The Freedom to ask for help

At Teton Adaptive, we believe in the power of community, the strength of perseverance, and the beauty of embracing support when needed. This summer, we witnessed a remarkable story of courage, determination, and the true meaning of freedom. Ixchel Lemus-Bromley, an avid runner living with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), reached out to us with a goal: to run the Teton Half Marathon. Recognizing the challenges she faced, we stepped in to help, finding her a guide who could support her journey.

For Ixchel, running has always been about the feeling of liberation. As someone with RP, a degenerative eye condition, she’s spent much of her life relying on others to navigate the world around her. But when she began running a few years ago, there was an undeniable sense of independence that came with it. “In the early days, when I had more vision, I could run on familiar, paved paths on my own,” she says. “That independence meant everything to me.”

But as her vision changed and the path became less predictable, running became more of a challenge. She found herself filled with anxiety before every run, worrying about obstacles she couldn’t see—the sudden rise of a curb, an approaching biker, or a missed turn. The freedom she once found in running was slowly slipping away, replaced by the constant fear of falling or getting in someone’s way.

“I always knew there was an option to run with a guide, but I was hesitant,” Ixchel admits. “I feared that running with someone else would take away the very thing I loved about it—the sense of freedom.”

For years, she pushed through those worries, continuing to run on her own, despite the increasing difficulties. But after a few races where she found herself stumbling more often, she realized that something needed to change. “I had fallen a few times during races,” Ixchel recalls. “It became clear that I couldn’t keep running the same way anymore.”

This summer, Ixchel took her first step into guided racing, completing the Teton Half Marathon with the support of a Teton Adaptive volunteer guide. A tethered run—where a guide helps navigate the path, ensuring safety while allowing the runner to focus on their stride—was a game-changer. Crossing that finish line wasn’t just about completing a race—it was about reclaiming the sense of independence that had once felt so distant. “It was emotional,” Ixchel says. “I had the support I needed to finish, and it wasn’t just about crossing the line. It was about overcoming the fear of asking for help and realizing that it actually opened up so many more possibilities for me.”

“Running with a guide was nothing like I expected,” she said with a smile. “I thought it might feel restrictive, but it actually gave me more freedom. I didn’t have to worry about the things I couldn’t see anymore. I could just run. It was like getting back to that feeling of freedom I had when I first started.”

Her journey is a powerful reminder to all of us that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of strength. “The more I accepted help, the more I realized how freeing it could be,” she explains. “It allowed me to focus on what I truly love—running, moving, feeling the wind on my face—and not worry about everything I couldn’t see.”

Ixchel’s story is one of courage, but it’s also a story about the power of community. It’s a reminder that we don’t have to do everything alone. Sometimes, the road ahead is clearer when we walk—or run—together.

“I hope my story inspires others to believe in themselves,” Ixchel says. “It’s okay to try new things, even if they look different than what you imagined. The way we get there might not always be the traditional route, but that doesn’t make the journey any less valuable.”

As she looks ahead, Ixchel is excited about the future of her running journey. “This is just the beginning,” she says. “I can’t wait to keep challenging myself, to run more races, and to see where this path takes me.”

At Teton Adaptive, we’re so proud to be part of Ixchel’s journey. Her story embodies everything we stand for: embracing new challenges, pushing past limits, and showing up for one another, no matter what obstacles we face.