Jail Break re-run
BLIND runner Jay Semple completed the Dun Na Cuaiche run in a special Jail Break re-run.
ARGYLL Estate was redolent with the sounds, smells and sights of spring for the Jail Break re-run,
but for most of James Semple’s trek up and down Dun na Cuaiche, it bucketed down.
James - who prefers his ‘racing’ name of Jay Cruz - runs in a trademark kilt which no doubt put on a pound or two in weight as the water soaked in, but that did not put this determined 37-yearold off.
Family commitments meant that he missed the annual Inveraray Jail Break, but when organisers heard Jay wanted to take on the course, they laid on a special second running last Saturday just for him.
Jay, from Glasgow, has a degenerative eye condition and faces losing his sight entirely in the next few years.
The former martial arts instructor was diagnosed in 2013 with choroideremia - a condition affecting the blood vessels surrounding the retina which can lead to blindness. He retains hope that future developments in gene therapy and stem cell treatment may help save what little sight he has left and is raising money to fund the treatment when it becomes available.
Accompanied by a small group of Inveraray runners, Jay completed the race in around an hour, but the pace was less important than getting round in one piece.
He had bigger fish to fry as he was due to run the Stirling marathon the following day, Sunday May 21.
Happy
With his striking Mel Gibson-like blue face paint running into his white racing shirt at the finish line, Jay said: ‘The race was challenging, but I am really happy I did it. Now it’s back home for an ice bath to get ready for tomorrow’s marathon.
‘I’ll be getting my Wallace tartan kilt out for that one.’
He concluded: ‘I feel amazing. I am so honoured this race was laid on especially for me. People are so friendly and kind.
‘Thanks for doing this.’