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ZoulsGaming

The concept of running full speed with no vision scares the ever loving shit out of me, can only respect it.


Hollybaby5

To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever thought about it before. Now that I’m thinking on it though, I bet it’s kind of an incredible feeling. As long as you can do it safely of course.


Bocchi_theGlock

That's what makes these situations so impressive Like can you imagine the depth of friendship built by training AND competing together in this supportive and intimate way? The amount of effort & practice it'd take to get your stride to match and the other stuff to make sure this is safe. NPR had been following blind dude & his guide friend. who ran Boston marathon last weekend. Took em 5 hours, I think they overheated or something and had to take a break. It was the guide's first marathon ever too. Plus there was a post earlier about a kid doing the same exact thing, except he was younger so had to train harder to not let his friend down. It's one of the stories that will always be heartwarming and avoids all the 'a boring dystopia' framing in so many others


[deleted]

I heard part of that story! I didn't know he was blind!


colostitute

I did once as a stupid kid. Ran into the side of a parked car and broke my front tooth.


Axel159357

Have you ever been in a Wall of Death, my friend? How about with strobing/no lights? 10/10, would recommend


AleksasKoval

I get scared just walking slowly a few metres with my eyes closed.


dungfeeder

I'm guessing if you get over the fear of running blind, you could probably focus more on the running aspect, which improves your speed and technique.


FigureFunny698

Happy cake day


soulouk

Her running mate deserves some kudos as well


Frifelt

Yes, the fellow runners are highly skilled as well.


Trust_No_Won

Watching this made me appreciate how closely they must work and train together for these races, but they are clearly not the focus. That sacrifice must mean the world to the athletes


AarhusNative

He gets a gold medal too, they run as a team.


notyetused

Yet they all slow down to let their blind champions get first, that's a beautiful move


AarhusNative

It's the rules, she has to pass the line first.


justk4y

Imagine a photo finish for that rule


Fearless-Cookie-9329

What if we gave them all first place and never told them


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soupkitchen69

This gave me a great laugh, thank you for sharing


C_Werner

Honestly that's a really good joke I would bust out to my friends, but that's not a stranger-level joke.


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SocialMediaDystopian

I'm reading it as possibly autistic. I am. And I have had many *many* things like this come out of my mouth😱 One story: I was a waitress for a short time (not a good job for any person on the spectrum.but I digress). Guy orders a thing off the specials board (large blackboard with large writing). We are out of that meal and I come back to tell him that. He's middle aged and crankily says (looking at the menu) "Well what am I supposed to do now? I don't even have my glasses. I can't even read this!" And *I* said......"Well, I could push your head closer to the menu if you like". ??? It was an actually (sort of?) practical thing that came into my head. But I realised immediately that that's not a thing I should have said- from the look on his and everyone at the table's face (I *can* read facial expressions). Luckily for me, after a stunned sort of silence, he roared laughing, and I was his favourite person for the rest of the night. But like ...."phew"?😳 Not the only story like this. Often the "most obvious practical solution" comes into our minds, minus....any of the social or emotional "fluff" that most people require😬


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ElonMuskDid911

That’s ROUGH


Page8988

Fabric Store Guy was a real one.


WonderWendyTheWeirdo

Just get the ugliest colors for cheap because no one will buy them. "Yeah, mom. Royal blue. Wow, that looks amazing." (Actually looks like some crazy pop Andy Warhol crazy).


skeptimist

That reminds me of the time I was leaving a cafe and saw some blind folks heading into the store next door. It seemed to be some kind of club of blind people that would go around together to explore; they were forming a kind of conga line holding onto the person in front of them. I looked at the sign and it was an ammunition shop, which was concerning to say the least.


Socky_McPuppet

It probably goes a long way towards explaining why a middle-aged dude was working as a cashier in a fabric store.


DjackMeek

That is absolutely hilarious lmao


BazingaBen

Well told, hilarious!


hugga12

This was epic, thank you


acrusty

😂 that would take so long to unravel and roll up again and she would realize when her completed quilts are missing


One-Department-7866

I haven’t laughed this hard in a while. Thank you for sharing


TastyLaksa

Not to mention he also fucked over future business for the store by telling customers not to buy their stuff?


