[Sportsandrec] The Visually Impaired category

[Gaston Bedard]

Hello folks,

It is good to know there are runners on this list.

I've been thinking of this issue for some 6 years now, discussing it with
other blind, deaf blind and partially sighted athletes.
I began my comeback as a totally blind and deaf runner in May 2012.
Since May 2012, I have run and completed 21 road races including 2 full
marathons, as a deaf blind runner.

Most of these road races were run here in Canada.
I ran and completed a full marathon in the state of Massachusetts, in 2015.

Here's where it gets a little fuzzy and somewhat difficult to understand.

In all the road races that I have run so far since May 2012, I discovered
the following.

There is only one category for blind, deaf blind, partially sighted runners.
This category is, the Visually Impaired category.

In this VI category, there are no age categories.
This VI category, includes female and male runners, regardless of age,
regardless of blindness, regardless of sight loss.

How do you feel about this Visually Impaired category ?

I thought it would be good to get the ball rolling, chat about it.
Stay well and healthy.