way soon), ALL runners need to practice. For a visually impaired/blind runner, that raises extra challenges. Unless the VI runner is supremely confident (or incredibly daft), running alone is a non-starter. We need guide runners, folks who will run alongside us to help us avoid and manage the many things that may cause us problems or potential injury. Think about it – if you were to close your eyes and try to go to your kitchen, go to the fridge, find something you really like, make a snack, return to where you started. Easy? Try it.
Now you have returned from your interesting, unsighted journey to and from the kitchen (did you REALLY try it? Did you keep your eyes closed, properly, all the way?) what did you think of the experience? Scary? Now imagine doing that without the option of opening your eyes and ‘cheating’ on a 24 hours a day basis. That’s life for VI folks – many of us have some residual vision (approx 5% of folk classified as ‘severely visually impaired’ or blind have no vision), but that varies, often dependent on circumstances such as lighting, alongside the cause of our sight loss and it’s symptoms. Let’s take it a step further – literally. Let’s go outside, eyes closed, and run. Scared? Think you could do that alone – but you HAVE to keep your eyes closed, constantly.
For those of us with sight loss, a guide runner is our ONLY way to be able to go out and run. Without a willing volunteer, we cannot do it. Sure, there are the good old treadmills (also known to runners as the ‘dreadmill’). I promise you, running on a treadmill is NOTHING like going out for a run. No fresh air, the feel underfoot is very artificial and VERY different to ‘real’ running – and incredibly hard on the mind. Train as much as you want to on a treadmill, it is nothing like running outside and will not adequately prepare a runner for running outdoors. Runners will understand what I mean, especially those who have ‘enjoyed’ the dreadmill.
So. Guide Runners. Essential to visually impaired/blind runners. I am lucky, I know there are numerous kind folks who will join me for a race as a guide runner, and I am very grateful to them. My good friends Peter and Sharon Lock, fairly recent devotees to the running thing (and firmly addicted) are also severely visually impaired, both registered blind. Peter, like me, runs with a short tether to our guide runner. Sharon is much more confident, being verbally guided when she runs (and she runs fast, the wee rascal. Do not allow Sharon to get in front of you. Ever.). The three of us regularly attend Carrickfergus parkrun, where we are blessed to have a small pool of volunteer guide runners, willing to run with us over the twisty 5k course. Away from there, we have a common problem… who do we run with to train? Here begins the struggle.
Guide running. Lots think it’s hard work, it’s difficult, it’s too much of a responsibility. Is it though? Several of my friends have given guide running a go, an impromptu opportunity to step in and help a friend. So very grateful to those lovely people. Sometimes though, the opportunity to run has been denied us, because there simply is no-one able or willing to guide run. Training simply does not happen. The disappointment is very real. It’s a real nightmare when one is trying to train for a race. I am blessed that I have a lovely running partner who runs with me during the week (step up, Deirdre) as well as a pool of folks at my club who help me to train. Peter and Sharon though, have no-one outside of parkrun. That means one 5k run each Saturday. Both are intending to run Belfast Half Marathon in September – Sharon’s first half. But how to train on a single weekly 5k?
Deirdre and I met through a very useful website, guiderunning.uk, where visually impaired runners and potential guides can find each other. A simple yet effective concept that really works – I have a terrific running partner, who helps me run a different route each week on roads and trails, and is even willing to run challenging races with me (the very tough Cavehill 5 mile in Belfast, and the upcoming Causeway Coast half marathon). My intention has always been to inspire, encourage and support more visually impaired/blind runners to run. With the support of a number of people, not least Peter Lock, that is happening. Trouble is, we need guide runners to train with.
There are training courses available to teach people how to guide run – Athletics NI and Sport Britain both have courses available, however the former is infrequent and only open to licensed coaches, the latter has a financial cost to candidates. How then to encourage more guide runners, trained and suitably confident, willing and able to run with visually impaired/blind runners, on a regular basis? The struggle is very real.
Could YOU be a guide runner? Would you be a guide runner for a visually impaired runner to train with? It’s surprisingly fun – you have a running partner, someone to chat with (and those who have run as a guide for the first time often say the run has passed quickly and enjoyably). One of our regular guides at parkrun tells us she finds running without us strangely odd. Here in Northern Ireland, we put out a ‘feeler’ some time ago to find out if there is sufficient demand for a guide running training course, open to all. Over 60 people responded within the first 24 hours, from all over NI, expressing very real interest in being trained. It’s good to be able to say that we are in the planning stages of an open guide runner training series, open to any runner here in Northern Ireland. We hope to present the first sessions this summer.
Could YOU – would you – be a guide runner? Could YOU help a visually impaired runner train, hopefully on a regular basis? Go to guiderunning.uk and register for free, or if you are in Northern Ireland email guiding@runningblind.org.uk. A Facebook page will shortly be opening for the guide runner training in NI, a link will be posted here as soon as it is open.
Guide running… it’s not hard. It’s fun. It’s empowering. It’s very much welcomed, and very much needed.
Thanks for reading. BIG thank you to those lovely folk who already guide run (named or un-named in this blog).
Running blind... the musings of an old, blind runner 