NFDS 2018: The Runners' Guide

For many of us, a quick jog is our preferred form of exercise.

But what if you need to overcome additional barriers in order to get up and running? Tie up your laces and join Katharina Loesche as she meets a couple of joggers in The Runners’ Guide.

During one of my broadcasts for The German Program at 4EB, I raffled a book. Anja, a listener, won the Prize.

I went to meet Anja to hand it over and we started chatting. She loves running, her life is all about running and she told me about Birgit's new initiative to get vision impaired people involved in ParkRun. She invited me along as a potential story for The German Program on 4EB as Birgit's heritage is German too.

I had to get up really, really early to get there.

I’m not a morning person and my husband laughed at me, but I did it!

I met so many wonderful and funny people who enjoy running, although I am totally not a runner. Barbara was telling her personal story to a group of runners that morning, who would like to volunteer as a guide and therefore tried running blindfolded during a workshop. I instantly loved Barbara’s quirky Australian sense of humour! 

And Birgit's energy is contagious! Brigit gave the participants some basic rules and tips for communication. For instance in Germany we call Guide Dogs “Blind's Dogs”, which has a completely different meaning! In addition to explaining how guiding runners works in general, Birgit had some funny rules, such as “point out the hot guys” and that the coffee afterwards is as import as the running, especially if it comes with cake! 

Shortly after, the NFDS 2018 call out appeared, and I thought it was a great opportunity to give this little group formed around Birgit, Barbara and Jane a voice, because it is a great inclusive community activity, that really changes lives. I would like for people to get to know about Achilles and for listeners to take the chance and join. Meanwhile, Anja became a guide herself.

Now as she knows Barbara and Jane and the Achilles community, it took away her fear - it wouldn’t feel like the end of the world for her anymore. 

It was also a great learning experience for me, because I knew very little about what it is like to be vision impaired, especially how people navigate the world.

I’m still not a runner.

- Katharina Loesche

IMAGE: As an exercise, some guides in the group get a sense of the challenges other joggers face.

IMAGE: Katharina and mentor Kim Stewart

Barbara and the Garmin Man

How Do I Know When To Help?

Links

• Achilles Brisbane
• ParkRun | @parkrunAU
• Radio 4EB 98.1FM | @RADIO4EB | @4EBGerman

Thanks

• Barbara, Birgit and Jane for trusting me throughout this whole process and for opening up about your personal life
• Tony, for running blindfolded for the first time
• Anja, for connecting us - if you knew back then what you’ve started…
• Kim, for being the best mentor I could wish for and for guiding me through this steep learning curve, always funny and wise!
• Radio 4EB, for the chance and the support participating in the NDFS 2018
• CMTO, especially Giordana and Andrew for answering even the smallest questions

This piece was made for the CBAA's National Features & Documentary Series 2018, a showcase of work by new and emerging Australian community radio producers, with training and mentoring provided by the Community and Media Training Organisation. The opinions expressed in National Features & Documentary Series content are those of the individual producers or their interviewees, and not necessarily shared by the CBAA or CMTO.

Produced with the assistance of the Department of Communications and the Arts via theCommunity Broadcasting Foundation.