An inspirational, visually impaired Hamilton woman and her trusted guide runner are urging people with a disability to embrace the therapeutic qualities of sport as they prepare to pound the roads of Newcastle together in the Great North Run.
Ruth Forrest was born with rare birth defect congenital cataracts, and went on to develop glaucoma, where the optic nerve – which connects the eye to the brain – becomes damaged due to a build-up of fluid.
Bullish Ruth, who is living with severe sight impairment, says “it’s probably a good thing” that she has no memory of the little sight she had as a toddler.
“When that is all you have known, you just crack on,” said a sanguine Ruth. “Most importantly, it has never stopped me doing things in life.”
Lockdown posed tremendous challenges for many people, and none more so than those who have a visual impairment.
Ruth, who lives with husband Reza in The Furlongs area, says her life “shut down” during the pandemic.
Yet, her mantra that visual impairment will not define her is what inspired Ruth to inquire about taking part in the Great North Run.
“I said to my husband: ‘I would like to do that at some point.’ He said: ‘I don’t know how that is going to work. You have never run in your life before.’ But I’m a stubborn person. If I say I am going to do something, I will make it happen.”
At the tax office in which she works, civil servant Ruth has a number of colleagues who depend on their guide dogs for companionship – and, crucially, independence.
On realising that her participation in the half marathon could raise vital funds for the Guide Dogs charity, Ruth – who hopes, one day, to have her own guide dog, says: “That’s what clinched it for me.”
Admitting that she was unaccustomed to running, her efforts to find a guide runner hit the buffers.
Then, she became involved with Parkrun – a collection of 5k events for walkers, runners and volunteers, held every Saturday morning at more than 2,000 locations in 23 countries across five continents. Ruth considers it her “lifeline.”
Parkrun, and everyone who contributes to the empowering organisation, exceeded her expectations – by miles.
Hugely impressed by its commitment to inclusion, 39-year-old Ruth joined a Parkrun gathering at Strathclyde Park, which is where she met ‘sole’ mate, Nicola (Nik) Kieran, who, in October last year, gave her “the freedom to run.”
“We just hit it off right away. We got on really well,” said Ruth, who told Parkrun veteran Nik, during one of their first training sessions together, of her goal to participate in the Great North Run (GNR).
It was a meeting of minds for Nik, a behaviour support adviser who works with adults with complex needs.
When she and Ruth ran together, Nik says, it was “as if we had known each other for years.”
“We chatted about how she started running and how it made her feel. For me, the most humbling moment was when she said that using a tether was the closest she would get to free running,” said Nik, 45, of Strathaven.
“Parkrun has become a staple part of the weekend. Yet, there are still some days – especially when the wind is blowing a hoolie – when even the most seasoned and committed runner questions whether they should just stay in bed.
“Sighted runners can always make that choice; we can always choose to run another day. Visually impaired runners can make the choice not to run, but re-arranging is not always so easy. They rely on someone to be available to run with them. There are so many things that sighted people take for granted – freedom to run being one of them.”
Explaining that training for a half marathon involves a run of 5k each week, Nik continued: “I also know that training is more fun with friends and, as much as there is a buzz about organised events, there is something special about running them with friends, too. It was this that prompted me to offer to guide-run with Ruth for GNR. I feel honoured that she trusts me.”
Offering to become Ruth’s guide runner came with no caveats – and Nik is convinced it has made her a more committed runner.
“I can easily talk myself out of going for a run,” she admits.
“It’s too wet, too hot, too Wednesday being among the excuses. I made a commitment to Ruth and, more importantly, I enjoy running with her too much to cancel for anything other than a justifiable reason.”
Witnessing the struggles of a visually impaired colleague, who is on a long waiting list for a new guide dog after his trusted four-legged companion was retired, Ruth set up a crowdfunding page to ensure that her GNR quest raised cash that will help the charity to fulfil the needs of people like her workmate.
The Guide Dogs charity is a cause that resonates with Ruth – because it gives people the gift of independence and confidence, which is what running has done for her.
She and Nik train three times a week, and Ruth’s crowd-funding campaign has to date attracted £2432 of donations for Guide Dogs – only three percent short of its £2500 target.
Referring to the focus now received by Paralympic sport, Ruth – who grew up in the Whitehills area of East Kilbride – said: “That was not there when I was young. As [visually impaired] children growing up, we were not encouraged to get involved in sport.
“Sport is good for both physical and mental health. We want to encourage anyone who has a visual impairment to get involved in sport. It’s still hard to access for disabled people. There are barriers, or perceived barriers.
“With adjustments, sport is available to everyone. Everyone should have an equal choice to participate in sport. It’s important to both Nik and me to promote that.”
It’s Nik’s hope that she and Ruth will continue to train together after the Great North Run on September 11, in which they will participate as Team Rikobel, alongside fellow Strathclyde Park runner Isobel Paterson, who will be on hand to provide fuel and hydration.
Nik continued: “My message to anyone who is considering becoming a guide runner is to take the first step and make the offer. I don’t know if there is formal training available, but I do know that Ruth and I have figured out what works for us.
“I hope that Ruth’s story inspires other people with a visual impairment, and that it helps them realise there is a route into running at grassroots level.
“Also, I hope people recognise that you don’t have to be an elite, competitive athlete to enjoy running. And I hope it inspires amateur running clubs to offer a space to VI runners where they can have access to the same level of guidance and support from trained coaches as their sighted members, if they want it.”
Nik added: “I am excited about guiding with Ruth at the Great North Run. Being her guide runner is my privilege.”
To pledge your support, visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/vision2run
Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!
