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Our mission is to support the blind and visually impaired community in the United States and Canada by offering a free tool for uniting walkers and runners of all levels with guides.

Our steps for getting started:

  1. Sign up and create a profile.
  2. Find a compatible partner.
  3. Send messages to members.
  4. Get out there and have fun safely!

Our Community

Our self-service platform allows blind and low vision athletes to connect with guides, and it is a way to build friendships, bonds, and community. Check out what we’re up to through our Instagram feed, Facebook, YouTube, and check out our Blog, our News & Stories, Testimonials, and Highlighted Events.

Happy October! New month, new social media contest! This month, we want to hear about your training goals. Whether you are training for a marathon, a local fun run, or looking to get out for a walk in the neighborhood, we want to hear what your goals are this fall! Post a picture sharing your goals and tag us @unitedinstride for a chance to win a pair of PUMA running shoes!

P.S. Stay tuned for the winner of our September contest!

[Image description: Promotional graphic for a contest by United in Stride, featuring a chance to win Puma running shoes and instructions in the caption. The announcement for the winner is scheduled for November. The image includes the logos of United in Stride and Puma with the tagline `Forever Faster.`]

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Happy October! New month, new social media contest! This month, we want to hear about your training goals. Whether you are training for a marathon, a local fun run, or looking to get out for a walk in the neighborhood, we want to hear what your goals are this fall! Post a picture sharing your goals and tag us @unitedinstride for a chance to win a pair of PUMA running shoes! P.S. Stay tuned for the winner of our September contest! [Image description: Promotional graphic for a contest by United in Stride, featuring a chance to win Puma running shoes and instructions in the caption. The announcement for the winner is scheduled for November. The image includes the logos of United in Stride and Puma with the tagline 'Forever Faster.']

Congratulations to @franciscolucien who is our September social media contest winner!! Lucien matched with guides Daniel and Dean to complete a marathon with a successful time of 3:06! Congratulations to all three of you, and we are so happy that you were able to connect on United in Stride!

If you didn`t catch our October social media contest in our newsletter this week, stay tuned for our announcement on social media coming soon!

[Image description: Three young athletes in athletic attire smiling together after a race. The athlete in the center is wearing a medal.]

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Congratulations to @franciscolucien who is our September social media contest winner!! Lucien matched with guides Daniel and Dean to complete a marathon with a successful time of 3:06! Congratulations to all three of you, and we are so happy that you were able to connect on United in Stride! If you didn't catch our October social media contest in our newsletter this week, stay tuned for our announcement on social media coming soon! [Image description: Three young athletes in athletic attire smiling together after a race. The athlete in the center is wearing a medal.]

Congratulations to @franciscolucien who is our September social media contest winner!! Lucien matched with guides Daniel and Dean to complete a marathon with a successful time of 3:06! Congratulations to all three of you, and we are so happy that you were able to connect on United in Stride!

If you didn`t catch our October social media contest in our newsletter this week, stay tuned for our announcement on social media coming soon!

[Image description: Three young athletes in athletic attire smiling together after a race. The athlete in the center is wearing a medal.]

Open
Congratulations to @franciscolucien who is our September social media contest winner!! Lucien matched with guides Daniel and Dean to complete a marathon with a successful time of 3:06! Congratulations to all three of you, and we are so happy that you were able to connect on United in Stride! If you didn't catch our October social media contest in our newsletter this week, stay tuned for our announcement on social media coming soon! [Image description: Three young athletes in athletic attire smiling together after a race. The athlete in the center is wearing a medal.]

If you liked the piece that we ran about Will Barkan the other day and want to read more, you`re in luck! He`s also profiled on the running news site I Run Far, and we loved reading it! Read the profile at the link in our bio!

[Image description: a group of people in athletic attire smiling together at the finish of a race.]

Image thumbnail from linked article at irunfar.com

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If you liked the piece that we ran about Will Barkan the other day and want to read more, you're in luck! He's also profiled on the running news site I Run Far, and we loved reading it! Read the profile at the link in our bio! [Image description: a group of people in athletic attire smiling together at the finish of a race.] Image thumbnail from linked article at irunfar.com

Did you know there are 19 fields that you can edit on your United In Stride Profile? If you haven`t gone in to edit your profile recently, probably not! There`s lots of great information that you are able to share about yourself, like your level of guided running experience, whether you can speak ASL, and your other athletic interests! Make sure your profile is fully up to date to increase your chances of finding partners!

[Image description: Graphic reminder to update all 19 fields of your profile, featuring neon green list elements and a hand icon pointing on a dark blue background.]

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Did you know there are 19 fields that you can edit on your United In Stride Profile? If you haven't gone in to edit your profile recently, probably not! There's lots of great information that you are able to share about yourself, like your level of guided running experience, whether you can speak ASL, and your other athletic interests! Make sure your profile is fully up to date to increase your chances of finding partners! [Image description: Graphic reminder to update all 19 fields of your profile, featuring neon green list elements and a hand icon pointing on a dark blue background.]

