With the amazing feats of the 2024 Paralympics still fresh in our minds, The College of Optometrists caught up with guide runner Phil Lee, who helps visually impaired runners to compete in sport.
Phil, 49, has been a marathon runner since 2010. After almost a decade in the sport, he decided to undertake a qualification that would enable him to get involved in coaching.
Phil embarked upon the Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) Award. Awarded by Athletics England, the course is designed for those wanting to get involved in coaching runners. It is open to anyone over the age of 12 who take part in non-track-based running activities, such as road, fell, cross country or multi terrain events.
After completing the course and qualifying, he wanted to continue.
He explains more:
“I wanted to provide opportunities for visually impaired people to take up running through my running club, Belle Vue Racers, and to support them during races or events.
“After completing my Coach in Running Fitness accreditation, I asked England Athletics to send me details of other courses they run.
“They run a Sight Loss Awareness and Guide Running Workshop. It was just what I wanted, so I signed up and have now been a guide runner for five years.”
Guide running is open to anyone who is interested, but in order to become licensed, individuals must have attended the workshop-course that Phil took, after which they are added to the national database.
During the workshop, the students need to experience how it feels to be visually impaired – even for a short time – to understand what is really required of a guide.
When running with a partner, guide runners are acting as the eyes of both runners. They alert their partner to changes in terrain, whether they are approaching a turn and the angle of the turn, any change in incline, or any oncoming or surrounding risks such as other runners or traffic.
Phil continues:
“Most communication is verbal, but it needs to be detailed. You need to say how far ahead any change is coming. So, if you are going to move from road to grass you need to describe this, and if it’s wet that’s also important because the grass could be muddy and slippery.”
“You need to enable your partner to adapt their pace or running style accordingly, to be safe and not trip or fall. I make a point of frequently asking my partner if they are okay, if they are happy with our pace and watching them for any signs that they might be struggling.”
Visually impaired runners will have different visual impairments. Some people will have been born blind, while others will have become blind or visually impaired later in life. It is important that the guide runner understands the visual ability of their partner and how much support they require and want.
Phil says:
“We talk through in detail how my visually impaired partner-runner wants me to guide them. Whether this is with or without tether, the amount of verbal cues they would like and our positioning and pacing.
“When we are competing, it can also be mindful to describe the running environment, especially if you are running somewhere particularly interesting and to describe what is taking place nearby, like when there are supporters up ahead cheering you on.”
When we asked Phil what advice he would you give to anyone interested in becoming a guide runner, or to visually impaired runners wanting to be paired with a guide, his response was enthusiastic:
“It’s a great way to give back to the sport and to provide opportunities for visually impaired people to take up running and share in the enjoyment of the sport.
“For anyone wanting to take up running who has a visual impairment, their local running club may have guide runners, or they can go to the Run Together website for information.”
Phil said his greatest moment so far has been supporting Gareth Smith, a visually impaired runner with a condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa, complete the 2024 Chester Half Marathon earlier this year.
Speaking about the race, Gareth said:
“Without Guide Runners like Phil, blind people can struggle to continue to do the things that non-disabled people can often take for granted. For me, Phil was the perfect guide during the Chester Half Marathon. He asked what I needed from him, gave many verbal cues during the race and offered motivational support when it got tough. I would recommend the Run Together website for any visually impaired runners needing that support when entering a race”
Finally, we asked Phil if there is an event he really wants to take part in as a guide. His answer was the London Marathon.
We hope he gets that chance and wish him and Gareth every success!
