How does a blind person train for a marathon?

TL;DR

Wayne Pope, a blind Royal Navy veteran, is training for the London Marathon by running hundreds of laps in a local park. His degenerative eye condition, retinitis pigmentosa, limits his vision, making familiar routes essential for his training.

Key points

Wayne Pope is a blind Royal Navy veteran.
He is training for the London Marathon.
Pope runs hundreds of laps in a local park.
His condition, retinitis pigmentosa, worsens his vision.
Familiar routes are essential for his training.

Mentioned in this story

Wayne Pope

London Marathon

Wayne stands in front of a green hedge, smiling at the camera. He is holding a cane and is wearing a blue top that says 'rebuilding lives after sight loss'.

Wayne Pope will run the London Marathon on Sunday [BBC]

A blind Royal Navy veteran who is running the London Marathon this weekend has trained by running hundreds of laps around the same park.

Wayne Pope, 45, from Bridgwater, is having to do three laps and a length to cover a mile in his local park because it is the only place he can train without a guide.

Pope's degenerative condition is known as retinitis pigmentosa, which worsens his vision over time. It means he cannot see what is coming towards him so he prefers to run familiar routes.

He said he was "buzzing" with excitement about getting the marathon under way on Sunday.

'Could easily trip'

Pope said his biggest obstacles were dog walkers and electric scooters and having to be constantly vigilant could be exhausting.

"My brain has to work a lot harder so that uses more energy," he said.

"I have to fight for those senses that others take for granted so it takes more energy and I have to concentrate harder."

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Pope served on board HMS Chatham and HMS Monmouth in his four-and-a-half years of service and he was diagnosed with his condition in 2022.

Q&A

How does Wayne Pope train for the London Marathon as a blind runner?

Wayne Pope trains by running hundreds of laps around a local park, which is the only place he can navigate safely without a guide.

What is retinitis pigmentosa and how does it affect Wayne Pope's vision?

Retinitis pigmentosa is a degenerative eye condition that progressively worsens vision, making it difficult for Wayne Pope to see obstacles while running.

Why does Wayne Pope prefer running familiar routes for training?

Wayne Pope prefers familiar routes because they allow him to run safely without the risk of encountering unexpected obstacles.

What motivates Wayne Pope to run the London Marathon despite his blindness?

Wayne Pope is motivated to run the London Marathon to demonstrate resilience and inspire others facing similar challenges.