![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Kelsi-crossing-the-Finish-Line-in-Sturgis-300x213.jpg\")
I often get asked, \u201cWhat is the hardest part about running in regards to my blindness?\u201d As with most things in my life, my answer is: not much. Running as a sighted individual and running as a blind individual is about the same. I still have to work on my endurance and speed; I still have to work on building my core muscles; I still have to run on a consistent basis; and I have days that suck, and days that are amazing \u2026 just like all the runners I have ever met in my life. I do sometimes step off the edge of the side walk and roll my ankle, but lucky for me I have rubber ankles and they just pop right back. I wouldn\u2019t say this is hard though. After all I don\u2019t get hurt when it happens. If anything, it is harder on the person who is running with me acting as my guide. They have to watch for everything, they have to tell me when there is a turn, when there is a curb, when there is a crack, and any other unforeseen circumstances. Out of the two of us, my guide definitely has the hardest job.<\/p>\n
This being said, there is one difficulty that I have found as a blind runner, and that is finding people who would be willing and able to run with me and act as my guide on a consistent basis. Not to say that this is anyone\u2019s fault, or to make them feel bad \u2026 being a guide is a hard job and I get that. I also understand that people have their own lives and committing to running with me consistently may not be easy to pencil in to daily life. So to overcome this, I have built up a community of runners. Fortunately for me, the area where I live has a great running community that has already been established. When I decided I wanted to start running I got in contact with someone who is very prominent in the running community. He in turn put me in touch with a few other runners. One of which responded, and I am so unbelievably fortunate that she did. She is pretty much my running base. She was able to commit to running with me once a week. She is absolutely wonderful! I can\u2019t say it enough.<\/p>\n
Since I run with her once a week, I just have to worry about finding a running partner for the other 1-2 times I run in a week. Between races, the beginning running clinic I was a part of, and the established running community, I have found many people who are willing to be a guide for me that I can contact for those other days. I have also joined a facebook group for some runners in the area, so if I am having trouble finding a running partner, I can just post on there. I don\u2019t succeed in finding someone all the time, and it took a while to build up the contacts that I do have but having built my community so much in the past six months, I usually find someone to run with.<\/p>\n
Running is not easy. It is difficult in many ways. I\u2019m not very fast and I am still working hard on building endurance and speed. But having this amazing community has helped immensely. I have met wonderful people and have made many friends. My running partners are very supportive and encouraging, and I have found that the running community in general is extremely supportive. They want people to succeed. All people. Disability or no. They are awesome people. Starting to run and joining this community is one of the best decisions I have ever made.<\/p>\n
I think that the hardest part of starting anything new as a blind person is building that community. A lot of times we need that support. I know that I am capable of many many things without sighted help. I could get a treadmill and run on my own, but I prefer running outside with other people. And so I have to rely on sighted people for that help. I have had to learn to advocate for myself and not be afraid to keep asking. I have always been told to advocate, but never really understood what that meant or how to do it. But running has really helped me learn how to. I\u2019ve learned to ask and keep asking. I\u2019ve learned to be bolder in my approaches. Not to be afraid to put it out there that I need help. Not to worry that I am bothering someone by continuing to ask and put myself out there. It\u2019s been a difficult thing to learn, and I am still learning. But it really is the only way to make things happen.<\/p>\n
So for those of you who struggle with this like I do, don\u2019t be afraid to put yourself out there. Don\u2019t be afraid to be \u201cpushy.\u201d Chances are, you\u2019re not. People aren\u2019t judging you, you aren\u2019t bothering them. And honestly, if you are, that\u2019s not your problem. If they are bothered by it, that is their issue, not yours. So if there is something new you want to do, find that person and contact them. And if that falls through, try again. Don\u2019t be afraid to be bold. To build that community you need to advocate. To advocate you sometimes just need to let go. Let go of your worries and anxieties, and just be brave and take that step towards your goal.<\/p>\n
So yes, I am extremely grateful for running and what it has brought to me: not only exercise, new friends, a new wonderful community; but also personal growth. What I am thankful for this Thanksgiving is running.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This is me! Hope you enjoyed the read. I love questions, so if you Thanks<\/p>\n Kelsi<\/p>\n Thank you for listening! Running to Thanksgiving by Kelsi Hansen Thanksgiving? It\u2019s already Thanksgiving? I can\u2019t believe it! The years fly by, don\u2019t they? Normally my family has a small Turkey Day, planned at the last second, and we all stuff as much food as we can into our gullets. Nothing too unusual, just the normal Thanksgiving. However, this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[17,239,495],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bapresents","category-blog","category-lifeenrichment"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6rcRg-13M","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5650,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=5650","url_meta":{"origin":4078,"position":0},"title":"Leveling the Playing Field with Darkness and Challenging yourself in Full Sight – Kelsi Hansen Stars in Theater Production of Wait Until Dark.","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"January 22, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Show Summary: Kelsi Hansen is starring in the Waterloo Playhouse Theater production of \u201cWait Until Dark.\u201d She will be playing the part of Susan, a Blind person threatened by a murderous villain. Audrey Hepburn played the part of Susan on the big screen years ago, but a huge difference Kelsey\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "BlindAbilities Presents"","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"Poster of Wait Until Dark showing Kelsi Hansen with lit match looking serious.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Poster-of-Wait-Until-Dark-with-Kelsi-Hansen-with-lit-match-looking-serious.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Poster-of-Wait-Until-Dark-with-Kelsi-Hansen-with-lit-match-looking-serious.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Poster-of-Wait-Until-Dark-with-Kelsi-Hansen-with-lit-match-looking-serious.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4062,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4062","url_meta":{"origin":4078,"position":1},"title":"Being a Single Mom Who Also Happens to be Blind – Blog Post by Kelsi Hansen","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"November 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Being a Single Mom Who Also Happens to be Blind By Kelsi Hansen \u00a0 I am Kelsi, and I am a mother. A mother who happens to be single, and a mother who also happens to be blind. But first and foremost, I am a mother. People are constantly praising\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=239"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4136,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4136","url_meta":{"origin":4078,"position":2},"title":"Dreaming of a Blind Christmas – A Blog Post By Kelsi Hansen","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"December 13, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Dreaming of a Blind Christmas - By Kelsi Hansen Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday. Actually it\u2019s a tossup between Christmas and Halloween, but that\u2019s beside the point. It is the holiday season for those of us who celebrate December holidays, and it is one of the busiest times of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=239"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4351,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4351","url_meta":{"origin":4078,"position":3},"title":"Bird Box From a Blind Perspective – Good or Bad? By Kelsi Hansen","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"January 13, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"There has been a lot of hype lately involving Bird Box, and the Bird Box Challenge in the blind community. I\u2019ve heard: Bird Box gives an unrealistic view of blindness, and the Bird Box Challenge is dangerous. And this is true. It is definitely not advisable to blind fold yourself\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=239"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4119,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4119","url_meta":{"origin":4078,"position":4},"title":"Oopsies with Blind Mama — By Kelsi Hansen","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"December 4, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Oopsies with Blind Mama -- By Kelsi Hansen Being a parent means that your children are going to have oopsies, and some of them will be your fault. Being a blind parent means that more of them will be your fault. Okay, okay \u2026 not necessarily. I cause some accidents\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=239"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4226,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4226","url_meta":{"origin":4078,"position":5},"title":"Tips and Tricks With a Blind Perspective. 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So I\u2019ve been trying to think of different ways that I have adapted my life, such as folding the wrapping paper\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=239"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4078","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4078"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4078\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4141,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4078\/revisions\/4141"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4078"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4078"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4078"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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