BLIND DAVE'S BLOG

16-02-2007

Black Countryrunner Blind Dave Heeley has a major fund-raiser coming up on March 10th, to help him achieve his dream of becoming the first athlete to run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents. Details on this site tomorrow. First here's his latest blog.

Well Jack Frost needed more than a scarf this week; he needed hat, wellies, gloves, and a very big umberella, along with a large shovel to clear the path. What a downfall - talk about organised chaos.

Unfortunately we're just not used to snow hitting us so quickly and it's unbelievable how it clogs the roads, railways, brings whole regions and in some instances the whole country to a stand still.

There was certainly no chaos for me and Wicksie, because although I'm not a great lover of the snow, bring it on every day if it keeps the footpaths clear of others. We had the town virtually to ourselves. (I'm not a great lover of shopping either, but at least the shops were virtually empty, along with the bank, and post office.)

When I walked back in the house, Debb wondered if I'd I forgotten any thing , “No “ I replied “There was simply no one about we literally flew round.. It's certainly the way to shop, in , out and back home, in double quick time.

On the fun side, the kids loved it. They had a day off school, so we all marched down the local park and had a great time running and rolling in the snow, with the whole place at our finger tips.

Debb was just a second to late shouting me, as I walked on and head butted the five a side goals, she took her eyes off me for just a minute and hey presto, there I was rubbing my head.

Wicksie also having a good time, I don't think he knew what to make of snow, but he chased the girls all over. He would catch a snowball and Debb said the look on his face was great - what goes on in a dog's mind. Still his tail wagged on, he was obviously enjoying himself.

Debb and the kids made a snowman when we got back in the garden, with a bucket for his hat and stones for his eyes. I don't know who enjoyed it most, Debb or the girls. There he was in full view and the kids were proud of him. Unfortunately, little Frostie didn't last too long, he'd keeled over by Saturday morning.

Talking of Saturday morning, snow or rain, we still had to train and so off we set for another long run, into Wolverhampton and back - 18 miles. To say it was hard on the legs was an understatement, when we'd finished it felt more like 20 miles.

Mind, it wasn't my feet that were too sore, it was my hand and arm. Yes, Mac, true to form, ran me into a bus stop. Not a pole, a fully-fledged glass encrusted bus stop and his statement was classic. “I never saw that bus stop”. Neither did I, but I sure did feel it. How can you not see a whacking great thing like a bus stop??

He also ran me into a railing at the corner of a road junction, saying “That wasn't there the last time we did this route”.

I'm seriously doubting his eye sight either that or railings and bus stops blend very well when it snow. Hello Specsavers, here we come. The rest of the run was without incident, running in the snow was certainly an experience and to be fair I quite enjoyed it in a masochistic way.

The following day it was back to normal, no snow, but when we got down into Sandwell Valley, the river had flooded and we had to make a considerable detour, not the recommended thing after yesterdays run.

If the legs weren't moaning before, they sure were when we finished today's run, and what an hill to finish on. We must be mad, still there's plenty more training runs before London but I not, I hope, too many more bus stops!

It just wouldn't be a normal week for me if I didn't get lost. Yes, I went missing again. Mind, I do have a legitimate reason, I don't know Wolverhampton that well and neither does Wicksie, yet.

You know the Romans had a point, keeping their roads straight, and easy to negotiate. The Americans route their streets in blocks so why do we in England always put bends, semi circles, V junctions Is it just to confuse me?

If so they've done a cracking job, coming out of the Mander Centre. Well, I think it was the Mander Centre, but it could have been the Rotunda for that matter, round and round we kept going.

Why not build our shopping centres in straight lines, from A to B in the easiest way, straight , with corners so we can gauge land marks.

I finally got to the Metro terminus and back home to West Brom, how I don't know and that's another bone of contention. Why when you stop and ask for help and directions do most people seem to ignore you and pass you by? Not all admittedly, or I'd still be walking around Wolverhampton.

To be honest it's not the place to get lost, especially being a Baggies supporter - can't remember, did we beat the Wolves three nil or what? Hey all of you out there, when some one shouts “Excuse me can you give me some help”, it doesn't automatically mean they are trying to sell you something or want you to do a survey.

When there's a Guide Dog in harness, and they're walking around like a little lost sheep, they might need some help - so for once in your life think of some one else, because it's probably me!

Right that's me done for another week, I'm off to commission a Braille A to Z and check out some body armour - well, as Mac won't go to Spec Savers I shall have to find my own method of protection.

Let's see what the weather holds in store for us this week, - probably a heat wave and you'll find me stuck to the tarmac, so here's till next week, Blind Dave signing off.

To help Dave become the first disabled athlete to run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents go to www.justgiving.com/777