🏃♂️🤝💪 These Runnahs Confront Challenges Together 🤝🏃♀️
⬇️ Pidgin | ⬇️ ⬇️ English
Da power of community and support is immeasurable, especially when it comes to running. In da case of Achilles International, both volunteer guides and runnahs with disabilities find an ‘ohana (family) dat uplifts and inspires dem on da run. Da impact of dis nonprofit organization is nothing short of extraordinary, bringing joy and accomplishment to people of all abilities.
Meet Mauricio Blandino, who faced a traumatic brain injury in 2011. After months of struggling to walk without assistance and feeling da weight of despair, he found hope through Achilles International. At a support group meeting, a guest speaker introduced him to da weekly runs in Central Park. Starting with a walker, Blandino gradually progressed to using a cane, relearning coordination and balance. As his journey continued, he reached a milestone—he was able to run. Since den, Blandino has completed over a dozen marathons, including da renowned Boston Marathon earlier dis year. Achilles and its volunteers played a significant role in his physical progress, becoming his extended ‘ohana. 🌟🏃♂️🌳
Achilles International is committed to helping individuals with disabilities embrace da joy of running. Both da runnahs and da volunteer guides find a sense of belonging within dis supportive running community. One of da organization’s highlight events is da annual Hope and Possibility four-mile race, which recently took place in Central Park. Dis event brings together people from all walks of life, celebrating hope, possibility, and unity. 🏃♀️🌟🌳
Francesco Magisano, da director of Achilles in da New York region, was not a runnah when he first joined da group. As someone who is blind, he had not been exposed to adaptive sports growing up. One day, while in a grocery store, a person noticed his cane and recommended Achilles to him. Magisano initially had mixed feelings about running, but he soon realized dat running is not just about physical challenges—it is about overcoming mental barriers and connecting with others. 😮🏃♂️🌟🤝
“You get paired up with a complete stranger, and during da run, you have da opportunity to talk story,” Magisano shared. 😄💬🏃♂️🌟
Although Magisano uses da term “run,” Achilles welcomes walkers too. Da group’s philosophy revolves around meeting individuals where they are in their journey. Longtime members have witnessed tremendous personal growth through da power of running. For example, Blandino discovered dat running enhanced his physical therapy, leading to even greater improvements. 🚶♂️🌟🤝🏃♂️
On any given Saturday morning, you can easily spot da Achilles runnahs and volunteers gathering at da Engineers’ Gate entrance of Central Park. While wearing da neon yellow Achilles shirts is not mandatory, many choose to don da vibrant colors as a sign of unity. Before da main group takes off, da Achilles Kids chapter convenes, fostering an inclusive environment for young runnahs. Kieron Ragoonath, a 17-year-old youth runnah on da autism spectrum, frequently joins da adult chapter for runs. He has already completed seven half-marathons and plans to conquer da New York City Marathon in November. Kieron’s father, Kris Ragoonath, noticed a significant change in his son since joining Achilles—he has become more vocal and confident. Kieron likened da Achilles community to a team of superheroes, comparing them to da Avengers. 🌈👕🦸♂️🦸♀️
While da neon T-shirts may not possess supernatural powers, they do serve as effective advertisements for da group’s mission and impact. 🌟👕✨
Christian Metzler, born missing part of one leg, participated in traditional sports teams throughout high school. However, when he moved to New York six years ago, he discovered Achilles through their distinctive shirts. Over Memorial Day weekend, he attended his first Achilles workout and immediately felt da sense of community dat defines da group. Metzler typically runs without guides, but he appreciated the visibility Achilles brings to adaptive sports, especially for people who otherwise might not participate. And he’ll be back. 💪👕🏃♂️
“The community aspect is what makes it so fun to be out here,” he said. 😃🤝🏃♂️
Metzler wasn’t the only newcomer that Saturday. Four first-time volunteers showed up to learn how to be a guide. The training for new guides is always done by runners who are blind or visually impaired because they require the most work from the guides, Magisano told them. Once the guides learn to work with them, it’s easy to learn the nuances for runners with different disabilities. 🏃♀️🌟👥
Simon Isakov, who is also blind, pulled out a tether, which is basically a rope or band with loops on either end, that the runner and guide use to stay together. As the guide moves on the course, the runner can feel the movement through the tether. Magisano also talked them through verbal guiding, or letting the runner know whether a turn in the course, a puddle or a pothole is coming up. 😮🏃♂️🤝👣
Then he split them up into two groups based on pace. One man and Isakov headed out, and Magisano and three women from Jersey City, N.J., started. With multiple guides, they would rotate through with one using the tether and the other two serving as blockers to clear the way. That’s something that’s especially useful on crowded courses, and Magisano said for races the goal is always to have multiple guides for each runner partly for that reason. 🏃♂️🌟🌳🏃♀️💪👥
“You have to really think about what other people are doing,” Tammy Locke, a volunteer, said. “I never thought about all the people who are out there.” 🤔💭🙌
Da spirit of Achilles International continues to thrive as runnahs and guides come together, conquering challenges and finding strength in their shared experiences. Da joy and camaraderie dat permeate da group are like a beacon of light, illuminating da path for others to join in and discover their own running journeys. With each step, Achilles fosters unity, inclusivity, and da belief dat anything is possible. 🏃♂️🤝💪🌟🌈✨
NOW IN ENGLISH
🏃♂️🤝💪 These Runnahs Confront Challenges Together 🤝🏃♀️🌈
The power of community and support is immeasurable, especially when it comes to running. In the case of Achilles International, both volunteer guides and runnahs with disabilities find an ‘ohana (family) that uplifts and inspires them on the run. The impact of this nonprofit organization is nothing short of extraordinary, bringing joy and accomplishment to people of all abilities.
