Twelve visually impaired runners are set to race in the marathon next Sunday, confident for the first time of unfaltering support from the ‘buddy runners’ they have been training with since October, thanks to a new initiative by a city NGO
For weeks, the visually challenged runners and their guides have been training together while navigating traffic, pedestrians, and other obstacles such as debris (right) on roadsides. Pics/Ashish Raje
Most runners talk about switching off once they find their rhythm. This group can’t. On the training loop between Shivaji Park and Marine Drive, they run with a tether at the wrist or waist, a guide at their side, and a running commentary of potholes, crossings, slopes and sudden turns. If the guide misses a cue, the risk is instant.
They are visually impaired runners preparing for the Tata Mumbai Marathon that’s set to kick off on January 18. And this year, one major change will make all the difference for them — Instead of being paired with a stranger on race day, this time around, they have been practising for months with the same buddy runners from the NGO Heed India.
The idea came to long-time marathoner and trustee at Heed India, Jignesh Barasara, from a moment that stayed with him. During an early practice run, he missed warning his partner, Penav Mota, about a speed breaker. “His leg slipped… and that was my turning point,” he recalls. From then on, every bump, every uneven patch, every crossing became his responsibility. He realised that visually impaired runners don’t just need support at the start line. They need runners who understand their pace, their rhythm, and the road they are navigating together. That kind of attention can only come from training as a team, not just showing up as a volunteer.
Heed India has spent the past decade working with underserved communities through sports and public-health programmes. The buddy-runner programme grows out of the same idea: access, dignity, and a level playing field.
Marketing manager Siddesh Nayak says the pairing of a visually impaired runner with a veteran marathoner was crucial. Nayak says that their goal was to offer buddies who had run ample marathons, so that they would focus on the visually impaired runner’s goals instead of their own. Of course, pairing the runners with veterans also meant that pace could be matched.
All runners trained together for weeks, assessed pace and comfort, and found partners depending on their pace and timing. “During some runs, they get to know their speed. If it does not match, then we exchange,” Nayak says, explaining how it took them months to train and pair people for the upcoming marathon.
Penav Mota (left), who is 100 per cent visually challenged is tethered at the wrist to Heed India trustee Jignesh Barasara and senses any change in speed or direction through it
Penav Mota, a criminal lawyer who is 100 per cent Blind, has seen the consistency in practice change the way the run itself is conducted. The tether becomes a signal system, he explains, and trust is built one turn at a time. “If the rope becomes tight, I get to know if my buddy is fast or slow,” he says.
His earlier races often meant showing up and being assigned to any runner who was available. The intent was kind, but the mismatch could be risky, especially in crowds. Consistent training with the same buddy removes doubt. Pace, timing, hand signals, and even foot movements start to align. He says that this time around, he feels more confident and prepared for the 42-km full marathon.
Half-marathoner Lalita Pawar has had similar experiences. In the past, she often ran with volunteers who wanted to help but weren’t runners themselves. “During practice, nobody pays attention. Usually, volunteers are not fully aware of how they need to guide us,” she says. This time, as pairing was based on timing and goals, she says she feels excited to run. Pawar says. “On the day of the marathon, that bonding matters. The buddy runners have to have the mentality that this run is not about their timing, but ours.”
Running as a guide changes how you run. Barasara, who will be guiding Mota, calls it a different kind of effort. The focus is relentless: You have to read the road, narrate every change in terrain, stay alert when others drift into autopilot. “It’s not about my pace anymore,” he says. “I have to see Penav’s strengths and weaknesses. I can’t lose myself in the process… I am responsible for him.”
Over time, the two have found a rhythm that other runners notice. Feet landing in sync, strides aligned, rope steady between them. “Being a buddy runner has helped improve my concentration,” says Barasara.
However, long-distance categories for visually impaired runners remain limited. Many inclusive runs exist only as short symbolic circuits. Mota puts it bluntly: “There is nothing for long-distance runners. It can be demotivating.” He suggests that if the number of visually impaired runners is small, introduce timed challenges instead of keeping runners out. He also adds that organisers should build awareness so crowds understand why space matters. “They could simply send out an email to all participants informing them that there will be visually impaired runners among them. That way, if we accidentally bang into someone, it’s not awkward. Additionally, then every runner on the path can be more aware of their space.”
Nayak adds that registration itself is a hurdle, and support systems rarely extend beyond race entry. The work lies in training, safety, and continuity instead of token inclusion. “There’s no separate criteria for the visually impaired. This initiative has gone on smoothly, but our challenge was registering the runners, especially as the half-marathon was already full.” Nayak is positive that the 12 runners who have trained with them will reach the finish line in their desired time. “We have four runners running the full marathon, two are running the half marathon, and six are running the dream run, which is six kilometres,” he says.
Training began in October at dawn, and the runners, along with their buddies, have been practising every Sunday. After running for about 20-30 km during training, their nerves now give way to anticipation.
Barasara and Mota are thinking about the finish line they have earned together. Pawar is chasing a steady, confident run. The team is hoping the sight on race day — pairs running in sync, rope between them — shifts how the city reads ability on a marathon course.
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