From six pairs in 2014 to 312 in 2026: a sport transformed

In 2014, the Schneider Electric Paris Marathon welcomed an official “visually impaired athlete plus guide” category for the first time, with six registered pairs. The organization was just getting started, logistics were improvised, and an adapted starting corral was arranged at the last minute. A decade later, the same race features 312 official pairs, a 52-fold increase, with a dedicated corral, special bibs, volunteer guide staff, and even a separate classification recognized by the French Athletics Federation.

This growth is part of a worldwide trend. Since 2018, the Boston Marathon has doubled its contingent of visually impaired runners. The Berlin Marathon offers introductory sessions. The New York City Marathon holds the absolute record, with 487 pairs registered in November 2025. France, long behind on accessibility, has caught up quickly thanks to several active organizations: AS Course Paris, Courir Ensemble, Vue d'Ensemble, and the French Athletics Federation through its adaptive-sports commission.

The figure. The fastest blind French runner in 2026, Mohamed L., age 38 and from Lyon, completed the Paris Marathon in 2 hours, 47 minutes, and 12 seconds, just 12 minutes behind the category world record of 2:35.

How it works: tether, voice, and equipment

The connecting tether

At the heart of the system, a braided tether approximately 12 to 20 inches long connects the runner's wrist to the guide's. Flexible but strong, it conveys direction through subtle changes in tension. When the guide pulls left, the runner turns; when the guide accelerates, the tether tightens slightly. Through training, the pair develops a tactile language that is almost invisible to outside observers.

Voice communication

“Small hole on the left in five meters.” “Mile marker 12 in three steps.” “Aid station on the right; I'll get you a sponge.” The guide speaks continuously and calmly, with exact precision. The runner says little to conserve breath but must be able to report pain or ask for water. Some pairs establish a short code: one tap on the tether means slow down, and two taps mean they need to talk.

Required and recommended equipment

  • A distinctive guide bib supplied by the organizers and marked “pacer” or “guide.”
  • A fluorescent yellow vest to remain visible to other runners.
  • A double hydration belt to carry gels and water for both partners.
  • A phone, required in case of a medical emergency.
  • Sunglasses and a cap for runners sensitive to residual light.

Testimonial: Karim, 34, and his guide Pascal, 51

Karim Belkacem lost his sight at age 26 because of advanced retinitis pigmentosa. Pascal Mariani, a computer engineer who has been passionate about running for 20 years, met him in 2022 at an introductory session organized by Courir Ensemble. Since then, they have run three half-marathons and two marathons together.

Karim: “At first, I was afraid of hitting something, afraid of falling, afraid of holding everyone hostage to my pace. Pascal told me, ‘You run; I'll see for both of us.’ We started with ten kilometers in Parc Monceau. By the end, I was laughing like a kid. That's what hooked me: feeling that I had regained my speed.”

Pascal: “Guiding means learning to run differently. I no longer think about my stride; I think about the ground, obstacles, and traffic. At first, it's mentally exhausting because you're constantly hypervigilant. Now it has become automatic. Karim is my best friend, and we share this crazy pursuit together.”

This year in Paris, they finished in 3 hours and 42 minutes, a personal best as a pair. Karim wore a shirt reading “He's my eyes,” a nod to Pascal. At the finish, they both cried.

Preparation: physical, mental, and shared

Physical preparation

Training is the same as for a sighted runner, with a few nuances. Step cadence is often slightly higher because runners shorten their stride as a precaution. Long training runs of 17 to 20 miles should be completed as a pair to refine communication. Track intervals help build speed without the risk of obstacles.

Mental preparation

A blind runner must accept trusting the guide completely for 26.2 miles. Any tension increases fatigue. Several coaches recommend visualization, controlled breathing, and even meditation to help runners let go.

Preparing as a pair

This is what separates a novice pair from an experienced one: at least six months of shared runs before a marathon, a halfway test at a half-marathon, and a systematic debrief after every long run to adjust communication, hydration, and the handling of climbs and descents.

Other accessible marathons around the world

  • Lyon Marathon (Run In Lyon): 89 pairs in 2025. A flat course, welcoming atmosphere, and good entry point for a first marathon as a pair.
  • Nantes Marathon: 56 pairs in 2025 and a dedicated welcome team in the start village.
  • New York City Marathon: 487 pairs in 2025, a world-leading organization, and a unique atmosphere through Brooklyn and the Bronx.
  • Berlin Marathon: 312 pairs in 2025 and one of the world's fastest courses because it is so flat; Kelvin Kiptum set the overall world record in 2023.
  • Boston Marathon: a demanding course with Heartbreak Hill, but accessible to pairs through a specific qualifying process.

AI for training: Strava and Lumyeye Pro voice Maps

Accessible AI apps have transformed everyday training for blind runners. Where every outing once required a partner, runners can now train solo in safe conditions on familiar routes.

Strava

The leading performance-tracking app supports VoiceOver and announces pace, distance, and time aloud. Strava segments let blind and sighted runners compare their performance on defined portions of a route.

Lumyeye Pro voice Maps

Our AI voice Maps routes announce turns and distances at intersections continuously without touching the screen. This assistant supplements a white cane or guide dog; it does not replace them and must not be used to decide when to cross a street.

Lumyeye Pro Vision Live

The Vision Live travel mode streams the camera's video feed in real time and answers spoken questions on demand, such as “What's in front of me?” or “Read this sign.” The AI does not describe anything spontaneously; it is an on-demand assistant, not a continuous narration system. Vision Live is a visual assistant. It does not replace a guide or cane during a run and must never be used to decide when to cross.

The spirit of partnership: beyond sport

What stands out in every conversation with these runners is less the athletic performance than the quality of the human bond. The marathon becomes a reason to form deep friendships, spend hours talking on long runs, and develop a kind of trust few sporting experiences share. Guides often talk about the return they receive: they gain as much as the blind runner.

Several organizations recruit volunteer guides throughout the year. You do not need to be an elite athlete; you only need to be faster than the runner you accompany and bring some humility. To learn more, contact AS Course Paris or the French Athletics Federation's adaptive-sports commission. If you are blind and tempted by the adventure, most major marathons offer pairs a free or discounted charity bib.

See you next year on the streets of Paris or elsewhere to beat the record of 312 pairs. The race is waiting for you.

Sources and references

Article written by Alban Clochet, founder of Lumyeye. First names were anonymized at the subjects' request.