My running journey began at the beginning of the year on a complete whim when a couple of volunteers and colleagues at Cardiff Dogs Home where I work mentioned they would sign up to run the 2024 Cardiff Half Marathon to raise valuable and much needed funds for our dogs at the Home.
I must admit, I did get a bit of FOMO (the fear of missing out). I joked by saying I’d only sign up if there was cake and if I could chase my colleague to the finish line to make her run faster.
Not thinking very much about the distance or sheer challenge ahead, I began as a complete novice, casually going out for gentle plods around my local park to attempt gaining some amount of fitness after many years of being a couch potato.
It was only after my parents bumped into a group of Pegasus runners by sheer chance whilst out walking our family dogs one evening that they learned a little about the club and were encouraged to get me to join.
As a visually impaired person, it can be quite isolating and brings many of its own challenges, so the idea of being a part of a team was really appealing, not only for the safety aspects of training in a group but also the mental health and social benefits.
I soon joined in June 2024, although I must admit to being a bit apprehensive with not knowing how well I’d fit in or keep up due to my disability. However, my early experiences confirmed that I had absolutely nothing to worry about. From the minute I arrived I can say that all members were so accommodating and happy to take me in under their wing.
As my confidence grew over the following weeks, I took part in the Cosmeston Relay with Sally, as my Guide Runner. Although I had been to Cosmeston many times with my dogs, this was my first running event, and a completely different experience. I could not have done the event without Sally’s assistance to navigating through the sheer volume of people and the terrain of the route itself.
After the success of that day, the Castle 2 Castle run in mid-September was my next challenge. With Sally by my side again, we absolutely smashed it making very good time and giving me added impetuous for the Half Marathon.
In the meantime, I was directed to a Facebook group called ‘VI Runners & Guides South Wales’, where VI people and their Guides post event information, achievements and it is generally a great place to network.
It was through this group that I got in contact with a local lady named Nadine, who offered to be my Guide Runner for the Cardiff Half. Nadine, like Sally is a qualified Guide Runner who has many years’ experience guiding different blind and VI people in a variety of events nationwide.
After meeting Nadine and having a few trial runs together to get to know each other and establish a running relationship, we met up on the day of the Half Marathon outside the National Museum with a host of my colleagues, who had initially persuaded me to sign up.
The build-up to the race started in the holding pen soon and we soon found ourselves pumped with adrenaline and at the start line we were swept along with the sea of runners.
Nadine was confident that we would make good time around the 2:15 mark, which we did! Coming in over the finish line at 2:20, which I’m really proud of considering at the beginning of the year I didn’t even own a decent pair of trainers!
Over the past few months, I’ve been establishing a strong partnership with Sally and Nadine, and with their assistance they’ve enabled me to participate in events, gaining new experiences and making incredible memories that I may not have been able to due to my disability; for which I’m extremely grateful and appreciative!
This is why I strongly believe signing up to become a qualified Guide Runner is so important, as it opens up the sport and makes it so much more inclusive for those who may need some extra support or accommodations/adaptations.
I’m so proud of being a part of such a genuinely kind and supportive group of like-minded people who care for one another. I would encourage anyone, especially any disabled people to get in touch with the team and begin your running journey just like mine – you might just surprise yourself! Alys
