Invercargill runner Hannah Pascoe is hitting the gym and pounding the streets preparing for her third competitive long distance race, the Rotorua Marathon, on May 2. Like the other 1100-plus runners at Rotorua, Pascoe is aiming for a strong finish and maybe even a personal best time. Unlike her competitors, she is blind. Allison Beckham met the inspiring young woman.
Ask Hannah Pascoe why she likes running and her answer is swift.
''Running gives me freedom. You're in control. Sometimes you feel like you're flying.''
And fly she does. At last year's New York Marathon, she finished in a credible four hours and 49 minutes.
Despite being unable to see where she is going or what obstacles might lie in her path - she puts herself into the hands of a guide tethered to her via a wrist strap - she said she never felt afraid.
Guide and runner communicate verbally and must match each other for fitness and stamina.
''We operate as a team,'' she said.
Born and raised in Invercargill, Pascoe (30) was diagnosed at two days old with congenital glaucoma - a condition which usually affects middle-aged or elderly people. Nerve damage affected her retinas and despite several operations she knew she was going blind.
She lost her sight almost five years ago but leads a ''crazy busy'' life working part-time for Kapo Maori, a national organisation which supports blind Maori people, studying sport and exercise at the Southern Institute of Technology and running when she can.
Pascoe took up long-distance running about three years ago and had an unusual training issue to overcome initially.
She was spending hours at a time on the treadmill at Invercargill's World Gym but could not see where she was positioned and often fell off the back.
She tackled the setback in her usual way - thinking about the problem and enlisting the help of others to solve it.
Gym boss (and cyclist and cycle coach) Sid Cumming came up with an ingenious solution - a weight training belt which Pascoe wears linked to bungy cords attached to the front of the treadmill.
''It gives her movement, but keeps her centred,'' Cumming said.
''She can feel the strain if she is getting too far back on the machine and adjusts her stance.''
In 2013 and last year, support from Achilles International New Zealand - a charity for disabled athletes which began in the United States - enabled Pascoe to run in the New York Marathon in which about 50,000 runners take part annually.
That was a ''huge buzz'', she said.
''It was brilliant - awesome - an overwhelming experience. And the spectators. Oh my gosh. There are masses of people cheering for you.''
Her 2014 guide was Auckland freelance fitness and nutrition journalist Rachel Grunwell, who will also guide her in Rotorua.
Grunwell started guiding about 18 months ago after helping out at a running event in Auckland and seeing blind runners and their guides in action.
''They were so inspiring, I wanted to be involved.''
The pair had not met before New York and their first run together was in Central Park.
Grunwell said every blind runner had their own style.
She was used to running with Aucklander Mike Lloyd, who she said had a slow, gentle pace.
Pascoe was the opposite.
''She is a strong, gutsy runner. She is very trusting and just flies.''
Two American volunteers acted as guards, one running behind them and one in front.
Unused to running in such a huge event, Grunwell said she thought two extra helpers were unnecessary, but soon changed her mind.
''People were coming from all angles so we really needed them ... to stop people crashing into Hannah or tripping her up. I was amazed at the number of runners who tried to get between Hannah and myself even though we were tethered together.''
Grunwell said she spent the race ''weaving in and out of runners'', matching her pace with Pascoe's and constantly calling warnings to her to move left or right or leap to avoid an obstacle.
Guiding was a huge responsibility, she said.
''I have a toddler and as a mother you want to keep a toddler safe. You are always watching out for them. Guiding a blind runner is an equal responsibility. But don't be afraid of guiding. It's a lot of fun.''
Now an ambassador for Achilles, Grunwell said she jumped at the chance to guide Pascoe again in Rotorua.
''Hannah is so inspiring. Many able-bodied people wouldn't take on challenges like this. She is a joy to be around.''
Neither Pascoe nor Grunwell are returning to New York this year. Pascoe said her next marathon would be on the Gold Coast in July.
After that, she had another goal in mind.
''I would like to try a half ironman.''
