from a participant's perspective

This year I finally got to attend the Health Days as a regular person rather than as part of the organising team... although that happened too. On the poster I spotted that the rope course PROUD — the one I walk past every day going to and from school — was taking part in the Health Days as well. I'd had a good meal at school and that turned out not to be the ideal prep for what followed, though it could have been worse. I changed into different clothes and shoes — jeans and dress shoes aren't exactly ideal for climbing. When I arrived the rope course was half-empty. As the instructors explained, all the better for me. I got strapped into a harness and went to try the climbing wall. I know it well from home, although 4m in a gym with a fall onto a crash mat isn't the same as 11m with rope belay. It was great. I'll admit I cheated a little and didn't follow any colour route, but still good. Then I tried the net. When I used to watch Ninja Factor I couldn't understand why that guy was climbing so slowly. Now I get it. The whole thing moves, climbing fast is hard, grabbing on is tricky... The last obstacle I tried was the "tram" at 11m — even though heights aren't exactly my favourite thing, that was a fantastic feeling. After my time up high I headed towards Moravské náměstí, where we were demonstrating to people what it's like to ride a wheelchair, how to throw from one into a basket, and visitors could also try out a handbike.