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Interviewed by Cooper Gould, Communications and Athletics Communities Manager at MAB Community Services

Courtney is a United in Stride member, guide and President & CEO of the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired South Carolina (ABVI). Courtney shares some sage advice for new guides and why getting started can feel uncomfortable.

As President & CEO of ABVI, Courtney works closely with individuals who have low vision. She is passionate about both her work and running. Guiding is a natural blend of her professional and personal interests and provides her with the opportunity to help others experience the joy that running can provide.

Courtney knows how invaluable communities like United in Stride are to individuals adjusting to life with low vision. “I can’t imagine life without running. My hope is that everyone who wants to run would have the opportunity to do so. I believe it’s important for people to be physically active for both their physical and mental well-being.”

Getting started with guiding can be uncomfortable and even scary. It’s normal!

When running as a guide, the safety of the other runner is in your hands. Beginners may worry that they’ll do more harm than good. Those feelings are natural, Courtney says. “It’s normal to be intimidated by the unknown. However, it’s just like ripping off a Band-Aid. It can be scary at first but once you go out there and run, it feels organic and great.”

Courtney knows that these feelings are not exclusive to guides. “For runners with low vision, relying on a new guide can be uncomfortable. United in Stride does a wonderful job making things less intimidating for everyone.” Courtney encourages new guides and blind athletes to check out the tips and guiding videos offered on the United in Stride website.

You don’t need special skills. Just run, talk, pay attention and have fun!

Courtney recently completed the Charleston Half Marathon with Anthony Butler, the first blind individual to do all six major marathons. After the race, people asked her, “How she was able to run and guide?’’ She explains that guiding is simple: run, talk

and be aware of your surroundings. “There are so many visual cues we take for granted when we are running. Our job as guides is to call attention to turns, speed bumps or approaching runners so that our partner can run safely and confidently”.

It’s okay to ask questions!

“It’s okay if you don’t know everything,” Courtney shares. “It’s okay to ask what someone can or cannot see. It’s okay to ask how much information a runner prefers.” When Courtney was guiding Anthony, he told her that the most important thing that she needed to do while guiding him was to stop him if he needed to stop. “Sometimes that’s a physical reaction instead of a verbal one. It all comes back to having open communication about the cues someone needs.”

Typical questions that Courtney asks are:

· How much do you want me to talk?

· How much notice do you prefer for an obstacle/turn?

· Do you want to know about your surroundings/scenery?

Guiding can change the way you use your eyes and your perspective.

Courtney was surprised to discover how differently she uses her eyes when she guides versus running solo. “First, guiding Anthony during the Charleston Half Marathon was the honor of a lifetime. Also, that race showed me how little I focus on my surroundings when I run. I often feel very checked out when I run solo. Sometimes I’ll run a mile and then think ‘Where am I? I already finished that mile. I wasn’t even paying attention.’ Running on our old Charleston roads with Anthony and seeing how many potholes and obstacles that I’m not even in tune to when I run solo was alarming.”

Courtney’s work at ABVI and her guiding experiences have strengthened her perception about the capabilities of human beings and what people can do through all kinds of challenging scenarios.