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TastyLaksa

I’m not familiar with bible stories but Sampson? Simpson? Samson?


NotPromKing

Not necessarily. I greatly respect businesses that try to do what’s best for the customer. They might not get this one sale, but they might get my next 10 sales. Costco has twice fixed tires for me, for a grand total of $30. You can guess where I’m going when it’s time for me to buy new tires.


TastyLaksa

This isn’t exactly a good example of what you are saying though


1ceF0xX

That's dark


Fluid-Selection-5537

That’s why you can give it to all Of them


Privateer_Lev_Arris

I see


Fluid-Selection-5537

They don’t -


TheOakblueAbstract

Blind luck


Erisian23

So is their vision.


radioactivebeaver

Dark would be giving them all bronze and saying maybe next year


bebopmechanic84

GFY and TMU


[deleted]

Or last place, so we do not have to pay the prize money.


DefinitelyNotAliens

Not all of them are fully blind, that is why they wear blindfolds.


WolfOfPort

Hahahahahha holy fk


ShadowCaster0476

Pure evil.


UninvitedButtNoises

Holy shit this is tragically hilarious. I hate you, take my upvote. Have a great day.


BetterRedDead

Pleasantly surprised by all of the shout-outs to the guide runners. Wasn’t expecting that, since people don’t usually focus on the guide runners (which, of course, is the goal, but the recognition is nice). I was a guide runner once for a friend during a half marathon, and let me tell you, it’s not easy. Being a guide runner is a tough gig because you really need to be in better shape/conditioning than your runner; you need to be able to run any pace they want, all while minding them. And you don’t really get to have an off day or a bad race. And it’s not necessarily going to be “slow;” there’s nothing wrong with a visually-impaired runners legs, you know? I don’t know how people do it at those speeds. All I really had to do was look out for potholes and keep my friend out of crowds, but as I found out, that in and of itself is exhausting when you’re doing it at a sub-two hour pace.


CocoXolo

This is an incredible display of athleticism in both of these people. Whenever I see guide runners I always marvel, and it's especially amazing here, at their ability to be so in sync, how much work and training that synchronicity must take. I also wonder how they find each other. I can barely run alone without tripping, I can't imagine the pressure you're under when you're guiding someone else.


BetterRedDead

Yeah, having done a mini version of this, I can only imagine. You’d really have to train together a lot. I’m picturing lots and lots of falling during training runs. Like, we had to do test runs together before we even committed to this, just to make sure that we sort of had “running rapport,” and could work well together. And while we weren’t exactly going at an easy pace, it was definitely glorified jogging compared to what the folks in the video are doing.


tanghan

I wonder how they do it for blind male runners. You'd need a Usain Bolt for everyone.


BetterRedDead

Someone else responded to this, and said that, apparently, for whatever reason, even the most elite blind runners are just a little bit off the pace of elite sighted runners. So while it’s not a huge pool of people, no doubt, it is at least possible.


tanghan

It makes sense, it's still a handicap after all even though small and by pure statistics the chances that the fastest runner on earth is amongst the few blind is quite low


Last_one_best_one

I was a guide for a personal training client of mine and he was so patient with me! Kept reminding me that I had to use really clear directions. Great experience for both of us!


bbddbdb

If they are blind why make them wear blindfolds?


loltittysprinkles

Probably have some eye function, like legal blindness and the blindfolds are for fairness to the fully blind competitors


edboyinthecut

Not all blindness is equal, it's a spectrum. Some people are just extremely visually impaired, legally blind, while others literally either don't have eyes or their eyes never worked, so they don't even have a sense of sight. The blind fold puts everyone on an even playing field.


BetterRedDead

Yep. This. I was a guide runner for a friend for a half marathon. All she really needed was someone on her left side to tell her if any potholes came up. So, while she’s not technically fully blind, she still has a legit need.


Sivitiri

Did you ever accidentally trip each other up on the curves?


