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10km race for blind and partially sighted runners

  • 06-07-2021 10:34am
    #1
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 23,757 Mod ✭✭✭✭ robinph


    Bristol Great Run 10km will host a race for blind and partially sighted runners for the first time in the Bristol 10km on 19th September this year.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-57682428.amp

    Unfortunately, this year with everything else in the world I've no idea what the travel situation is likely to be then, but from listening to the Free Weekly Timed podcast a few weeks ago I know there is a community of VI runners and guides at parkruns in Ireland. If anyone knows of that group that was on FWT then letting them know about this would be great. Even if no one can get over this year it will hopefully be a success and next year may be possible.

    If anyone is interested then let me know as I know the guys who set this up, and have put myself forward to guide as well for someone who's travelling in from another part of the UK without their own guide.


Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 946 ✭✭✭ Lambay island


    Congrats - That is class



  • Registered Users Posts: 6,340 ✭✭✭ TFBubendorfer


    Brilliant, Robin. I'd be terrified of my runner tripping over some hazard I'd missed at that pace, especially after hearing a talk by Sinead Kane a few months ago about a similar occasion, but told from the perspective of the blind runner.



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 23,757 Mod ✭✭✭✭ robinph


    Thankfully we had the road mostly to ourselves due to the few minutes head start and that there was only 100 or so fast entrants in the first wave of the 10km event. The main masses of the 10 km didn't start until an hour later and the half marathon speedsters only just caught the last few of the VI runners.

    The changes to the course this year compared with normal in order to accommodate holding both the 10km and half at the same time did mean it was a narrow and very twisty route in places and I had to keep my wits about me to spot all the potholes and corners coming up , plus the occasional slope and cobbles. Nearly lost my runner to the floor a couple of times due to not managing to avoid some obstacles. Think the only major issue with any of the VI runners was one couple, which was a husband (VI) and wife (guide), where the guide tripped up with a couple of km to go and ended up with a broken nose. :eek:

    It is incredibly brave what they do, and the trust they put into us amateur guides. Really worth giving guiding a go though if the opportunity arises, or you put yourself forward as a guide for a parkrun or similar.



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  • Registered Users Posts: 4,158 ✭✭✭ ariana`


    Well done, what an amazingly selfless thing to do to give up your time to facilitate someone else to pursue their passions.

    Congrats on getting to break the tape, class!



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