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Guide dogs help keep blind runners healthy and fit despite pandemic

Social distancing rules can make exercising a challenge for a blind runner who needs a volunteer tethered as a guide. But Thomas Panek has no problem because his running guide, Blaze, is a Labrador retriever.

Updated on: Jul 26, 2020 5:17 PM IST

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Thomas Panek, right, runs with guide dog Blaze and Mike Racioppo, a training specialist for running guide dogs, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Central Park in New York. Panek, a blind runner with a wall full of ribbons from marathons he ran with a human guide, developed a canine running guide training program five years ago after becoming president and CEO of Guiding Eyes for the Blind in suburban New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Updated on Jul 26, 2020 5:17 PM

Thomas Panek, right, runs with guide dog Blaze and Mike Racioppo, a training specialist for running guide dogs, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Central Park in New York. Panek, a blind runner with a wall full of ribbons from marathons he ran with a human guide, developed a canine running guide training program five years ago after becoming president and CEO of Guiding Eyes for the Blind in suburban New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Thomas Panek runs with his running guide, Blaze, a Labrador retriever, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Central Park in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Updated on Jul 26, 2020 5:17 PM

Thomas Panek runs with his running guide, Blaze, a Labrador retriever, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Central Park in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Thomas Panek, center, a blind runner, jogs with his guide dog Labrador retriever Blaze, and running guide dogs specialist Mike Racioppo, left, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Central Park in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Updated on Jul 26, 2020 5:17 PM

Thomas Panek, center, a blind runner, jogs with his guide dog Labrador retriever Blaze, and running guide dogs specialist Mike Racioppo, left, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Central Park in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Thomas Panek douses his guide dog Blaze with water after the pair went for a run, in Central Park in New York, Thursday, July 23, 2020. A blind runner with a wall full of ribbons from marathons he ran with a human guide, Panek developed a canine running guide training program five years ago after he became president and CEO of Guiding Eyes for the Blind in suburban New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Updated on Jul 26, 2020 5:17 PM

Thomas Panek douses his guide dog Blaze with water after the pair went for a run, in Central Park in New York, Thursday, July 23, 2020. A blind runner with a wall full of ribbons from marathons he ran with a human guide, Panek developed a canine running guide training program five years ago after he became president and CEO of Guiding Eyes for the Blind in suburban New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Thomas Panek pauses with his Labrador retriever, Blaze, a trained guide dog, after running in Central Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Updated on Jul 26, 2020 5:17 PM

Thomas Panek pauses with his Labrador retriever, Blaze, a trained guide dog, after running in Central Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Blind runner Thomas Panek inserts a lightweight customized pole to his guide dog Blaze's specially-designed harness that pivots to allow Blaze to guide Panek while running, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Central Park in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Updated on Jul 26, 2020 5:17 PM

Blind runner Thomas Panek inserts a lightweight customized pole to his guide dog Blaze's specially-designed harness that pivots to allow Blaze to guide Panek while running, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Central Park in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Pandemic-required social distancing rules can make exercising a challenge for blind runners like Panek, who in the past has needed a volunteer guide tethered to him. But, Panek says, using a guide dog allows blind runners like himself to keep exercising in an era of virus-related restrictions that have closed gyms. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Updated on Jul 26, 2020 5:17 PM

Pandemic-required social distancing rules can make exercising a challenge for blind runners like Panek, who in the past has needed a volunteer guide tethered to him. But, Panek says, using a guide dog allows blind runners like himself to keep exercising in an era of virus-related restrictions that have closed gyms. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Thomas Panek with his guide dog Blaze near the traditional finish line of the New York City Marathon at Central Park in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Updated on Jul 26, 2020 5:17 PM

Thomas Panek with his guide dog Blaze near the traditional finish line of the New York City Marathon at Central Park in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Thomas Panek pauses with his Labrador retriever, Blaze, a trained guide dog, after running in Central Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Updated on Jul 26, 2020 5:17 PM

Thomas Panek pauses with his Labrador retriever, Blaze, a trained guide dog, after running in Central Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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