A visually impaired runner and a wheelchair user being each other’s buddy in a run. If you had told me a year ago that I would be doing this, I would have thought you were crazy. Then, a month ago, https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauweris/ came up with exactly this idea. I’ll be honest: I had a lot of doubts. But when we tried the 3 km today, I realized that truly anything is possible as long as you’re open to it.
With a tether from Stichting Running Blind attached to my wheelchair, we headed onto the gravel path. It took a bit of figuring out what felt best and how to keep the cord from getting in the way, but eventually we found the perfect position. Every now and then I said “behind me” or “loose dog,” but honestly, that wasn’t even really necessary. We started at a steady jogging pace with some walking breaks (and dog-petting breaks) in between. But once we left the gravel and got onto the bike path, we picked up what Lowie called a “proper running pace.”
Not for a single moment did I feel worried — unlike what I had expected beforehand. Before we started, I was concerned about whether Lowie would actually be able to help me if I got stuck, whether I would have to guide him constantly, or whether I would really feel the tension of the cord. But all those worries disappeared like snow in the sun within the first few meters. And for the first time in two years, I finally enjoyed running again.
So often in the world, we see a disabled person and a non-disabled person as friends, buddies, you name it. But in the past few months, I’ve been meeting up more with fellow wheelchair users for girls’ nights out. And in this case, I found one of my best buddies in a fellow disabled runner.
So there will probably be more posts from me and Lowie. And Lowie — thank you for this crazy, but brilliant idea.
Written by Syenne de Groot
All texts are written by me without the help of AI!
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