“Without my many guides, running would be a solitary slog on a treadmill. With them, my running is a chance to make new friends, to race, and to be a part of a great community. In short, because of my guides, running brings joy and freedom.”
“Guide runners are my eyes. I trust them, as they tell me everything I need to know along our path. I am a visually impaired runner, and a happy runner.”
“Being able to participate as a guide absolutely reinvigorated my passion to run. I am now able to enjoy the sport I love more than ever, while making it possible for a visually impaired athlete to do the same. WIN-WIN.”
“Guiding has brought me such pleasure in a sport I have come to love over the past four years. I want to help anyone I can to accomplish their goals, from sprints to half’s and any training in between. Let’s have some fun!”
“Though most guides humbly disagree, I consider guiding to be a purely selfless act. I mean, they give up their own race – while still taking on all of the same effort – simply to allow me to race. Just incredible people.”
“Guiding a blind athlete opened my eyes to a whole new dimension in the sport of triathlon. I was apprehensive about it at first but learning to work together and be that much more attentive on the course has helped me view racing in a while new light.”
“Since going blind, I’ve looked for a way to push myself physically while staying safe. About a half-mile into my first run with a guide I knew I’d found it! More importantly, I’ve found a greater confidence in and respect for myself.”
“The idea that I could help someone while doing something that’s also good for myself physically and mentally seemed like a no brainer. Heck why aren’t more people doing it!?”
“Running guides have made a huge impact in my life. Not only do they generously donate their time and effort to assist me at any event, but they also pace me and motivate me to compete at a high level.”
“I love to run, and my guides make it possible.”
“Without my many guides, running would be a solitary slog on a treadmill. With them, my running is a chance to make new friends, to race, and to be a part of a great community. In short, because of my guides, running brings joy and freedom.”
“Guide runners are my eyes. I trust them, as they tell me everything I need to know along our path. I am a visually impaired runner, and a happy runner.”
“Being able to participate as a guide absolutely reinvigorated my passion to run. I am now able to enjoy the sport I love more than ever, while making it possible for a visually impaired athlete to do the same. WIN-WIN.”
“Guiding has brought me such pleasure in a sport I have come to love over the past four years. I want to help anyone I can to accomplish their goals, from sprints to half’s and any training in between. Let’s have some fun!”
“Though most guides humbly disagree, I consider guiding to be a purely selfless act. I mean, they give up their own race – while still taking on all of the same effort – simply to allow me to race. Just incredible people.”
“Guiding a blind athlete opened my eyes to a whole new dimension in the sport of triathlon. I was apprehensive about it at first but learning to work together and be that much more attentive on the course has helped me view racing in a while new light.”
“Since going blind, I’ve looked for a way to push myself physically while staying safe. About a half-mile into my first run with a guide I knew I’d found it! More importantly, I’ve found a greater confidence in and respect for myself.”
“The idea that I could help someone while doing something that’s also good for myself physically and mentally seemed like a no brainer. Heck why aren’t more people doing it!?”
“Running guides have made a huge impact in my life. Not only do they generously donate their time and effort to assist me at any event, but they also pace me and motivate me to compete at a high level.”
“I love to run, and my guides make it possible.”
“Without my many guides, running would be a solitary slog on a treadmill. With them, my running is a chance to make new friends, to race, and to be a part of a great community. In short, because of my guides, running brings joy and freedom.”
![Huge thank you to everyone who came out to the various events that United in Stride was at last week! Our members and ambassadors were present at multiple events across the country, and we had an awesome time getting out there, making connections with the community, and being active! This picture is from one of the events in California, where we had 14 blind and low vision athletes, 14 guides, and some additional blind/low vision athletes who we met at the event!
[Image description: Group of runners wearing medals smiling after completing a race, gathered together for a photo on a sunny day.]](https://scontent-ord5-3.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.75761-15/485836884_17942236670981734_7692149551360954717_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=RfTBLRzhOi4Q7kNvwG0Cc6V&_nc_oc=AdnmXYnNcAgzW7ybyQE2GAy_82dDOLmxjb1ZKCaBGk0oFAzIyLV004am39rsSVtwIWY&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-3.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=bmhIaYSaGw9F7PuB43ELpQ&oh=00_AfHrA9FHgISUt0Xq0U8DOKLDU0-he1fB8noiA9n9OVM3zQ&oe=6812F621)
![Did you know that United in Stride offers new activities beyond running and walking? Thanks to our brand-new expansion, our website now offers opportunities to connect for hiking, tandem cycling, and triathlon!