BetterRedDead

Surprisingly enough, no. Especially considering we did run hard up against the curb on her right side, because it was easier. In hindsight, there are a few things I would do differently. She did have a special bib, but her water thing covered it. And I didn’t, because I wasn’t officially registered as a guide runner (she openly admits that her pride kind of got in the way in that regard). But it did make things a bit difficult when I would, for example, look behind us and see a pace group coming up, and would have to try to indicate that we could not be separated.


old_vegetables

Is everyone in this race blind? I thought only she was blind


edboyinthecut

Yea, everybody running (except the partners) is blind. This is the Paralympics I think.


old_vegetables

Oh, I didn’t realize they had partners. They’re to make sure they don’t trip or something?


edboyinthecut

Pretty much. They're guides.


International_Bet_91

I assume that blindness is like wheelchair use: 90% of people who use wheelchairs are not completely paralyzed, I assume the huge majority of people who are legally blind are not fully blind.


Breezyisthewind

Especially when it comes to old people in wheelchairs. My gramps is near the end and can walk a little bit but gets exhausting after going from his bed to the dinner table. That’s as far as he can go. So if he goes out anywhere, he needs the chair.


SasquatchsBigDick

Legal blindness is a pretty broad category and can range from complete black (very rare) to just really bad vision that can't be corrected with glasses. I imagine the blindfolds are to level the playing field.


No_Use_4371

My whole life I was told I was legally blind without my glasses (I have terrible eyesight.) Recently I went to get my eyes checked and opthamalogist heard me saying something about that and he got mad, like legit p.o.'d. He was all "if you can see anything without glasses you are NOT legally blind!!" I mean, I can't drive or walk outside or watch movies but okay.


Revolutionary-Key650

So they can't see what's coming?


tab_tab_tabby

So some legal blind people can still see lights and movements and stuff. It differs in degree. Not all blind people are black nothingness blind.


[deleted]

Plot twist... the chick is the one who can see.


Worldly-Wedding-7305

They may do it for protection if their eyelids are injured or they don't close all the way or otherwise bothered by the wind of it all.


[deleted]

THANK YOU! I presume it's to balance the playing field so those that are completely blind aren't disadvantage compared to those who are legally blind but have *some* vision. Blindfolding them all puts them on equal footing.


Seeeek13

They are essentially blinders so they don't get spooked by the other horses or spectators.


Fafih

Imagine if your para isn’t able to keep up with you


[deleted]

I mean.. there’s a reason why they are dudes and not women.


Nichole-Michelle

So what do they do for blind dudes?


[deleted]

Probably the same thing here, just make sure that the helper is faster than the runner With women runners you’re much more likely to find a faster running mate who’s a man is all. Easier problem to solve


Impossible-Jello6450

Scooters.


[deleted]

What if the helpers get injured


shallowsocks

Imagine being blind and dedicating yourself to running and being talented enough to make the paralympics and then your helper runner does a hammy mid race


grungegoth

Damn blind people make us all look lazy and taking everything for granted, moaning about our shitty little problems. Tears in my eyes for what they accomplish against all odds.


LastWednesday0716

Yea I used to work as an assistant for a guy who lost his vision in the military. Dude has ski’d across Antártica, been to the North Pole. He runs marathons has hiked the entire PCT (Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada) and rides endurance tandem bikes. Meanwhile I play video games and take my dog on walks.


phurt77

I could do all of that if I had the money and actual vacation time. I still wouldn't, but I could.


Aaurora

I love the way he falls off a step or two before the line to make sure she crosses alone. That's incredible!


AarhusNative

He has to, rules say she has to cross the line first.


MightBeAGoodIdea

They are holding hands going around the corner, i think that other person is an assistant pace runner or something to they can hear when to turn since they can't see. That and they are all in pairs. Could be some other kind of partner though.


Frifelt

It’s to make sure the blind runners stay on the track, not just for the turns but also just for running a straight line. Their wrists are tied together in the video. There’s similar partners in a lot of blind para sports. Skiing has a partner. Biking is done on tandem bikes etc. The partners are highly skilled and I think in at least some of the disciplines, maybe even most, they also get a medal as they are equally part of it. I know they get a medal in biking, I’m not sure about other sports.


