Meet the Marathoners: Friends Team Up for First Marathon to Raise Awareness of Rare Eye Disease
Vincent S. of Bend, OR and Sean C. of New York, NY have been friends their entire lives. They grew up together in Central Los Angeles. They may be far apart, but when Vincent was diagnosed with an inherited macular dystrophy that will cause him to eventually lose his vision, the two friends knew they wanted to team up and fight back. They will run the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon as Team Achilles charity runners.
Coach’s Corner: Gold Medalist Shares Advice for Transitioning to Adaptive Sports
Paralympic gold medalist, Dave MacCalman of Achilles New Zealand, is a champion athlete across several sports, from shot put and javelin throw to marathoning and basketball. Now he is a champion for others with disabilities as a coach helping them reach their full athletic potential. Read a Q&A with Dave.
Denver Athlete Aims to Be First Female Wheelchair Racer to Complete Great World Race
Julia Beckley, a Colorado native and longtime member of Achilles Denver, is aiming to complete her greatest challenge yet, the 2025 Great World Race next November. The Great World Race consists of completing seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. If successfully completed, Julia will become the first female wheelchair athlete to accomplish this major feat. Read a Q&A with Julia.
Meet the Marathoner: Blind Ultra Runner Takes on Back to Back Races in Boston
Kyle Robidoux started running in 2010 to get in shape but he continues running for the community. Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease at age 11, and declared legally blind at age 19, Kyle is a regular at Achilles Boston Saturday workouts. He has helped train over 120 sighted volunteer guides. In addition to nonprofit and accessibility advocacy, he works as the Assistant Director of Housing Stability for the Mayor’s Office of the city of Boston. Read a Q&A with Kyle below about his journey and passion for pushing past boundaries.
IRONMAN World Champion Who Got Her Start at Achilles Publishes Children’s Book to Inspire Youth to Reimagine What’s Possible
When Minda Dentler first joined Achilles in Central Park, she was not expecting her experiences to lead her to becoming the first female wheelchair athlete to conquer the IRONMAN World Championship. Read a Q&A with Minda and learn more about how she went from training in the park to the podium.
Achilles Mexico Athlete Travels to the U.S. To Compete In Her First Race In Houston, TX
Over 40 Achilles athletes, including military veterans of the Achilles Freedom Team, members of Achilles Mexico and local members of Achilles Houston, raced the 2024 Chevron Houston Marathon weekend events on January 12-14. Read a race weekend recap.
Meet the Marathoner: Achilles Melbourne Athlete Teams Up with iFIT Trainer
Claudia Stevenson of Achilles Melbourne will be taking on the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon for the first time this Sunday alongside her favorite fitness influencer Knox Robinson, who is serving as one of her guides. Read a short Q&A to learn more about Claudia’s journey to the start line.
Meet the Marathoner: Achilles NJ Athlete to Race with HOKA Run Streaker Hellah Sidibe
Rolando Lee of Achilles New Jersey is taking on his second TCS New York City Marathon alongside Hellah Sidibe, HOKA run streaker, elite runner, former soccer player and Achilles volunteer guide. Read a Q&A with Rolando to learn more about his journey to the start line.
Meet the Marathoner: Mom Runs For Daughter Ruby to Benefit Team Achilles
New York native Kelsey Byrne is taking on her first ever marathon this fall as a Team Achilles charity entrant in the TCS New York City Marathon, not for the shiny medal she’ll receive on the other side of the finish line, but in honor of her daughter, Ruby. Read a Q&A with Kelsey about her journey to the NYC Marathon.
Why I Give: Achilles Transforms Fear Into Fuel
Valerie Hartman joined Achilles as a volunteer guide in 2021 to "create community and feel the power of doing something with purpose." Find out why she supports Achilles and how it has made a difference in her life.
Meet the Marathoners: This Mother-Daughter Duo Is Taking on the Chicago Marathon to Support Other Athletes with Disabilities
Samantha Rodriguez and her mother Karina have been racing and training together for the past six years. This mother daughter duo is using their passion for the sport to help support other athletes with disabilities by racing the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon as Team Achilles charity runners. Read a Q&A.
Meet the Marathoner: Blind Achilles Runner to Complete All Six Abbott World Marathon Majors This April in London
Prior to joining Achilles back in 2014, New York native Anthony Butler had never participated in any major races or even considered himself an athlete. Today, he is on track to compete in all six of the Abbott World Marathon Majors by the end of April 2023. Read a short Q&A about Anthony’s journey.
Give the Gift of Running this Boston Marathon Weekend
Justin O' Connell, 32, of Achilles Boston, is gearing up to race in his hometown at the 2023 Boston Marathon. Make a tax deductible gift today and help athletes like Justin achieve new goals they might never have dreamed were possible.
Meet the Marathoner: MaryEllen Branna, Achilles New Jersey Guide Takes on Boston
MaryEllen Branna, a long-time volunteer guide of Achilles New Jersey, is giving back in another way this spring. She is taking on the 2023 Boston Marathon as a Team Achilles charity runner with a goal of raising $15,000.
2023 Houston Marathon Recap: 76-Year-Old Athlete Pushes Herself to New Heights
Fourteen Achilles athletes, including from Charlotte, New York, and Washington D.C., competed in the 2023 Chevron Houston Marathon, the Aramco Houston Half Marathon and the We Are Houston 5K in Texas with Achilles Houston from January 14 to January 15.
Meet the Marathoners Living with Dwarfism Who Are Bonding Over Endurance Sports From Houston to Boston
Living over 1,000 miles away from each other, Diana Codispoti of Achilles Houston and John Young of Achilles Boston do not let that distance stop them from encouraging, and cheering each other on at each and every race!
Meet the 70-Year-Old Norway Runner Who is Blind and Deaf Racing His 98th Marathon in NYC
Arne Olav Løvik of Achilles Norway won’t stop until he has conquered 100 marathons! At 70-years-old, Arne has run 97 marathons, and will be one step closer to reaching his goal after competing in the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon.
“Lucky Zoro’s” Quest to Complete the Abbott World Marathon Majors Continues in NYC
He may call himself “lucky,” but belief is what drives Batzorig “Zoro” Baasai’s success. The Achilles Mongolia athlete is on a mission to complete all six of the Abbott World Marathon Majors within a calendar year.
Meet the Marathoner: Caroline Reilly of Team Achilles
Caroline Reilly, 27, of San Francisco, CA, is making her dream of running the TCS NYC Marathon come true this November by running to benefit Team Achilles. The cause is close to her heart.
Meet the Marathoner: Nayrin Ruiz of Achilles Panama
Achilles athletes from around the world are gearing up to race the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon, including Nayrin Ruiz of Achilles Panama!