Blind Dave's Blog

BUNKING OFF

27-10-2007

After the Great North Run, West Brom marathon runner Dave helps out Guide Dogs on an charity event in Wales, where competitors run and climb with a blindfold on - just to see what it's like for him. Pity there was an obstacle in the way for him too.

Hi Stirrers,

Well what a day, what a week and what a month. After the Great North run BBC Midlands Today decided to do a feature on us, advertising the challenge for next year - 777, 7 marathons, in 7 days, over 7 continents.

They took us along to Sandwell Park and filmed us running around the old boating pool, around and around we went. I was getting dizzy - up the hill, there's that hill again, down the hill, did a couple of interviews but it was all good fun. The main issue with all this publicity is that this time the Just Giving site www.justgiving.com/777) was announced and bingo!

People from around the area made a few donations on line, which is great.

From there we carried on our training run, which was supposed to be a gentle run after the North the day before, but with our chatter and I suppose excitement about a little success on the TV, the run got quicker and quicker and quicker - amazing what adrenalin does for you.

After the midday news, a mate of mine Paul Burrell, who is the local drive time presenter on the radio station Gold, rang to say he'd seen the feature on the TV and would I like to come on the radio in the afternoon and have a chat about things.

To be fair, I never took the call it was Georgie-lee and at 6 she is more than competent enough to take a message over the phone. She nonchalantly came past me and said, "that was Paul off the radio, he will ring about 3 to have a chat on air with you".

Talk about a budding secretary - nothing gets past this one, and at the moment I don't have to pay her. I wonder how long that will last. Mind, when Paul was announcing the fact I was coming on air, he mentioned the fact he'd spoken to Georgie-lee and he got more sense out of her than me - cheeky so and so, wait till I catch hold of him.

Talking of adrenalin, pure bloody mindedness and the fact I had to show these girls of mine Dad could do it, we went to Tallybont to a guide dogs event, where I was doing a talk - but guess what, there was another climbing wall!

We parked the car, said our hellos and the girls, Georgie-lee and Dannie made straight for the climbing wall. Georgie and Dannie were both harnessed up and off they went up the wall like a couple of experts. Georgie-lee climbed straight to the top, 6 years of age and she did it; Dannie got about three quarters up, for 4 years of age that was brilliant, but then we all realised that she just enjoyed climbing up high and then loosing and swinging on the ropes.

Debb said it was hilarious as Dannie's weight wouldn't bring her down to the ground. The chap running it had to keep going up and pulling her down - apparently the smile on her face said it all, total enjoyment.

That was it I thought. Debb, Grace, Georgie-lee and Dannie all did better than me? Not this time I thought. I was so determined this time, I tried the easy route, the medium route and even the hardest route to climb and hey presto I completed all three this time.

I was so chuffed with my little self, I pressed the bell push at the top of each wall and guess what, they didn't work. I'd climbed up all three and didn't get to hear the bell ring - disappointing. But at least I made sure Debb had seen me and in fact she got a photo, proof at last!

From there it was time to check in our room. It was going to be a totally different experience for the girls because we were stopping in a youth hostel, bunk beds the lot.

The room was sparse but effective; we had a shower and sink, but the toilet didn't work, so it was a little trip down the corridor. That would be fun in the night I thought, it was certainly a little different from Windermere Manor where we stayed on the Great North, but it would be an eye opener for the girls, who to be fair enjoyed every minute.

They certainly enjoyed it every time dad hit his head on the top bunk - yes, if I hit it once, I hit it a dozen times, especially in the middle of the night when I wanted the loo, I sat up and Bang, I hit the top bunk that hard it woke up Debb, and yes, she was laughing.

Before bed and the headaches we had a good time in the marquee, thanking all the people and their teams who took part in the event, cycling, walking and climbing the wall, blindfolded.

It appeared to be a tough course. There was enough people grumbling as they crossed the finish line, but that was short lived once the food was served, the bar was open and the disco was blaring away.

Mind, once again the two girls were stars of the show, giving out all the awards to the teams and what was nice was at the end of it, they were given a trophy each for climbing the wall. They were so proud. What a nice touch

Well Tallybont was a success, for the Guide Dog events team any way, the girls certainly enjoyed themselves - mind they always do. I think the only thing moaning is my head, flipping bunk beds. By the way, all the rooms were individually named, believe it or not and Debb told me our room was called, wait for this, FAN-Y-BIG.

Yes, I had to ask twice. Do you think they were trying to tell me some thing in Welsh! Me living a very sheltered life, is there really another meaning? It's a very confused Blind Dave signing off till next time.