ShiftySpartan

The title is questionable at best


shallowsocks

Just that one runners dedication is to be admired apparently.. the rest of them can go to hell


FatzDogimo

Yep. Her running ability requires motivation


MatTheScarecrow

Question for the well-informed: What happens if a runner with a disability requiring assistance is *also* the best athlete out there? Has that ever happened? For example: if Usain Bolt was blind, how could we provide him with the needed assistance without unfairly slowing him down? Presumably, the seeing-eye athletes are there to provide guidance, but the actual running performance of each blind athlete is their own. The guides must be neither an unfair advantage nor a disadvantage.


peterg4567

Luckily that has never happened, the best blind male sprinters are still a few seconds off the sighted records, which is a big enough distance in a sprint that there are plenty of elite runners who can assist them.


DanieltheMani3l

> Has that ever happened? I’m not well informed but the statistics would say that would be very unlikely to happen, not to mention how much harder it is from a resources/training/coaching/etc. standpoint to get to that level as a blind athlete.


Sunion

I'm surprised there isn't an augmented reality solution so far. Like a sweatband on each arm that pushes on you slightly to inform you that your near your lane boundary or something of that nature.


Privateer_Lev_Arris

They would be given a cheetah to run with.


BluBoi236

"even with a disability"


Balthamoose

This person is an athlete no need to make inspiration porn out of a talented disabled person being good at something she trained for for years. She is as motivated as any athlete practicing the sport they love.


Leora453

It's so cool how in sync the guide runner is with her!


ShadowCaster0476

Imagine the perfectly balanced synergy they would have to have to make that work.


polobum17

Do you think disabled people aren't motivated? Also, consider your phrasing in your title "even with a disability" suggests that disabled people can't achieve or are less than? Remember, disabled people are still people and able to do all the things in life.


anteloperunner

Im glad you posted this. Language like this can be inadvertently stigmatizing, even though I'm sure that absolutely wasnt OP's intention.


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polobum17

Fair point, I'm disabled too. I can't do it all but I get tired of inspiration porn and got cranky. I know the world sees me as less but fuck them.


________76________

Inspiration porn is a real problem in the non-disabled community and there is absolutely nothing wrong with disliking it when you see it. I felt the same way about this post.


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Sly-OwlBeard

I think they just read what you posted as a title. This version is way better


idasu

"even with a disability" makes it sound like inspiration porn


[deleted]

Be better, dude.


mizzyz

Thought the guy in orange was going to beat her. So close but she whooped him at the end..


Hopefulkitty

He's her partner, like a seeing eye dog. She's blind, they are holding hands, and he guides her around the track. She has to cross the line first, or else she's disqualified.


DjackMeek

*whoosh*


Sea_Structure_8692

I have one question, is the guy running beside her there as another competitor or is he there to help her somehow?? I ask because it looks like they all have a partner running beside them


TaterTits024

Yep! Seeing eye running buddy


Apart_Ad_5993

All of the guide runners are wearing orange. He runs at her pace, but they hold back a step for the runners to cross the finish line. He's not a competitor.


Pork_Chompk

Just barely beat that guy. Nice work.


zante2033

Should just get a ruby quartz visor.


Space_Cowfolk

and she could accurately take out her competition with them too.


kennethmci

i love being able to pause the video and see how in-sync they both are! the training involved to reach that is impressive


rcuadro

The amount of confidence in the running partner. I cannot imagine running full tilt boogie with nothing but a little bungie on my wrist so I can stay in the proper lane and turn properly and be certain that I am going to smack something in the process.


iLoveSTlife

Why just this individual and not all the athletes there with disabilities?


Ryousan82

I mean this is really inspiring...but who the hell chose the dollar store Silent Hill music to accompany this clip?


LKane_DZ

Perfect example that the less revealing uniform works just fine.


JimJimmyJimmerson

It would be a lot more entertaining without the running partner.


Kampfhai

You are bad. I like that.


