Manchester VI Runners Challenge

Visually Impaired (VI) Runners Half Marathon Challenge

In partnership with VI Runners Manchester, we are excited to host the VI Runners Half Marathon Challenge in 2023.

Our joint ambition is to use this event to promote and increase participation in running for people registered as severely sight impaired (previously “blind”).

The 2023 Manchester VI Runners Challenge will operate as follows:

1. To take part in the Manchester VI Runners Challenge, participants must be registered as severely sight impaired (previously “blind”).
   
2. Participants should enter the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run half marathon event via the general entry system. Answer yes to the question: Are you a severely visually impaired runner?
   Note that the VI Challenge will be over the half marathon distance, not the 10k distance. Please ensure you enter the correct event when entering.
   
3. Participants must then contact the event organisers by visiting https://info.greatrun.org/support/tickets/new to notify us of your name, your event registration number (you will receive this in your entry confirmation email), and your guide’s name and email address.
   
4. Guide runners will be emailed with an entry code which they must use to complete an online entry for the event.
   
5. Guide runners do not need to purchase an entry.
   
6. Guide runners should be appropriately identified during the event.
   
7. Participants and their guide runners must be linked together (via use of a tether) at all times during the race.
   
8. Prizes: The top 3 placed male and female athletes, who have registered for the challenge, will be awarded a free entry for next year’s event, or any other equivalent half marathon in the Great Run series (except for the Great North Run which operates on a ballot entry system).
   
9. There will be no separate sub-classifications of visual impairment for the purposes of this Challenge.
   
10. VI Challenge participants will be required to make their own way (with their guides) to the start line on Portland St. before the start of the event – runners can choose to start ahead of the masses, in a bespoke VI Challenge wave. If runners prefer, they are welcome to start alongside the masses instead. Runners will be contacted via email in the weeks before the event with final event-day information and instructions.
    
11. For reasons of data privacy the event organisers can only communicate with the entered participant. It is up to participants to relay any and all relevant information to their guide runner.
    
12. Participants and their guides must abide by all general event terms and conditions, which can be viewed on the online event entry form.
    
    If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at https://info.greatrun.org/support/tickets/new.
    
    For more information about the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run half marathon, visit the information page at: https://www.greatrun.org/events/great-manchester-run/