How to Become a Guide Runner in the UK

He stressed that the number would be closer to 1,000 if the participation of visually impaired people in parkrun was in line with the sighted population.

VI runners often face additional challenges such as getting to an event and the terrain of the course. This is where having guided runners – and having more of them – really helps.

Do you need a qualification to become a Guide Runner?

Although an official qualification is not mandatory, the Vision Loss Awareness and Guide Running Workshop offered by England Athletics is the recommended route to becoming a Guide Runner. Once you have completed the workshop, online training and a DBS check, you can apply for your guide runner license. England Athletics and British Blind Sport encourage all guides to obtain a license so that visually impaired people using the Find a Guide database can have some quality assurance when finding a suitable guide.

Workshops will be held in areas where there is a need for more Guide runners in the database and where there is interest from VI runners. Alternatively, if you’ve noticed VI runners with guides at local races, clubs or parkruns, it’s worth asking them about their experiences.

For example, Paul Gillett, 68, is a keen parkrunner from Brighton. He has nystagmus – a complex eye disorder characterized by involuntary eye movements. Encouraged by a friend, Paul started running seven years ago, which eventually led him to his local parkrun, where he was offered a guide for his first run in 2018.

“There’s a saying that it’s harder for runners to get to the start line than to the finish line, and that was certainly true, but when I got there my guide reassured me,” he says.

Gillett added: “I didn’t have high expectations but thought I could do it in 40 minutes. The adrenaline must have kicked in because to my amazement I managed 33:28 and only walked three short sections.”

Since then, Gillett has run with more than 30 guides. Together with his blind runner friend, Gillett organized guide training, supported by a core team and a few experienced guides. They run three to four sessions per year, with new guides able to accompany experienced guides. “I’ve now completed 176 parkruns and seven 10km runs – and volunteered 50 times, including 20 junior parkruns.” “It’s really helped me gain confidence and met some lovely people,” he says.

What does the Vision Loss Awareness and Guide Running Workshop include?

The workshop will be run by England Athletics and will cover the following over two hours:

• Information about types of vision impairments and common vision loss disorders
• Appropriate terminology and behavior
• Designing sessions for blind and visually impaired participants
• Guide to running, top tips, safety
• Guide for conducting practical sessions
• Further support and resources

You have the opportunity to run from the perspective of the guide and VI runner – to get an idea of ​​what it feels like to be guided. You will then be sent resources from the workshop and asked to complete an online first aid and safety course. You will also need to apply for a free DBS via the England Athletics portal.

Then you can apply for a license – and once you get it, you can join the Find A Guide database. There you can mark yourself as active or inactive depending on your circumstances and commitments.

How much does the Vision Loss Awareness and Guide Running Workshop cost?

There is a one-off fee of £20 for those who are members of England Athletics and £30 for those who are not. It includes the workshop, administration, DBS check, license creation and insurance.

Safety and first aid training and updates for Level 1 license renewals incur an additional cost of £20 every three years.

How fast do you have to be as a guide runner?

No special speed is required to become a guide runner. However, you need to know how fast and how far you can comfortably run – because when guiding, you should focus on responding to your runner’s needs, not shortness of breath. The larger the tempo range in the database, the better. Don’t be put off if you think you’re too slow – and think about it if you’re also a faster runner.

Whether someone simply wants to walk around the block, join a club or take part in a race, expanding the UK’s pool of Guide Runners will help meet this goal.

What to expect as a first-time guide runner

Often it is the first time that both the VI runner and the guide have run together like this – and it is normal to be nervous.

It might be nice to meet up beforehand (if it’s a parkrun or a race) to practice or explore the route together – or just to chat and have a cup of coffee.