The Japan Blind Marathon Association is actively working to train guides who accompany visually impaired marathon runners.

"We want to create an environment in which visually impaired people can run anytime," association executive Sugao Harada, 64, has said.

The association promotes blind marathon as it hopes to improve the physical strength of such people and assist them in social participation.

"One more meter, and you'll reach a left curve," a participant in a guide training session said, calling out to a visually impaired runner as they ran together.

It was a training event held by the association in mid-July in a Tokyo gym. Fourteen people took part, receiving lectures and practical training.

They watched a video explaining precautions to be taken when guiding visually impaired runners.

"The most important thing in accompanying runners is to ensure safety," Harada, who served as a lecturer, said. "It's important to know how the visually impaired runners you run with see things and understand what kind of support is necessary."

In practical training, participants initially found it difficult even to talk to the runners. However, they gradually learned how to give specific instructions after advice from lecturers.

"The joy is doubled, while the pain can be shared," Harada said, explaining what he likes about running with a visually impaired person. But he also noted the difficulty of training and securing guide runners.

For guide runners, the association holds a practice session at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo on the first Sunday of every month.

But participants may not be able to run if they cannot find visually impaired runners who match them in terms of desired distance and pace.

"It's difficult to keep people interested if there are no visually impaired runners they can run with no matter how many times they come," Harada said.

Still, guide runners are essential when visually impaired individuals participate in marathon events. Harada is determined to continue the association's activities to "establish an environment where visually impaired runners can pursue their passion for running anytime."

Credit: thejapantimes