Hello running blind fans, so after the last run seemed more successful I was starting to think this running thing was a goer. It was time to address my running fashion faux pas. After all my close friends had been quite open about there thoughts on my running style when I had asked for advice and I had noticed that running on tarmac in hiking trail shoes was not the most comfortable experience. First order of the day was to look at trainers.
Being male and having an aversion to any form of shopping especially for clothes I decided that the internet was the best place to start. Now if you have ever tried to shop for running shoes then you will understand the massive array of options on the market. These include type of running surface, distance of run, waterproofing, your gait, insole system, colour, brand and all before the simple stuff of gender and size. After lots of time on runners blogs and reading reviews I was………..no further forward at all.
Option 2, try an expert. I consulted my friends (in the pub) and they were almost helpful, so must have been having an off day. There suggestion was that much like being a kid I should simply go to a shop and be checked and fitted for trainers. This however came with a health (wallet) warning that running shops who measure and fit you for shoes are remarkably expensive and I should get fitted, find some trainer options and then make my excuses, thank them for there time and leave!
As friends do they did not hold back on the advice about my route and promptly ripped apart my whole approach with training and fashion sense. They tell me I need to get some proper trainers for the road instead of my trail trainers, some actual running shorts instead of the knee length hiking ones and as for the fact I was wearing black dress socks well that was a step far beyond the sports socks suggested that would help with impact when running. Well what are friends for eh!
Onward and shop-ward then. My shop of choice was Start Fitness (other retail outlets are available, although I’ve not checked as I don’t much like shopping). I was served by a lovely girl who even when presented with a blind person looking at running shoes was not phased in the slightest. She measured my feet and had me walk around the shop while she watched my gait. For those new to this like me my “Gait” determines just how my feet hit the floor when I walk/run and wether I roll my ankles etc. All seemed super technical but feel free to have a look online at how this all works.
Measured and tested it was time to think about shoes, she asked me about the type and style of running I had in mind so I told her my tale. She then asked how much I wanted to spend, to which I replied with “being a poor blind person and a very tight northerner I was thinking something around a tenner but wanted change”. She sidestepped this with a smile and a side she would bring me some choices in my size and requirements.
After trying on several pairs of trainers 1 stood out as a better fit than all the others these were Brooks Glycerin 20. The added bonus being that they were reasonably priced (but were way more than a tenner) and came with a free pair of running socks. Two birds with one stone and just how I like to shop, hassle free. In my excitement I then forgot to look at shorts, but you can’t win ‘em all.
My next kit item to research was how I get to be noticed as being blind when running? In day to day life my Cane does this job and as a result of people seeing it they tend to do a good job of avoiding my path. So research led me to British Blind Sport who do a range of shirts and vests that are HiVis and have a printed design that says BLIND RUNNER on both front and back. This could be the answer. However they seemed expensive for a simple printed T-shirt so after a little more time on Google I found another printing website that did a very similar thing for half the price.
Could something as simple as a bright shirt that declared I was visually impaired really help me in my runs and alert people so they would avoid me. I guess only time will tell, I’ll let you all know after my next run.
The last Item on the list was shorts as I had forgotten to look at these on my shopping trip. I took the easy option and after some digging around found I already owned some gym shorts from Gym Shark that would do the trick. This saved me a job of looking at the internet or heading to another shop. Fully kitted out it was time to get out running and focus on the training plan.
If you want to follow my progress with my training and learning to run while I get ready for the race you can always follow me on Strava https://www.strava.com/athletes/134879567
If you would like to help me raise money for Blind Veterans as I continue on my running to get fit journey the please use this link https://AJBellgreatnorthrun2024.enthuse.com/pf/steven-holliday
To learn more about the great work that Blind Veterans complete click the link https://www.blindveterans.org.uk/
Keep on running!
Steve
Blind Steve Adventures 
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