2021 Q1 Newsletter
AFT-TAK Training Camp
Eleven athletes from each of the Achilles Freedom Team (AFT) and Team Achilles Kids (TAK) programs engaged virtually in a Training camp that focused on not just training the body, but the mind and soul as well -- making our whole selves as strong as they can be -- especially during such a challenging time.
2021 began with the same quiet, bunkered down uncertainty that we had been living in for months, but we took this as an opportunity to have a little time and space in our usual busy lives and race calendar to break the routine and come together in a very special and new way! The first ever Achilles Freedom Team – Team Achilles Kids Training Camp took place! The AFT-TAK Training Camp served 11 athletes from the AFT and 11 athletes from TAK as they engaged virtually in a camp that focused on not just training the body, but the mind and soul as well – making our whole selves as strong as they can be – especially during such a challenging time. Achilles’ TAK and AFT athletes are so treasured and inspiring that bridging the two proved to be extra magical! TAK athletes are incredible kids and teens who live in and around NYC. One camp goal was to offer them positive role models who exemplify resilience, dedication and teamwork who they may not otherwise get to meet in their everyday experience. Also, AFT athletes naturally possess service-oriented hearts, and a goal of this initiative was to nurture that and add to their sense of purpose.
Over a three-week period, January 19 through February 8, the camp consisted of seven unique zoom events, tracking each participant’s wellness activities on a google form daily, and sharing messages of encouragement and activity resources on the exclusive camp webpage. Campers focused on Body/Mind/Soul activity challenges and came together to talk about what they were enjoying and about their joys and goals in general. It was an enriching initiative that will continue and we look forward to sharing a highlight reel with you all very soon!
Q2 Programming
Achilles started 2021 with a bang. From our Q1 programming, The Achilles Whole Person Health Challenge, to our TAK-AFT camp, we kept our community engaged as we begin to emerge from the pandemic. In Q2 we are launching an exciting fitness initiative called Spring into Action that focuses on a return to racing.
This April through June 2021, Achilles is launching a fitness initiative called Spring into Action, highlighting our return to in-person chapter workouts as we begin training for our upcoming Resilience Relay and Hope & Possibility Race. Each month there will be a focus on a different key element to help with personal fitness goals. They include commitment, progress, and achievement. We will provide virtual training tips, workouts, virtual fitness classes, resources, inspirational quotes, and spotlights on Achilles athletes to support our community through our social media channels and communication platforms. In addition, we are launching a couch to Hope & Possibility training guide encouraging those who have been inactive to get back into a regular training routine with a goal of walk/running/wheeling the Hope & Possibility Race in person/virtually. The Spring into Action Webpage will house all of our content pertaining to this Q2 initiative.
Achilles Colombia Continues to Grow
Achilles Colombia has prospered despite the global pandemic. The Chapter recently created six new subdivisions to further Achilles’ mission. These new subdivisions are led by dedicated members of the Achilles family: Alvaro Sánchez, Pedro Padilla, Leonardo Varon, Alexander Ospitia, Francisco Pedraza, and Roger Salas. We welcome these new sub-Chapters to the Achilles community with open arms, and are excited to see their accomplishments and successes.
The Achilles Colombia Chapter was founded in 2005 with only 4 members. The Chapter began growing rapidly in 2007 when Pierry Ramirez joined. His goal? To create opportunities for the Colombian warriors of Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. In 2009, a team of 10 athletes from the Colombian Army Health Directorate crossed the finish line of the New York City Marathon - an amazing achievement for the group.The U.S. Embassy supported the team and, since then, has been a consistent major supporter of Achilles Colombia. In fact, from 2012 to 2016, the American Embassy was the major sponsor of the "Lend your Leg" race, bringing to Bogota members of the Achilles Freedom Team and Achilles South Florida Chapter, as well as hundreds of amputees from all over Colombia. The connections formed at these events became the foundation of many successful projects, such the annual Prosthetic Donation Brigades and adaptive equipment donation drive. These projects helped dozens of members of Achilles Colombia train for and race in various Marathons.
Since 2016, Achilles Colombia has participated with other Achilles teams in the Miami Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, and the New York City Marathon to celebrate the Chapter’s hard work and success. Achilles Colombia has played a crucial role in the Medellin Marathon since 2017, supporting teams from different regions of Colombia as well as the Freedom Team.
The Chapter has continued to develop despite the challenges presented by COVID-19. Working with police, army and navy officers injured on line of duty, the Chapter created new subdivisions to further the Achilles mission in different regions of Colombia with an impressive team of leaders: Alvaro Sánchez, Pedro Padilla, Leonardo Varon, and Alexander Ospitia. In addition, two more sub-Chapters were founded: the Army, Navy and Police division, led by Francisco Pedraza, and a Para-Triathlon Division led by Roger Salas. These additions were made possible by Pierry Ramirez’s 14 years of hard work, as well as his extraordinary leadership and compassion. He is respected and honored in Colombia and in the global Achilles Family.
