Group 'game changing' for partially sighted runner

A partially sighted runner has said joining a new running club in her town has been a "game changer".

Shifnal Striders was formed in April, to bring runners in the Shropshire town together and Alison Smith joined the same month.

Her poor peripheral vision had forced her to play it safe before then and she said: "I used to run on my own, but they would be the same boring, tedious routes."

"The group has allowed me to run new routes and run further distances safely," she said, "I feel so empowered".

When she was running on her own, Ms Smith said: "I was always conscious about the routes that I would run, what kind of roads would I have to cross, is it busy with pedestrians?"

She said she would often rely more on her hearing than her sight when crossing roads, but as part of a running group, other people would call out when it was safe to cross.

"I'm always crossing with someone and it's fantastic," she said.

The Shifnal Striders meet every Saturday and Wednesday, to embark on a 5km run around the town, with an average of 20 runners turning up each time.

Ms Smith said: "It's just brilliant for me to get out, run further distances, run different routes, have a bit of variety, be challenged and then also feel safe as well.

"With safety and the different routes comes confidence and happiness."

Although her pace has improved, she said she was "not bothered about times".

"I just do it really for the run," she explained.

"I'm pleased to get out to run the distance and to have some great chats with some great friends along the way."

The group recently had its Christmas get-together and Ms Smith said it was a "fantastic community".

Alex Dent, one of the first people to join the group, said they were "quite social", especially on a Wednesday when they "congregate in the King's Yard for a cheese board and a drink".

Ms Smith said everyone was also in a chat group, which was a help if "someone's feeling down in the dumps, or just needs a chat, or maybe a glass of wine".

"We're all here to support each other," she said.

Other runners have also seen the benefits of running in a group.

Mr Dent said: "It's great, especially in winter, we're safer, more visible and it's great to meet like-minded people."

Jo Hughes, another runner who has been there since the start, said being part of a group was important as a female runner.

She said: "I wouldn't be running at this time of night by myself and also I wouldn't be running the same routes ever by myself, I always have to change up the routes.

"When I'm with the group I don't even think about it."

One hurdle still to cross is running at night and Ms Smith said she rarely ran after dark.

"I just think I don't have enough vision to run independently and I wouldn't put the pressure on another runner to be my eyes," she said.

But that could change in future and she said it was something she might consider, with a guide-runner.

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