Trusty mac there for every step

When injury forced his former running partner to retire from racing in 2003, ‘Blind Dave’ Heeley was about to hang up his trainers.

But five years and seven marathons on seven continents in seven days later, Malcolm ‘Mad Mac’ Carr has proved the unsung hero behind a series of mammoth fundraisers.

The 44-year-old from Great Bridge was initially hesitant about joining Dave on his world record-breaking attempt, but the plant supervisor at building firm Cemex was persuaded to give it a go.

Dave said Mac had been crucial to the effort.

“He’s played a massive role,” he said. “We’ve been running together through snow, rain and baking heat and I couldn’t have done it without him, it’s a simple as that.

“I almost feel a little bit guilty because all the focus of the challenge has been about this blind guy running seven marathons, but Mac’s role should not be dismissed. He’s been a real brick for me, but also a real Godsend. I think the way we like to sum it up is that Mac’s a very important piece of kit.”

But Mac is happy staying out of the limelight.

“I don’t mind the attention being on Dave,” he said. “Obviously the fact that he’s blind has made the Seven Magnificent Marathons challenge what it is and if it had just been me running all these marathons then I’m not sure how much interest there would have been.

“Also with Dave we always start from the front at races, so I get to meet all my famous heroes. I’m not sure what else he’s got planned for the future, but I’d be happy to continue alongside him.”

Mac only took up running in his 20s after watching a friend take part in a local marathon. A temporary fitness instructor at the YMCA, he is also the current cross-country champion at his and Dave’s running club, West Bromwich Harriers.

Dave’s wife Debbie, said: “I’m not sure how keen Mac was at first, but Dave eventually twisted his arm. From then on Mac has shown just as much dedication and commitment as Dave. For obvious reasons the massive majority of the attention has been on Dave, but completing the challenge is a massive achievement for Mac too. He’s become only the third person in the world to do what they’ve done and that shouldn’t be forgotten.”

Mac trained alongside Dave for months ahead of the gruelling challenge last week, but Debbie said his support was not only physical. “There have been a lot of emotions running high throughout this and I think they’ve both had to feed on each other,” she said.

“They spent a lot of time running together so it was important they could support each other mentally. I think they spent a lot of time comparing notes with each other about which leg or arm was hurting. The company Mac works for Cemex, has also been really good in allowing him the time to prepare, because obviously something like this is a big commitment.”

Debbie added that Dave’s former running partner, Joe Whitehouse, had made it along to show his support during the last leg on Sunday, the Flora London Marathon. Together Dave and Mac have raised tens of thousands over the five years they have run together, taking part in doz-ens of races, such as the Great North Run, Great South Run and New York Marathon.