Achilles and The Moth
Achilles has recently partnered with The Moth Community Program in order to celebrate the accomplishments of our athletes and foster connections between our communities. Through the power of storytelling, we are able to share our athletes’ experiences and create meaning out of life’s most precious moments. Thus far, 26 Achilles athletes have participated in the Moth’s Introductory workshop, and we are excited to continue developing these stories and celebrating the Achilles spirit.
The Achilles mission begins with the athlete and the indomitable spirit within to overcome, connect and achieve. While Achilles focuses primarily on athletics, the past twelve months have empowered us to try new things and stoke more of what ignites our Achilles spirit. Since December, we have partnered with experts from the legendary storytellers at The Moth to further explore what makes the Achilles community great.
The Moth Community Program provides the space, tools and expertise for people to practice the art and craft of personal storytelling. Storytelling is an ancient craft that serves as the ultimate through line of all humanity and we are excited to bring it to the Achilles community. We partner with organizations, cultural institutions and non-profits to host workshops that inspire confidence, self-reflection and deepen connections within and between communities.
Achilles athletes and volunteers are amazing, and we want to hear more about them and what they have to share. Our partnership with The Moth helps members to identify their extraordinary experiences, nurture their feelings, cathartically craft them into clear stories and ultimately create meaning out of life’s precious moments from which we can all benefit.
So far, 26 Achilles athletes have participated in The Moth’s Introductory workshop and we are excited to keep developing these stories, bringing more participants into the fold and sharing them with you all in the coming year!
Our Newest Chapter - Team Achilles USA
The COVID-19 pandemic saw the creation of the newest Achilles U.S. Chapter: Team Achilles USA is composed of 9 athletes and 14 volunteers who reside in areas where Achilles does not have a physical presence. Team Achilles USA meets monthly on Zoom to set goals, discuss training, share stories and socialize. All are invited and many attend the enhanced virtual programs Achilles offers on Zoom. Among the amazing athletes are Daniel Chaplin (Alabama), whose goal is to be the first person with Down Syndrome to run a half marathon in all 50 states. He has completed 26 so far, and is registered for the Wineglass Half in Corning, NY this October. Daniel, along with Samantha, Kristi, and Dennis have the NYC Marathon on their list of goals. Samantha (Florida) turns 18 soon and trains with her mom; Kristi Adair (New Mexico) found Achilles through Trisha Meili's inspirational memoir; and Dennis Lavoie (Maine) has Usher Syndrome in which eyesight lessens with time. "I really want to run the NYC Marathon before going completely blind," writes Dennis.
Passle Helminski of Erie, PA enjoyed Kirstin Cole's Zoom session on how to present your best self on a virtual platform. Fernando Moura moved from Brazil to Orlando, Florida. Both he and Passle have asked about creating a Chapter where they live. "Getting to know these amazing people has been a silver lining of the pandemic. While we must be vigilant that running events are safe for all, it's important to look to the future with hope," says Ellie Cox-Nihill, director of U.S. Chapters. "Team Achilles USA embodies the hope we need."
Volunteers who attend are made aware of other organizations where their willingness to help would be welcome. Achilles recommends they register with UnitedinStride.com, a website that pairs sighted guides with visually impaired runners in nearby locations. Our volunteers are a fundamental part of Achilles’ success as an organization.
The Achilles Whole Person Health Challenge
In January, we launched the Achilles Whole Person Health Challenge, a 3-month mental health initiative featuring many popular programs, such as Meditation with Meris, Achilles Virtual Dance Parties, and the Hope & Pastability Cooking Class. Through these programs, we brought together Achilles athletes from many different Chapters in order to focus on mental health and remain strong and resilient.
At the turn of a new year, Achilles would usually have a robust schedule of in-person races from the Disney Marathon to the Los Angeles Marathon. Due to the ongoing pandemic, all in-person races were canceled, so we needed to reimagine the start of 2021. One of our priorities was to develop meaningful virtual content and programming to engage Achilles athletes worldwide, while remaining positive and hopeful that a return to normalcy is on the horizon.
We launched the Achilles Whole Person Health Challenge, a 3-month mental health initiative focusing on Resilience, Confidence, Strength and Energy. We filled our social media channels with inspirational memes, spotlights on Achilles Athletes, recorded meditations, resources, articles, and more.
Each month, we hosted various LIVE virtual workshops and events that included guided meditations from mindfulness expert, Meris Gebhardt, “How to present Yourself in a Virtual Setting” led by NYC Journalist and Achilles Board Member Kirstin Cole, A Cigna/Achilles Panel Discussion around Building Greater Resilience, and a Family Friendly Cooking Class. At the end of the month, we celebrated our accomplishments with an Achilles Virtual Dance Party. We aren’t biased, but Achilles athletes sure know how to rock it out on the virtual dance floor!
