It all started with a race in Budapest. Visually impaired runner Christ Blackabee had gained entry to a marathon in Hungary's capital city with just six weeks’ notice.

None of his usual pool of guides were available so Blackabee hit social media to find an alternative. Eventually, he found Colin Johnson, an experienced runner, and the pair travelled 1,900km from Bristol to Budapest to complete the race.

The experience planted a seed and Johnson recognised there was a gap that needed filling. So he got himself trained as a guide runner and, in 2017, he set up the Facebook group Bristol VI Runners.

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The aim of the group was to get people active and to provide a social hub for visually impaired and sighted runners. With the help of the RNIB, Johnson was able to encourage VI runners to join and gradually built up a pool of guides.

The ethos of the group is 'a bunch of mates meeting for a run, and some of them happen to be able to see better than others', explains VI Bristol Runers member Paul Bowden.

There are now 500 members, including both guides and VI runners, in the group, making it one of the biggest running networks of its kind in the UK.

The group organises one training session each Wednesday evening using pedestrianised pathways and cycle ways. This always ends with a natter and a drink in the park or pub afterwards. Guides also take VI runners to parkruns around the city and the group organises day trips such as water-skiing.

Members have completed everything from sprint triathlons to100k trail ultras. And, thanks to Johnson's work with the Great Run company, the Great Bristol 10K now has the country's first VI category.

‘It happened for the first time in 2021 and again in 2022,’ says Johnson. ‘They hope to now have something similar at their other events around the UK, which is brilliant news.'

But it's not all about racing. VI Runners can also post ad hoc on the Bristol group if they are looking for a guide for a social run outside organised sessions.

‘New guides are offered training, which includes getting to run blindfolded to get a sense of how it feels to run with a tether,’ says Bowden's guide Alice Dalrymple. ‘We all have such a laugh together and the group advocates access to running for all – whether that’s people taking their first steps into the world of running or those training for an ultramarathon.'

Alex Lambert, who has supported members through running races and triathlons, says guiding means being aware you are responsible for someone else’s safety as well as your own. ‘There’s absolutely no harm in slowing to a walk if you need to, and then you can get back to running once you’ve navigated your obstacle,’ he says.

But being a guide doesn’t have to disrupt your own training; in fact, it’s a great way to break up the week.

‘Most of my training tends to be on my own, and so I always look forward to our Wednesday runs as it’s much more sociable than the rest of my sessions,’ says Lambert. ‘It’s easy to factor this run into your own training,’

What they say

‘One of my favourite runs of last year was running the Great Bristol 10K with VI runner Steve Seaton, with him sailing in under his target time and smashing his PB in the process. Being able to tell him he had time to spare and that he could enjoy the last 400m and soak up all the support was so good’ – Running guide Alex Lambert

‘The group has no judgment, is for all abilities, makes everyone feel welcome and is generally always good fun’ – VI Runner Rob Rennell

To find out more, search ‘VI Bristol Runners’ on Facebook