In addition to running marathons tethered to human guide runners, he has finished the New York City Half Marathon with a team of guide dogs. He is also working with Google engineers to develop a phone app that can help the blind "see" the road and various obstacles around them.
In this podcast, Panek got George's attention by talking about "blind baseball"--a sport George is eager to witness. Amby was drawn to Panek's comments about how running can prove especially powerful at improving the independence and mental health of physically challenged individuals.
Learn more about Thomas Panek and Lighthouse Guild here.
Some key moments in the podcast:
00:00
Introduction to Thomas Panek
11:31
Life as a Visually Impaired Athlete
14:10
Childhood and Vision Loss Journey
17:51
Inspiration from Blind Icons
19:41
Passions and Family Life
21:40
Running with Visual Impairment
25:10
Understanding Visual Impairment Terminology
28:09
Experiences as a Guide Runner
30:07
Running Pace and Competitions
31:44
Paralympic Aspirations and Community Engagement
33:45
Running with Guide Dogs: A New Frontier
37:00
Innovative Technology in Running for the Visually Impaired
41:12
The Psychological Benefits of Running
43:38
Expanding Opportunities for Visually Impaired Athletes
45:30
Encouraging Sighted Runners to Support Visually Impaired
46:41
The State of Running: Inclusivity and Challenges
50:58
Wishes for the Future of Visually Impaired Running
54:19
WHERE TO FIND "RUNNING: STATE OF THE SPORT"
Use your smartphone to download podcast apps from Apple, Spotify, Pandora, or YouTube Podcasts. Once you've selected your favorite app, search for "running state of the sport."
