Running has lots to recommend it – good for your health, gets you out in the fresh air, (basic kit aside) free to take part in – but you might think it’s not for you if you are blind or partially sighted.
We spoke to Susan Angus-Mellor, who has no vision in her right eye and very limited vision in her left eye, and her guide Jo Turner about their experiences ahead of running this year’s London Marathon.
How did you get started with running?
Susan: It happened during lockdown because I've enjoyed exercise and visited the gym daily and when we went into lockdown and the gyms closed, I was absolutely devastated because I was thinking, “Oh my goodness, what am I going to do for my psychological and physical well-being? What's going to happen?” So, I used to go out and do my daily walks. And then I thought to myself, actually, there's no cars on the roads. There's not many people out and about. I'll have a go at doing some jogging, and that's what I did. Started off initially having to go around the block, which was really hard. I persevered and kept going out in my local area and that's where it started.
Jo: I did a few Race for Life and Muddy Runner runs with my daughter before lockdown. I started just running 5Ks and slowly added a little more distance bit by bit, I did a lot more running in lockdown because there were no cars on the road, so that that was wonderful. And Sue and I know each other through the gym. So that's how we met up and started running together.
Can you tell us about starting to run with a guide?
Susan: Running during lockdown, being out in the fresh air and being one with nature, it was just great and I wanted to continue with that after lockdown and ran with other people. Not necessarily with a guide but we'd run out with other people or if it was really quiet in the mornings, I would go out and run in my local area. But with my running I thought what do I want to do? What do I want to achieve? I'm quite happy going around the local area or do I want to do something more? And a friend of mine at the gym said to me, “Oh, have you ever thought about running a marathon or doing something with your running?” At which point I said absolutely not. No way. I couldn't do a marathon.
But I thought actually maybe it’s something to aim for and would demonstrate to other people that although I have a sight loss and I have limitations, I can do it. You know, you can still achieve and you can still do things it might. It might take longer and it might be different, but yeah, have a go. So, at that point I applied for charity place to do the London Marathon with the RNIB, and when I was offered the place, I approached Jo in the gym and asked her if she’d consider running the London Marathon with me and being my guide, and that's where it all started.
How do you find running with the tether?
Susan: Initially I didn't even know there was a tether, but I did some investigations and then fortunately went on to the RNIB shop and found the tether. When I run with a tether I feel more confident using it. For me it’s an aid to other people to show them that there's somebody there who is visually impaired running with a guide. And it's a way of Jo communicating with me, non-verbally and making me aware of hazards, puddles, lampposts, other runners, pedestrians. If we're running a longer road and there's a turn in the road, it's a way of Jo communicating that with me. And when we've used the tethering in races, it's a way of other runners avoiding us, although that doesn't always work!
Jo: The tether is really useful to let other runners know to take care when they run near us, especially when it is busy – we used it doing the Great North Run last year. We will be using the tether for the London Marathon in April too.
What advice would you give to someone to help them get started with running?
Jo: I think the Couch to 5K app is really good. I know a few people that have used it to start on their running journeys.
Susan: I think also a lot of places now have running clubs. And if I didn't know Jo, or Jo had said no to running with me, then I would have approached my local running club to find out whether they've got anybody who is a guide runner or who would be willing to be a guide runner.
And there's also the Find a guide as well, so I would be looking at researching what's in the local area, first, because when I when I started running, although I would consider myself to be quite fit from a gym point of view, that first run I did was probably no more than about three kilometres, I really struggled on that run. I think if you've got somebody to run with who can encourage you from the get go or if you can use the couch to 5K app, then that's encouraging.
Any last words of encouragement for would-be runners?
Susan: I would encourage anybody with a sight loss who wants to take up running to use the tether, because I never thought I would be running a marathon, or running a Great North Run, or participating in competitions. Using a tether and running with a guide has really improved and enhanced my confidence.
It's made me realise that I can achieve something if I put my mind to it. And I think when you're using a tool like a tether, it creates a better relationship between you and your guide. There's lots of park runs and I'm sure there's lots of guide runners out there who'd be happy and willing to support somebody who wants to take on something like that.
Jo: I think there's lots of runners out there who probably be happy to take on the role of a guide runner if somebody asks them, so maybe that's another thing for people to consider if they enjoy running. It is a really nice opportunity to support and become part of a team.
More information
Find a guide has information for blind and partially sighted runners, as well as sighted runners who would like to become guide runners.
You can buy both a running tether and bone conduction headphones (which allow you to here your environment as well as the instructions from the Couch to 5K app, or your motivating playlist) from our Shop.
