1.
guide runner; pacer; accompanying runner
A person who runs alongside someone else to assist, guide, or pace them. Most commonly refers to sighted guides who run with visually impaired athletes in parasports.
2.
supportive companion; mentor who walks alongside
Used figuratively for someone who supports another person through a process or challenge, offering guidance without taking the lead.
Usage
In parasports, the guide runner is connected to the visually impaired runner by a short rope or tether. The 伴走者 must match the athlete's pace without pulling ahead. The figurative sense has become increasingly common in business and education contexts.
Common collocations
- 伴走者を務める (to serve as a guide runner)
- 伴走者として支える (to support as an accompanying companion)
- 伴走支援 (accompanying support)
Similar words
- ペースメーカー: pacemaker/pacer — in athletics, someone who sets the pace for others in a race
- メンター: mentor — a more general term for a guiding figure