November 17th 2024.
I had the pleasure of meeting some other visually impaired individuals who also participate in parkrun. It was quite a coincidence when the running guide, who was guiding me and my husband Alan, realized we were a couple. She was immediately enthusiastic about us all running together.
I couldn't help but snort at the idea. I demanded that Alan stay far away from me during the run. I was afraid he would slow me down and throw off my rhythm. It may not have been the nicest thing for a wife to say about her husband, but the truth is, we never run together. It's just better that way.
If we did, we would definitely get in each other's way and probably cause an accident. After all, we are both visually impaired and we are also very competitive. We love to tease each other about who is faster. Whenever I happen to be ahead of Alan during a run, he always makes it his goal to beat me. But I have to say, on average, I am faster for my age. So at least in that aspect, I always have him beat.
I have been visually impaired since birth. I am only able to see the top letter on an eye chart. When the sun is out, my vision is even worse. So throughout my life, there have been certain activities that I simply cannot do, like driving or cycling alone. Even group classes can be challenging for me to follow.
Finding a sport that I enjoyed was just another hurdle. Swimming has always been something I could do independently, without any assistance or concerns. I love the tranquility of being in the water and it's a great full-body workout that I can do on my own terms.
Despite my previous aversion to running, I wanted to give it a try. And it wasn't until I turned 45 and took up tennis that I finally started to enjoy outdoor activities.
For those with no vision, parkrun offers sighted volunteers to help guide them on the court, especially during competitions. However, I am able to play without a guide. I learned about parkrun through Metro Blind Sport, a charity that provides opportunities for people who are blind or partially sighted to participate in various sports and activities. It was through this organization that I met other visually impaired individuals who also participate in parkrun.
They explained to me how parkrun works for those with visual impairments. I was told to email the run director to express my interest and then to sign up for a guide. Despite my previous hesitation towards running, I was determined to give it a try. I was approaching my 50th birthday and I didn't want to miss out on the opportunity.
I was surprised by the large number of people at the park when I arrived for my first parkrun in April 2017. I was nervous and scared as I made my way to the volunteer stand. I couldn't help but wonder if I could actually do this. And then I met my guide, Margaret, a kind Canadian woman who had completed 150 parkruns herself. She reassured me that we could do this together.
I had no idea where the course was going and that made me even more anxious. I couldn't see the small hills and dips on the grass, making it difficult for guides to warn me about them. But Margaret was incredibly encouraging and would say things like "we're coming around a bend" or "we're about to hit a gravel path." She also reminded me that it didn't matter if we walked for a bit or what time we finished in.
I soon felt like part of the parkrun family. And even though I didn't run the entire time during my first parkrun, Margaret and I still managed to finish in 37 minutes, which surprised me. That's when I knew I was hooked.
Since then, I have been a regular member of the Bushy parkrun club. I made sure to be there every Saturday at 9am without fail. Although my parkrun journey started with Margaret, I have also run with other guides when she is back in Canada visiting.
I have felt like part of the parkrun family ever since that first run. And before I knew it, my 50th birthday came and went, and I continued to run. I enjoyed it so much that I even convinced Alan to give it a try.
Alan has limited vision, even more so than me, but that has never stopped him from enjoying sports. He has been playing blind cricket for years, and I knew he would love running too. And just as I predicted, he instantly fell in love with parkrun. He feels like he can run without any worries and has even made some friends since he joined in August 2017.
We always attend parkrun together, but we run separately. This is partly because he is faster than me, but also because I thought we would likely trip each other up if we ran together. There have been a few occasions where I've passed him on the course, which always gets under his skin. He usually picks up his pace to make sure I don't finish ahead of him. But for me, it's not about beating him. I just want to make sure he's not in my way. And let's be real, my pace compared to other women my age is better than his anyway.
When people see us running, wearing our matching fluorescent t-shirts that indicate we need more space and are visually impaired, the majority of reactions are positive. Some people even say it's "inspirational," but I don't see it that way. We run because we can, and we never want our visual impairments to stop us from doing the things we love.
I never thought I could be a runner, but now I am an avid one. I even completed two marathons this year. If I can do it, anyone can. If you have a visual impairment, just remember to contact your local coordinator so they can arrange a guide for you. I promise, once you try it, you'll be hooked for life.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