Meet Mauricio Blandino, who faced a traumatic brain injury in 2011. After months of struggling to walk without assistance and feeling the weight of despair, he found hope through Achilles International. At a support group meeting, a guest speaker introduced him to the weekly runs in Central Park. Starting with a walker, Blandino gradually progressed to using a cane, relearning coordination and balance. As his journey continued, he reached a milestone—he was able to run. Since then, Blandino has completed over a dozen marathons, including the renowned Boston Marathon earlier this year. Achilles and its volunteers played a significant role in his physical progress, becoming his extended ‘ohana. 🌟🏃♂️🌳
Achilles International is committed to helping individuals with disabilities embrace the joy of running. Both the runnahs and the volunteer guides find a sense of belonging within this supportive running community. One of the organization’s highlight events is the annual Hope and Possibility four-mile race, which recently took place in Central Park. This event brings together people from all walks of life, celebrating hope, possibility, and unity. 🏃♀️🌟🌳
Francesco Magisano, the director of Achilles in the New York region, was not a runnah when he first joined the group. As someone who is blind, he had not been exposed to adaptive sports growing up. One day, while in a grocery store, a person noticed his cane and recommended Achilles to him. Magisano initially had mixed feelings about running, but he soon realized that running is not just about physical challenges—it is about overcoming mental barriers and connecting with others. 😮🏃♂️🌟🤝
“You get paired up with a complete stranger, and during the run, you have the opportunity to talk story,” Magisano shared. 😄💬🏃♂️🌟
Although Magisano uses the term “run,” Achilles welcomes walkers too. The group’s philosophy revolves around meeting individuals where they are in their journey. Longtime members have witnessed tremendous personal growth through the power of running. For example, Blandino discovered that running enhanced his physical therapy, leading to even greater improvements. 🚶♂️🌟🤝🏃♂️
On any given Saturday morning, you can easily spot the Achilles runnahs and volunteers gathering at the Engineers’ Gate entrance of Central Park. While wearing the neon yellow Achilles shirts is not mandatory, many choose to don the vibrant colors as a sign of unity. Before the main group takes off, the Achilles Kids chapter convenes, fostering an inclusive environment for young runnahs. Kieron Ragoonath, a 17-year-old youth runnah on the autism spectrum, frequently joins the adult chapter for runs. He has already completed seven half-marathons and plans to conquer the New York City Marathon in November. Kieron’s father, Kris Ragoonath, noticed a significant change in his son since joining Achilles—he has become more vocal and confident. Kieron likened the Achilles community to a team of superheroes, comparing them to the Avengers. 🌈👕🦸♂️🦸♀️
While the neon T-shirts may not possess supernatural powers, they do serve as effective advertisements for the group’s mission and impact. 🌟👕✨
Christian Metzler, born missing part of one leg, participated in traditional sports teams throughout high school. However, when he moved to New York six years ago, he discovered Achilles through their distinctive shirts. Over Memorial Day weekend, he attended his first Achilles workout and immediately felt the sense of community that defines the group. Metzler typically runs without guides, but he appreciated the visibility Achilles brings to adaptive sports, especially for people who otherwise might not participate. And he’ll be back. 💪👕🏃♂️
“The community aspect is what makes it so fun to be out here,” he said. 😃🤝🏃♂️
Metzler wasn’t the only newcomer that Saturday. Four first-time volunteers showed up to learn how to be a guide. The training for new guides is always done by runners who are blind or visually impaired because they require the most work from the guides, Magisano told them. Once the guides learn to work with them, it’s easy to learn the nuances for runners with different disabilities. 🏃♀️🌟👥
Simon Isakov, who is also blind, pulled out a tether, which is basically a rope or band with loops on either end, that the runner and guide use to stay together. As the guide moves on the course, the runner can feel the movement through the tether. Magisano also talked them through verbal guiding, or letting the runner know whether a turn in the course, a puddle, or a pothole is coming up. 😮🏃♂️🤝👣
Then he split them up into two groups based on pace. One man and Isakov headed out, and Magisano and three women from Jersey City, N.J., started. With multiple guides, they would rotate through with one using the tether and the other two serving as blockers to clear the way. That’s something that’s especially useful on crowded courses, and Magisano said for races the goal is always to have multiple guides for each runner partly for that reason. 🏃♂️🌟🌳🏃♀️💪👥
“You have to really think about what other people are doing,” Tammy Locke, a volunteer, said. “I never thought about all the people who are out there.” 🤔💭🙌
The spirit of Achilles International continues to thrive as runnahs and guides come together, conquering challenges and finding strength in their shared experiences. The joy and camaraderie that permeate the group are like a beacon of light, illuminating the path for others to join in and discover their own running journeys. With each step, Achilles fosters unity, inclusivity, and the belief that anything is possible. 🏃♂️🤝💪🌟🌈✨
