BBC presenter Gethin Jones to become a trained guide runner

Earlier this month, BBC Morning Live presenter Gethin Jones took part in an England Athletics Sight Loss Awareness and Guide Running course to become a guide runner for resident doctor, Dr Oscar Duke.

The BBC Morning Live Couch to 5K will begin in Trafford Park, Manchester, on Sunday 31 May 2026 and has followed the journey of Dr Oscar on his Couch to 5K journey – a popular running programme designed by the NHS to help people go from little or no running to completing a 5-kilometre run.

The England Athletics Sight Loss Awareness and Guide Running Workshop has been developed in conjunction with British Blind Sport and covers a number of areas including different types of visual impairment, top tips and safety for guide running, and how to make running sessions inclusive.

The group then took part in a practical element where attendees got the chance to experience guiding and being guided by each other.

"Today has been invaluable. Using goggles and tethers gave us a small insight into what runners may experience and how we as guides need to adapt to support them. Understanding what the runner needs and how they like to be communicated with is going to be key. Sunday’s Couch to 5K is all about Dr Oscar and my role is to support him and keep him safe."

Gethin Jones

Watch Gethin in action

Paul Moseley, England Athletics Coach Education Officer and tutor on the course, said:

"England Athletics has a number of guide running workshops to take part in across the country over the next 12 months. We are working very closely with British Blind Sport on our Find a Guide database that brings VI runners and guide runners together, helping to build partnerships that make running more inclusive, supportive and accessible for all."

Good luck to Dr Oscar, Gethin and all runners taking part at the weekend from everyone at England Athletics. You can follow their journey on BBC iPlayer.