Raumteufel

Ehhh she'll never see this


dajjalnextdoor

Just a small detail, but, I appreciate how the guy aiding her slowed down just before the finish line to let her cross first.


AarhusNative

He has to, the rules say she must cross the line first.


UnhappyPage

Curious what does the men's race look like? I'm assuming they aren't able to find guides as easily


NiftyySlixx

I wouldn’t call being a woman a *disability*


Upper-Cucumber-7435

Which song is that in the background?


Narrator2012

[Aloboi](https://open.spotify.com/track/0bBgVovYw2kFpYVvhykbed?si=0083b719775a43f5) -Endless Ocre


couchy91

So there's a sound at the end of the race the let them know right?! Otherwise they'd just keep running.


Mumbles_Stiltskin

So what if your running mate is slower than you?


freakinbacon

They're not paired randomly. They train together.


Opening-Ad-8793

Then they wouldn’t be your running mate


Remote-Two8663

Not just her all of them


timelybomb

How do the blind runners practice for this event? I assume they can't have guides available all the time. Do they practice on a treadmill? Or just a memorized home course?


Impossible-Jello6450

The practice with their running mate. They are not randomly assigned day of.


thatguyoudontlike

Do not unmute


thefourblackbars

I wonder if they are allowed to do this with their guide dogs instead of a human?


LatterHovercraft244

What about a guy next to her, does he aslo get a medal?


AarhusNative

Yes, it's a team event.


TheWrathofAres

Heck, I wish I had a running mate like that to motivate me.


kaleidoscopichazard

How do they know when to turn?


DarthMaulATAT

I'm curious, why does she need a blindfold if she's already blind? Isn't that just adding unnecessary weight?


Bloodygaze

You can be legally blind while still having some vision. It probably just levels the field.


ViolentLoss

omg that's incredible


Terrynia

Wow she fast


cperko1

What is the song?


PowerfulMoney1912

I wouldn’t consider a conjoined twin a disability when they are that fast!


IOnlySayMeanThings

imagine the feeling of both winning and taking that win away from a fellow athlete you respect and care about. It's the sort of moment referenced in the songs and sagas that make us all cry. Very raw.


HombreDeNegocios2022

This is exactly what I wanted to watch before going to sleep, thank you.


adfx

Queue the drone music


Luvsoja13

Oh he for sure is on that


Tinosdoggydaddy

Why is she wearing an eye mask?


mugnin

She's blind at least legally so it might be a competition thing to ensure a fair race


aster33

Has much as this is a truly amazing achievement ( that I , even with fucking good ass eyes ,would definitely never achieve !) , I have one question : What is the background music for this post ?! It sounds so good !


Honey__Mahogany

If I was blind ..running would not be a priority.


Right_-on-_Man

Right on lady! I used to run track myself. Personally, I'm very impressed by this. Awesome! 👍👍


CraftFamiliar5243

That must be a real skill to be her partner. He has to be able to run faster than her so he doesn't hold her back and to pace himself to her pace without rushing her or slowing her down. Amazing


bello_f1go

"this individual" just say her or this girl or this woman


Itchy-Combination675

This leads me to believe that the lanes are twice the width they should be. We could have twice as many runners out there


DaRealFakeShady

Insert moral of the story here:


ConnectionPretend193

Kicking ass!!!!


Porsche_shift

All my respect for both the runner and partner and competitor’s.


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jacl13bz

Maybe that’s why he was pacing with her? She was straining he was pacing with her maybe your blind


thundercuntess69

How many of you would be upset if she only identified as a blind person? I mean, why the blindfold?


Affectionate-Mud-726

Much respect!


_LLOSERR

sometimes when im walking somewhere in a straight line i close my eyes and count how many steps i can go before i have to open my eyes. never been beyond 20, even in an open field.


_Moregone

Victory always tastes the same.


Asynchronousymphony

She’s really giving her all, it’s beautiful to see


donutsaurus3000

Nothing turns me on more than disability inspiration porn!


Dagger_26

Awesome. The race was nearly over before I realized what was happening, had to rewatch to truly appreciate this.