Log in now to update your profile with these new activity preferences and make some new connections! www.unitedinstride.com
[Image description: Promotional image for United in Stride featuring three sections: top shows two people hiking in the mountains, middle displays two people tandem cycling on a scenic road, and bottom captures a group participating in a triathlon event.]](https://scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.75761-15/480439967_17938261880981734_77296370502600432_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=17iy_I9Og-QQ7kNvwGhcxnM&_nc_oc=AdlxEeOkeGPdiQrZiPKBxFO6AGiAI6fAPju9PxFCvDkZhtbFjXE7D1mwLvApN-CGpvk&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=bmhIaYSaGw9F7PuB43ELpQ&oh=00_AfE-AVJcWrN3XRKOWgc4o4PYIsu5LlcUHx17HnS8tG67-Q&oe=6812F7DF)
![We are incredibly grateful to our sponsoring partner, Choosing To See, for funding our latest expansion! Thanks to their generous support, United in Stride now seamlessly connects blind and low-vision hikers, tandem cyclists, and triathletes with sighted guides—just as we do for runners and walkers. Their commitment empowers our community, expanding access to more activities than ever before. Thank you, Choosing To See, for making this possible!
Learn more about Choosing to See at their website, linked in our bio!
[Image description: Thank you poster featuring an image of two individuals biking, with logos and a website link for Choosing to See.]](https://scontent-ord5-3.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.75761-15/480727815_17937999068981734_5989767611906097332_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=4LoktG3n5LEQ7kNvwGvUxcL&_nc_oc=AdkfyNMajUf1rTfWFwFMm2BO3UyPpFFNRF2EZUmVIVdy0eU3WRAMeid51vveJZ9OOb0&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-3.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=bmhIaYSaGw9F7PuB43ELpQ&oh=00_AfGkE9CsxlNkUE7c-YeTEVgdNBcmK72kFzyrsGK7EHyPpg&oe=68130494)
Hiking
How to Update Your Profile & Get Started:
Log in to your United in Stride account.
Click "My Account" (top right corner).
Select "My Profile" from the drop-down menu.
Under "Athlete Info," check which fields need updating.
Click "Edit" under the "Profile" tab.
Complete or update your profile—including:
Your location (if you've moved)
Your experience running with or as a guide
Your availability for Hiking, Tandem Cycling, or Triathlon
Tandem Cyclists: Indicate if you have access to a tandem bike
Scroll down and click "Save Changes" before exiting—changes won’t save automatically!
Run a search to find others in your area who are ready to connect for a hike, ride, or training session!
Questions? Email us at info@unitedinstride.com, and we’ll be happy to help!
We’re excited to see this new update bring even more connections and opportunities to our amazing community. Happy training!
Click the link in our bio to log into your profile now!![Featured Member Friday! Meet Scott Hudson, pictured here with two of his guides, including United in Stride Ambassador Cheyenne Meyer. Scott has used United in Stride to continue living a healthy life at his own speed.
Read more on our blog, link in bio!
[Image description: Three people smiling outdoors, the person in the center wears a headband and a shirt labeled "BLIND," while the person on the right wears a shirt labeled "GUIDE." They are surrounded by trees under a clear sky.]](https://scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/472738994_2361257780895064_7452352569440992722_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=MS1JiXRxF98Q7kNvwHM442c&_nc_oc=Admpz8SyDPxiiq5d1QBTliEYkn-BpghJiauLR3BjfxVH52MGK-iWLr6qobSsHMTxhAw&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfG_yRHX5xguz9Lk1qiitRwezsjcOu89Bfs7SCcpjs-8gQ&oe=6812D963)
![MABVI and our United in Stride program will be hosting virtual booths this Friday from 10am - 4pm at the Blind Health Expo hosted by @accessiblepharmacy. This event is free for all attendees.
Register at the link in our bio!
[Image Description: Advertisement for Accessible Pharmacy's booth at the 3rd annual virtual Blind Health Expo, happening from 10 AM to 4 PM ET. Features a registration link and a graphic of a sun.]](https://scontent-ord5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/469278046_935371428000918_4908873769676590102_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_aid=0&_nc_ohc=rvcqbHU9oecQ7kNvwFRdlp5&_nc_oc=AdlgUSlOf-VVeaPe5LYMRImeMkHLnmbEU3ci5XhNibHRBsVmBe_n6mP7iiUGXcgwujU&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfG9I8Nw9PvRPYctG2ZEOjWM9lcGnVGglrNA0D633z4wvg&oe=6812E6CC)
![Please join us in congratulating blind runner Sonya Chapnick and her guide Aimee Spector who completed the Santa Barbara Half Marathon together just over a week ago. Sonya and Aimee connected on United in Stride, and because of their work together, Sonya completed her first half marathon! We hope that you have more awesome runs ahead together!
[Image descriptions: 1) Two people smiling under the 'Santa Barbara Half & 5K Start' banner at a race event, one holding a white cane and wearing a "blind" vest. 2) Two women smiling in athletic attire, one wearing a "guide" vest and one wearing a "blind" vest. 3) Two athletes at a sporting event, one wearing a "GUIDE" bib and the other a "BLIND" bib, posing near a tent.]](https://scontent-ord5-3.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/466973856_1534548177226057_6269210460777122314_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=hMfsoBiSck8Q7kNvwHMIUVw&_nc_oc=AdkjSzGFbgzDIjclbrZ1nb88StFXbXcAzfypREyVkgHGkHmH8dcZIkB5k2jxx-GmVyw&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-3.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfF95AthJOg451BKnNod7A7poOUPgd2N_XgC7PcOrOg0Ow&oe=6812FF41)
