Running Blind Support & Guide Training

Running Blind Support Offered to Member Pairs

Running Blind has limited resources, but will make every effort to provide some basic items to all visually impaired members that register with us requesting support. Specifically, we will help to find a guide or guides to work with of our blind runners. We will also provide a nice tether, and can provide a pair of reflective safety vests that say "BLIND" and "GUIDE" on them. (see images below) These are particularly helpful for people planning to enter road races with mass starts, or also for training where vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic is present.

Finally, when resources allow, we also will provide financial support to our member pairs in the form of reimbursements for race entry fees, and possibly also for buying a decent pair of training shoes if that is needed. Requests for financial support must be made individually and will be awarded on a case by case basis depending on funds available - so if in doubt, please check with Hal Wolfe first before spending money of your own if you are in need support for something.

Running Blind tether made by Hal Wolfe (6" version)

Reflective safety vests that can be made available.

Guide Runner Training

Running Blind occasionally conducts training sessions for guide runners. You don t need to be a guide runner who is being assigned to a visually impaired runner or even logged into the system as a potential volunteer to participate in the training. If you are interested and are willing to spend an hour learning what it is like to be a guide runner or to run blind while wearing a blindfold, consider participating on one of our sessions. Come ready to run a couple of laps around a track (ie a half mile).

The training sessions are fairly informal and generally last about an hour. They consist of:

1. A brief into to Running Blind (ie our organization).
2. The adaptations visually impaired people need to confront to deal with life.
3. Some of the basics issues confronting a blind runner.
4. A general discussion on the basic techniques of guide running.
5. The chance to run a lap of the track as a guide runner with a blindfolded partner.
6. The opportunity to wear a blind fold and run a lap as a blind runner.

We usually conduct the sessions at the track at Ypsilanti High School, which is in their football stadium on Packard just east of the school near the water tower. It s actually closer to Estabrook Elementary School (1555 W Cross St / Packard Rd, Ypsilanti, MI.) There is a large parking lot there.

Running Blind's Guide Running Basics

The sessions are not held on a regular basis, so if you are interested, please contact us and we ll let you know if one is coming up.

Guide Runner Registration