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We both love running and Iris, who is a blind runner, introduced Melanie to guiding this year. Running has been essential to our well-being through the Pandemic. Rules for guiding have changed and having a guide who is comfortable with the rules has been crucial to Iris who cannot get out on a run without the support of someone else.

We work together and the run gives us a chance to share pressures, ideas, and give mutual support. Most importantly we have fun.

Iris says that it has been difficult being stuck indoors at times when guiding was restricted.. Running is her stress release and in recent months running with Melanie and other guides has enabled me to get out and run some of that stress off.

Melanie says it is also for her a stark reminder of the barriers that blind people face. Navigating roads, traffics, dogs on long leads, steps, polite pedestrians, difficult cyclists - all the obstacles that most runners breeze through. 

As a distance, 10k is easy for us. Iris decided to make sure Melanie found it less enjoyable than a normal run out on a beautiful trail, that we would run in festive fancy dress and would wear items that colleagues donated to the cause.