School sports day

General
1

Yesterday I was asked to be a guide runner for one of our year 10 students who wanted to take part in a running race at sports day today. I know the lad as I had met with him many times over previous years.
We were in for the 200m and this student is partially sighted. His sight has deteriorated recently and he has not taken part in a sports day since year 7 so brave decision. I agreed to help although have never guided before.
Found him about 30 mins before the race today to check out the tether sitch and chat about what he needed me to do. We did a couple of practice runs which went OK.
I asked him how much he could actually see when we were running, he answered “not much because I close my eyes otherwise I get really dizzy”. That would terrify me !

So we line up in the outside lane against a full opposition, grass track is lined inside and out with the school community…over the tannoy blares out that we have a partially sighted athlete with a guide runner…a nearby student shouts “there is “Lenny” with Mr Laycock” and a ripple of cheering starts.
on your marks…get set…GO and we are off!

Runners soon flash past us on the inside as we start off cautiously, we run together as I steer Lenny round the bend, trying to warn him of undulations as we come off the bend I tell him 100 meters straight on, the cheering is amazing we are the only runners all the others had finished we had 50 m to go !

Me “ 50 meters stay close well done”
Lenny “can we go a bit faster?”

Crossed the line to the whole school cheering and clapping.

I managed to get Lenny back to his form group just before the tears began to roll from my eyes without doubt the best race I have ever done! Chapeau Lenny and :pray:

43 Likes
2

Superb. :clap:

1 Like
3

Great report.

Wonderful to use your powers for the forces of good.

2 Likes
4

Brilliant :clap:t3::heart_eyes:

1 Like
5

What a marvellous read. Uplifting.

1 Like
6

I thought I was going to be a story of you crushing every parent in the parent events.
Very uplifting story though

6 Likes
7

That’s very cool. :+1:

1 Like
8

Ha ha no way my crushing days are over!

1 Like
9

Brilliant :slightly_smiling_face:

1 Like
10

Not wanting to detract from the lovely post. But… Were you holding him back?? :grimacing:

7 Likes
11

Just reflecting on this a bit later, and its caused me to think…… the press and much commentary on the internet these days presents kids as little monsters who do nothing but pile shit on one another especially via social media… this is a great example that in reality, the overwhelming majority are decent, thoughtful kids who care about their friends, and look out for one another. Easy to forget in the constant barrage of bad press they get.

15 Likes
12

Probably

13

Lovely story.

And a very good point @magnacarter . I remember kids (including me) far nastier, crueller and more violent than they are now generally - and they have been shafted far more .

1 Like
14

Beaut of a post. :relaxed:

1 Like
15

Heartwarming stuff, this is what it’s all about :+1:

1 Like
16

chapeau

1 Like
17

:wink:

3 Likes
18

Hear Hear

19

That has put a big smile on my face, awesome.

1 Like
20

What a great story. Thanks for sharing. Best part of my day today :relaxed:

1 Like