Blind guided running

[carreauchompeur]

One of my mates at the rowing club is blind. This may well be a drunken resolution we'll both regret but have started thinking about running with me as a guide, maybe even trying a 10k eventually...

Anyone done this? Any tips?

[anonymous-user]

speak to the guide dogs events team, i am on their list as a guide runner but havent been asked to run yet as there are no matches regarding my distance and pace yet but they gave me a pdf of some hints and tips (whihch i have subsequently lost!)

[carreauchompeur]

Thanks, will have a look. Neither of us have mentioned it since so it may be one of those drunken resolutions best forgotten

[CarCluster]

As well as making sure that you are compatible in terms of training standards, the assister should be the better runner in terms of pace and stamina, you should think carefully about the logistics of any race you enter. For the first time you may want to look at a race with a smallish field (less chance of accidents in masses of runners) as well as the course being open and perhaps not too many turns. Being on the flat rather than a cross-country course will obviously help. As you get more experienced as working as a team you can then move onto to more challenging races (in all aspects). Remember that your training will include not only fitness training but also training running together as a team; with the efficient communication that will be needed.

[BlackVanDyke]

I play boccia, another sport where (in my classification) it's an assistant-assistee team. I don't think I have anything helpful to offer other than to say that if you do ever do it, make bloody sure you don't get your partner disqualified/penaltied for some minor mistake YOU make. I won a match yesterday due to someone doing just that!

If you're both still up for it, go for it. There's something awesome about that sort of team sport.