A crazy, crazy day

Guardian 'Writer's Relay'- June 2012

The last few weeks may have sped by but, like the buildup to Christmas as a child, the past few days have seemed exasperatingly long. Today's Sheffield-Cleethorpes leg of the Olympic torch relay is, for me, the culmination of months of waiting and irrational nerves that resurface at the most inopportune times of night.

Since being nominated, there had been the excitement of "What if I'm chosen?"; then the message telling me I'd made the shortlist; and, a month later, the confirmation. The organisers, Locog, have prepared the torchbearers in small steps, releasing snippets of information until the relay finally got under way 39 days ago; since then, everything has seemed to move at a glacial pace despite the sizeable mileage the flame racks up each day.

After initially keeping my nomination fairly quiet, it spread quickly around Darton College in Barnsley where I teach science to a phenomenal bunch of children. My year 11s wanted to know how the torch could stay lit with so many holes in it. The year 8 students were adamant that they were going to come along and run with me early this afternoon.

It's been fascinating to see the range of reactions to the event: some of the children have been tremendously excited, and are making use of the school's participation in the Get Set Olympic programme to secure tickets for different events and meet visiting Team GB athletes. Others, it's fair to say, have been less interested and, after hearing the stories of eBay bids, recommended that I cash my torch in and seek early retirement.

Although living in Sheffield I had been allocated a spot to run in Doncaster on day 39, roughly 30 miles away and, unfortunately for my potential co-runners, the day after the torch passes by our own school gates. After considering seeing if my day and time could be changed, my initial disappointment has turned to relief that, if I am as clumsy today as usual, it won't haunt me for the rest of my teaching days.

And so, with everyone in full Olympic mode, I was at the school gates on Monday: flag in one hand, camera-phone in the other. I had wondered whether the excitement around the torch relay would have waned but, surrounded by staff, students and local residents, it clearly hasn't.
I have been asked to take my torch into school to show the children on Wednesday. Evidently, to them and many more besides, it doesn't matter where, when or how they see the torch; they are just as excited as I am to be part of the Games.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jun/26/olympic-torch-relay-day-39-doncaster