Running an international Marathon without sight!
Training for a marathon demands dedication, consistency, and resilience, but guiding a visually impaired athlete adds an entirely different layer of responsibility.
Injuries suck for any athlete, but this moves to a whole new level when someone else is relying on you, and when pain strikes, it doesn’t just impact your performance; it affects the athlete who's been training hard with you.
One of our patients, a running coach and guide for a visually impaired friend in the New York City Marathon, described this perfectly. After months of struggling with foot pain after completing an Ironman, he reached a point where running was barely possible:
“I cannot thank Andrew Jones enough for what he has done for my foot over the past few months at Waikato Podiatry. After completing Ironman 2025, I injured my foot. I finally got an ultrasound after my physio suggested an appointment at Waikato Podiatry. From then on, things got better. After six months of pain and not really being able to run (side note: I am a running coach), Andrew was able to pinpoint the problem and professionally design some insoles, which allowed my fat pad and heel to heal. Without his assistance, I fear I would not have been able to experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of guiding my visually impaired friend at the New York City Marathon. For this, I will be grateful.”
“People ask me why I'm a podiatrist. I think the above is a pretty good answer that sums it up well . Keeping dreams alive ”
Andrew Jones, lead podiatrist
Imagine finishing an endurance event with your body exhausted and your foot pain so severe that it begins to affect your work. Now add to that the responsibility of being a guide runner for a visually impaired friend, and you simply have to keep moving. This is when the expertise of a podiatrist becomes essential. We support you through every stage of healing, helping you continue training safely and sustainably. Ignoring foot pain can take away the opportunities you value most, but early, accurate treatment can give them back.
Foot pain is very common
Foot and heel pain are among the most common complaints among runners, particularly during high-volume marathon training. Plantar heel pain (commonly known as plantar fasciitis) affects up to 7–12% of adults and can become debilitating without timely treatment.
A precise diagnosis is essential because multiple conditions can present as heel pain. Imaging, such as ultrasound or X-ray, is sometimes needed to identify which tissues are affected and what is driving the pain. At Waikato Podiatry Clinic, we use a range of targeted treatment options, selecting and tailoring them to your specific mechanics, training load, and goals. There is no “one size fits all” approach; every runner’s injury story is different.
How we assess runners
To get guide runners and all marathon athletes back on track safely, we begin with a detailed assessment that helps us understand both the injury and the demands of your role.
An assessment includes:
1. A comprehensive consultation
We discuss your symptoms, training volume, coaching or guiding responsibilities, previous injuries, terrain you typically run on, and your marathon goals.
2. A detailed physical examination
We evaluate:
- Foot and arch structure
- Joint mobility
- Muscle strength and flexibility
- How your feet behave during standing, walking, and loaded movement
This helps us identify weaknesses, restrictions, or biomechanical patterns contributing to your pain.
3. Advanced computerised video gait analysis
We record your walking and running from multiple angles and slow the footage down frame by frame. This lets us detect subtle abnormalities, such as timing delays, asymmetry, or excessive loading, that are impossible to see in real time.
This technology is especially valuable for guide runners, whose strides must remain smooth, consistent, and coordinated with the athlete they support.
Treat foot pain early
When you're guiding a visually impaired runner (or any runner), foot pain isn’t just your problem; it becomes a safety issue.
Pain changes your mechanics.
Compensation patterns sneak in.
Your stride shortens or stiffens.
Your concentration shifts toward discomfort rather than toward guiding.
Early treatment allows you to:
- Train consistently
- Maintain confident foot placement.
- Keep your pace controlled.
- Protect your runner
- Enjoy the shared achievement without fear of injury.y
Just as importantly, effective treatment safeguards the joy of guiding, an experience many describe as life-changing.
At Waikato Podiatry Clinic, our goal is to help runners stay on their feet and continue doing what they love. For guide runners, this means restoring confidence in every stride, not just for your race, but for the athlete depending on you.
By identifying the actual cause of your pain, tailoring treatment, and supporting your return to full training, we make sure you can focus on what matters most: the connection, teamwork, and purpose that make marathon guiding so extraordinary.
If foot pain is interrupting your training, don’t wait.
Your runner needs you, and with the right care, you can be there for every mile.
