Racing Coast to Coast blind

Dave Piper is going to clamber over boulders, run up a rocky river bed and make numerous crossings through crystal clear rivers.

It’s tricky terrain for the runners covering the 30-kilometre mountain run, with its 800-metre elevation.

But it’s going to be even harder for Piper – he won’t be able to see anything.

The Wellington man, who fully lost his sight about 12 years ago, will have two guides – Josh Thomas and Olivier Lacoua – for the mountain run section of the 2019 multi-sport Coast to Coast. The section is ‘‘mainly off trail with the rocky riverbed often the only direct line up the valley’’. Piper will also have to cycle and kayak – but the mountain is the ‘‘great unknown’’.

‘‘I’ll be tethered to one of my two guides at all times.

‘‘If the trail is wide enough, we will run side-byside – holding on to an old rugby sock. If it’s narrower, we’ll use my white cane,’’ said Piper.

‘‘Basically, you are running up a river, crossing the river at different points, a lot of boulder-hopping, and all sorts of challenges like that.

‘‘The guide is always talking to me. When it’s rocky, the guide refers to different kinds of fruit to indicate the size of the stones and rocks. During the boulderhopping stretches, one guide might be ahead on the tether and the other might be helping me balance.

‘‘Also, if the terrain is reasonable, one guide can just be running ahead, telling us what’s coming up.

‘‘When boulder-hopping I basically feel for the boulders. I might put my hand on them, might put my foot on them. It’s a case of balancing up and scrambling over the terrain.

‘‘I’m doing it. They aren’t grabbing my arm. It’s just a case of real good verbal communication with the guides.

‘‘Obviously, there are going to be areas where you are quite slow. At the same time, we’re aware of the time and cut-off times and we aren’t going to dawdle.

‘‘The guide can give suggestions on where to put my feet and where to put my hands. There might be a situation on Friday where we might be better off taking a slightly longer way and going through the bush, rather than over a particular boulder system.

‘‘I realise the risks but it’s just the opportunity to do the Coast to Coast. The risk just doesn’t worry me. Sure I might break my ankle, it’s not the end of the world. It’s a risk, but life’s a risk isn’t it?

‘‘For the kayak you have to be mindful of different aspects of the river, and you have to balance yourself.

‘‘Cycling is pedalling basically; kayaking you have to be a bit more wary.

‘‘Josh is going to be my guide during the kayaking and cycling sections of the event. I’ll be sitting in the front of the kayak; and on the bike, I’ll be at the back.

‘‘I haven’t had many injuries. I thought I would have broken my ankle or something – whether I’m lucky or have good management, I don’t know.

‘‘I’m confident of finishing the Coast to Coast. I’m not going to win it. But I’m not going to come last.’’