Western States 100 - Inclusive for Blind/Visually Impaired runners who need Guides



June 29, 2019 - History was made today in the world of trail running at the ultra-distance. The oldest 100-mile organized trail race - The Western States 100 - become inclusive today for blind and visually impaired runners who need guides to compete.

At 5 am Pacific Daylight Time, a legally blind runner started the race with 368 other racers. The legally blind runner also had a guide - so there were actually 370 people who began the race. This is an important point. The field limit size for the race is 369 people. However, the blind runner was able to have a guide and the field size was not compromised.  The Western States 100 has set an historic precedent for itself - it will allow blind and visually impaired runners to have guides.

One year ago, this was not the case at the Western States 100 trail race. The race had prohibited visually impaired and blind runners from bringing their own guides. Visually impaired and blind runners were told they had to "follow another runner", or if they wanted a guide of their choosing, their guide must also be selected in the lottery - less than 5% of of applicants are selected, and the chances of the visually impaired/blind runner and his/her guide being selected in the same lottery was  0.25% - or virtually impossible. This discriminatory policy effectively banned visually impaired/blind runners who need guides. Another complication is that blind and visually impaired runners typically use several guides when running the 100 mile distance.

ALL OF THIS HAS CHANGED NOW.

To all visually impaired and blind runners who qualify for the Western States 100 - you should apply!!!!! You can become the 1st visually impaired/blind runner to officially finish the race. (The blind runner who started today timed out)

The RD and race still have some evolving to do. Of note is that the race has a "Gender Committee" to handle "pregnancy issues/deferrals" for female participants. How about expanding the "Gender Committee" to become the "Gender, Disability & Exigent Circumstances Committee" to handle sensitive issues that are sure to arise. And because the committee should be representative of the issues which it handles, there should be an experienced ultra-runner with a disability to help set and form policy.



Jason is an expert at teaching people to transform Dreams into Reality. He has amassed a lifetime of expertise in the field as a General Manager for General Electric leading large teams, where he ran a $400 million dollar business, he was a former leader of Global Operations for a Fortune 100 company, an attorney and CEO of a non-profit that helps children with Autism. In addition to his professional experience, he is a US Paralympian, holds 15 world records in ultra-running and mountain biking, is an author, a highly sought after motivational and business speaker and is the 1st and only blind person to run across America - 3,063 miles where he averaged 51.5 miles/day for 59.5 days. For speaking and media inquiries visit www.jasonromero.net 

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