[Sportsandrec] Road Racing

[Mike Sivill]

Not to mention that there will always be a small number of blind runners in
the race so you'll be likely to win a trophy just as long as you beat the
other two blind people, where fifty sighted people beat you. It sounds like
a mortifying situation. "You're amazing just for doing it" comes to mind. 
I agree with Mr. Kelly.
Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Thornbury, Kelly
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 5:33 AM
To: sportsandrec at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Sportsandrec] Road Racing

While I probably stand in a minority in my thinking, and might receive some
flack for it, I wonder if it is really necessary to create a separate "blind
classification" at running events. Unlike cycling where tandem teammates
both contribute to the speed of the bike, running with a guide shouldn't
help you run beyond your physical capabilities, and a blind runner should be
able to compete with sighted peers based on their own merits. In a society
where we are trying to compete as equals with sighted counterparts in so
many aspects of sports and life, does it send the wrong message to seek out
the use of a segregated category for blind runners? In a venue where I could
compete equally with sighted runners, I personally would rather accept a
100th place certificate over a 1st place "blind" trophy. To me it would be
like asking for a separate blind category in a cycling event simply because
the stoker of a tandem was blind. I guess if I were in your running shoes I
would see this as an opportunity to demonstrate the equality of blind
athletes by competing in the open events (the prohibiting of the use of a
guide not withstanding). Take inspiration from the fact that there are
Olympic-level blind runners competing with sighted peers. This might be a
case where a little extra adaptation on our parts may go farther towards
proving we are capable of more than many expect of us. 

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