We were lucky enough to sit down with blind ultramarathoner Will Barkan for an interview which is now live on our blog! Check out our profile on Will at the link in our bio!

[Image description: Two individuals smiling after a race, wearing athletic gear with one in a red shirt and a medal and the other in a blue shirt labeled "United in Stride".]

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We were lucky enough to sit down with blind ultramarathoner Will Barkan for an interview which is now live on our blog! Check out our profile on Will at the link in our bio! [Image description: Two individuals smiling after a race, wearing athletic gear with one in a red shirt and a medal and the other in a blue shirt labeled "United in Stride".]

In case you haven`t had a chance to check it out yet, we are excited to announce a fresh new look for our website`s homepage! All of the old features that you know and use frequently are still there, like the navigation bar across the top of the page, the Find a Partner button, and the Sign Up button.

But we`re also featuring other exciting things more prominently! First thing you see is a new photo banner with regularly rotating pictures of community members. Send us your photos and you might just get to see yourself on the site! We also have a step-by-step guide for how to use the site as well as our Guiding 101 video prominently featured. Then as you scroll down, we also have segments dedicated to Our Community, our Blog, and News, all of which update on a regular basis with our social media, newsletter, and other news coverage and highlight our community members like YOU! We`re super excited to make our homepage a dynamic and community-oriented space that you`ll be excited to visit often!

Check out unitedinstride.com!

[Image description: Logo of United in Stride above text announcing `Homepage Redesign!` with an icon of a computer screen displaying a globe.]

Open
In case you haven't had a chance to check it out yet, we are excited to announce a fresh new look for our website's homepage! All of the old features that you know and use frequently are still there, like the navigation bar across the top of the page, the Find a Partner button, and the Sign Up button. But we're also featuring other exciting things more prominently! First thing you see is a new photo banner with regularly rotating pictures of community members. Send us your photos and you might just get to see yourself on the site! We also have a step-by-step guide for how to use the site as well as our Guiding 101 video prominently featured. Then as you scroll down, we also have segments dedicated to Our Community, our Blog, and News, all of which update on a regular basis with our social media, newsletter, and other news coverage and highlight our community members like YOU! We're super excited to make our homepage a dynamic and community-oriented space that you'll be excited to visit often! Check out unitedinstride.com! [Image description: Logo of United in Stride above text announcing 'Homepage Redesign!' with an icon of a computer screen displaying a globe.]

Our Blog

Welcome to our blog! Here you’ll find stories from across the United in Stride community, helpful tips and training guides, and more interesting perspectives from around the running, fitness, and low vision communities more broadly! Check in for stories from our monthly newsletters and more!

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News & Stories

Check out our latest news and media coverage to learn more about our members and community and how United In Stride is breaking down barriers for individuals with visual impairments.

Will Barkan and his guide cross the finish line of a running event

Western States runner aims to become first visually impaired finisher

One competitor has a chance to make history at this year’s Western States Endurance Run, and all he has to do is cross the finish line at Placer High School. Of course, that is easier said than done, as the 100-mile course is as unforgiving as they come, but Mill Valley’s Will Barkan is determined to become the first visually impaired runner to finish the world’s oldest ultramarathon.

Read more

Two people standing together with the words "MAJORs Magaine" above them. Text reads "Over Land And Sea: Separated by an ocean, united by the Majors. A Six Start story like no other."

Overland and Sea: Separated by an ocean, united by the Majors. A Six Star story like no other.

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David Han in a white post-marathon wrap with two other runners inside a tent after the Boston Marathon

United In Stride Opens David Han’s Eyes To New Horizons

In 2014, a mentor connected David Han, who has been blind since birth, with the founder of United In Stride (UIS), Richard Hunter. That connection changed David’s life.

Read more

See More Stories

Highlighted Events

Throughout the year United In Stride partners with race directors and other para-athletic organizations to make race participation as easy and as fun as possible for visually impaired athletes. Check out some of the upcoming events we’ll be at!

Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara Half Marathon and 5k

November 3, 2024

https://santabarbarahalf.com/

See More Events

Testimonials

Finding the right partner can be challenging, and incredibly rewarding for visually impaired individuals and guides alike. Check out what some of our members have to say about their experiences!

“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.”
Jessica L.
Blind/VI
Denver, CO
“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.”
Sydney F.
Guide
Franklin, MI
“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!”
Ed C.
Guide
Rumford, RI
“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.”
Erich M.
Blind/VI
Littleton, MA
“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.”
Matt S.
Guide
“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.”
Kate K.
Blind/VI
Watertown, MA
“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!?”
Andrea C.
Guide
Maynard, MA
“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.”
Adrian B
Blind/VI
Los Angeles, CA
“I love to run, and my guides make it possible.”
Dan B.
Blind/VI
Fort Collins, CO
“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.”
Tina A.
Blind/VI
Alexandria, VA
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