BLIND DAVE'S BLOG

13-03-2007

Black Country marathon runner Dave Heeley raised almost £3,000 in his latest fund-raiser on Saturday at Bescot Stadium. Here's the rest of his latest adventures.

Hi Stirrers

That time always comes when training for a marathon - the very long runs - and we've started ours, with our first 20 mile run. Surprisingly enough we came through unscathed, the legs not hurting too much, the feet just a twinge and the pace was about right. Quite happy so far, but next week will
be the test as we have a 20 mile race in Gloucester. Before that, mind, we
entered the Action Heart 5 mile road race and we hadn't trained down for it, so it was a good test on the legs.

The Action Heart run is a popular local run, around 1200 runners this year and did I mention last week about a good downhill is followed by an even better up hill? Well, this is the race. From the hospital grounds you go up and up and up, for approx one and a half miles, a slight flat and then it's down for around a mile and I mean down, the legs take one hell of a battering.

Then guess what? A little undulating and then we go up again, and up and up and up and up again. I'm sure if I could see the turning into the hospital and the finish it would be a welcome site; I was so pleased when Mac said the turning was upon us, with 20 miles in them from yesterday the legs were beginning to moan a little, but surprisingly my time was 2 seconds quicker than last year, perhaps it was worth all the pain and maybe the training is starting to pay off.

Strangely enough good old Wicksie hasn't got me lost for a week or two.
Don't know what's the matter with him, but there must be some thing about Wolverhampton. I'm sure it's his colouring, black with a tinge of gold, there must be some strange pull towards the Wolves. Perhaps he's a Wolves fan? I just don't know, perhaps our little trips in to Wolverhampton remind him of the drubbing the Baggies gave them earlier in the season (okay, don't mention Sunday) and he just simply loses it.

In fact he nearly lost me, as we got off the tram and made our way up the ramp towards the main drag and the crossing to the Mander centre. In fairness we don't hang about, it needs some on with a decent pace to keep up with us.

Anyway, there was this rail! I don't mean the tram rail either. Wicksie with all his training, decided to go under this rail, just about rib height, when I hit it, going about 200 miles an hour, I heard my lungs go, Whoosh, it took all the wind out of me and I had trouble talking for a few minutes, which was probably a good thing, because I couldn't answer the chap who came out with “I bet that hurt mate”.

Not “are you OK?” or “can I help you?” My thoughts turned my hat blue! And as I was smarting a bit he doesn't know how close I was to throttling him.
Yep, I don't think Wicksie likes taking me to Wolverhampton too much.

I also don't know whether Wicksie and Mac are on the same wavelength. Our gentle training run on the Monday night took us through Sandwell Valley, and Mac was a bit early from work so it was still light when we set off.

It's a popular run for us, because it's pretty well traffic free, a little less for Mac to think about, in fact I think he had switched off completely or he definitely needs to go to Spec Savers, again! He ran me into a tree, yes a tree, up the Newton road, one of our regular haunts and he ran me into a tree. “Whoops” he said, and carried on.

I tell you I'm having serious doubts about his peepers, didn't think to ask had he got his sunglasses on? Mind it could be he's jealous of my good looks and he's trying to re arrange them. I hadn't thought about that angle, we'll have to have words.

The week got a lot better. Wicksie and me were invited to the girls' school as they were putting on a school assembly - well Georgie-Lee's class were, and it's always nice to hear what they're up to. These girls of mine are getting as cute as their mother, some how I got involved with the assembly and was bought in to do a talk about my best friend Wicksie, I don't know.

He was quite chilled, well he would be, I had to do the talking.

It's always nice to take part in the school's activities, it's amazing how the kids spread the awareness factor, tell them the do's and don't about guide dogs and they are the perfect ambassadors for passing it on to adults - mind, the little monkeys had the bag on me.

Within the talk I tried to explain what blind meant, with kids from 3 to 11 it had to be pitched right, so I asked them all to close their eyes for a couple of seconds, “Are they closed ?” I said. It was a very loud “Yes”, so I waved my hand about and asked the question “What am I doing, without opening your eyes?”

The whole school, including teachers shouted “Waving your hands”; all of them, including teachers found it very amusing. Fancy cheating on me - and all that time, Wicksie never said a word. Still, the talk I hope went down really well, the only problem being that Debb videoed it.

Georgie-Lee's teacher sent me a lovely box of chocolates and because they cheated on me and Debb never said a word, I've put them out of harm's way and I shall enjoy them all on my own. Well, I did the talk! They can keep moaning, the chocs are mine!

Things just wouldn't be the same if I didn't have a moan, so here goes. I had need to go up the town, it's a bit late but after last year's fund raising I am eventually sending out my thank you letters.

Up the road I went, in fact I reckon it would be easier to walk in the road!

Wherever you seem to go these days, especially where footpaths are narrow, there are cars parked. Where are the traffic wardens?

Outside a bank, when a little bit of security is needed, there are cars with tickets on them. Outside major shops, where heavy bags are carried, there are cars with parking tickets on them. In fact, wherever you expect cars to be parked, there's always a warden writing in their little books. So why not the same concern for the ordinary streets - is it that these places are only minutes from their offices and the exertion of a little walk is too much.

They ought to come down our street, I reckon the cars and vans are given special footpath parking permits. I am frequently having to go in the road or squeeze past a vehicle against a wall. When we're out running we're forever having to go in the road, horns papping in annoyance. Well lads and lasses behind the wheels, if you can't park sensible, tough, you deserve a ticket, think of mothers with prams, wheelchairs, instead of your own selfish idleness.

To top it all I was trying to cross the road, using a pelican crossing and a lorry was parked obstructing the crossing! Please give us pedestrians a chance. Where are you when the side streets need clearing, Mr. Traffic Warden - too damn idle to walk down there.

Still, on a positive note, I must say around the town the store keepers are very good, when out shopping they always lend a helpful hand and can I say that at the bank that likes to say yes, a nice young lady who always supports my cause was extremely helpful. She walked me to the door, and when I asked if the market was on, out she took me, crossed the road and helped me buy my fresh veg off the market, that's what I call service! There are still some genuine people in this world.

Well it seems I'm going back in history, I always wanted to be a cowboy and between wicksie and Mac they are having a good go at turning me into one.
Wicksie must think I'm a horse and helped me into the hitching rail and Mac thinks I want to be a lumber jack. Wrong on both counts lads.

Well, here's Wild Bill Hickock signing off. Come to think of it, me with a weapon in my hand just doesn't bear thinking about so no, I'll stay with my box of chocolates. It sounds safer, so we'll change that to here's Blind Dave signing off until next week.

To watch The Stirrer's film about Blind Dave click here

And to learn more about his attempts to run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents go to www.justgiving.com/777