Given the foundation our athletes now have to maintain optimal mental health, it is our hope that athletes will begin practicing meditation in their daily lives. It’s proven to help reduce stress, restore energy, find one’s focus, and even improve physical health, if practiced regularly. Our survey showed that Achilles athletes were willing to give meditation a try and benefited from the live workshops provided throughout the past 3 months. Meditation can even be helpful at the startline or morning of a race. Visualizing your journey is a step towards success and accomplishing your personal goals.
Here are a few of our favorite takeaways from Kirstin Cole’s workshop: lighting is everything. Ideally, your light should face you and not be behind you. If you are on a zoom call, windows should be in front of you, or invest in a halo light to prevent shadows on your face. In addition, create a clean background using the zoom blurry filter, as clutter can be a distraction when trying to communicate. Finally, make sure your webcam doesn’t show your ceiling, as this is not the optimal angle.
The Hope & Pastability Cooking Class introduced us to 3 easy, delicious, and nutritious recipes: baked ziti with vegetables, apple nachos, and overnight oats. Cooking at home is always the healthier option and doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming! Several Achilles Kids joined this class, as it was a way for them to engage with their Achilles friends while learning to be more independent in the kitchen.
Overall, the highlight of our Achilles Whole Person Health Challenge was being able to bring together Achilles athletes from all programs to participate in events together despite being apart. It is critical to focus on our mental health during these challenging times and we are here to help you remain strong and resilient. To view all of our workshop recordings and additional content from our Achilles Whole Person Health Challenge, please visit our website.
Celebrating the Perseverance of our International Chapters
Though most Achilles International Chapters are still unable to hold in-person workouts, many Chapters have invented creative ways to work around the challenges of the pandemic. Whether Chapters have been able to resume in-person activities, as have Achilles Australia and New Zealand, or whether they have implemented virtual programming, as Achilles Brazil has done, all of our International Chapters have seen success. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and we are excited to see what all of the International Chapters do next.
Most Achilles International Chapters around the world are still unable to hold physical workouts, with the exception Achilles Australia and Achilles New Zealand. Achilles Australia trains every Sunday using their highly functioning RSVP system.
The Chapters’ workouts are packed with action. Achilles Melbourne celebrated its 5th Anniversary, please see their evolving video here.
Achilles Canberra celebrated their Chapter member Liz’s 250th run, all showing up in pink skirts, and Achilles Sydney founder Ellis Janks was seen dressed as an early 1900 Airman. The heavy rains did not stop Achilles Australia from having fun!
The Achilles New Zealand Chapters continued actively participating in local races, including marathons. Their biggest highlight was the Round the Bay Wellington Event, with over 100 members and volunteers celebrating their Annual Award Ceremony and running the race.
Most Achilles International Chapters still cannot hold physical training sessions. However, they are doing what it takes to keep their communities together. Achilles Brazil features weekly live webinars, highlighting their members, volunteers, sponsors and other compassionate members of the disabled community. They have now held over 30 sessions. Some of the live presentations lasted as long as 180 minutes, such as the last session with Mario Rollo, Achilles Brazil VP and Volunteer Program Manager, who shared his inspiring stories and advice.
On March 28, the Achilles Mongolia team finished a 2 week-long countrywide virtual “2021 Health Run” challenge, running a total of 5,006 km as a team.
Achilles’ members of St. Petersburg, Russia were unstoppable, running every open race in the city. Most members of the Munich Chapter paired with fixed guides and ran when it was possible. After one year of lockdowns Achilles Panama members saw each other for the first time on March 27th, though masks and social distancing were still required. Achilles UK members are finally able to get together and plan their weekly runs. This shows us that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and we are excited to see what our International Chapters continue to accomplish.
U.S. Chapter Updates
Though the Achilles community has faced challenges this year, our U.S. Chapters are up and running and are excited to provide members with various programs and opportunities.
Achilles Long Island will have its inaugural workout on April 24 at 8 am. Want to join? If already a member, write Ellie and ask to be added to the Long Island Chapter roster. If not yet a member, visit the Join Us Webpage, complete the appropriate intake form and select New York Long Island as your Chapter.
Achilles Tucson is once again raising funds with the Jim Click raffle to benefit participating nonprofit organizations in Tucson. Contact Lupita to purchase tickets!
With gratitude for Adam Mayer's leadership in Boulder, Colo., Michael Stone, Judy Mare-Dixon and Annette Kissinger are stepping up to take Achilles Boulder to the next level.
While the pandemic caused many volunteers to shy away from Achilles workouts, Achilles Denver took the record for most incoming volunteers during the pandemic in a three week period due in large part to the efforts of volunteer Pam Marquez. "I tell them how important they are," Pam told the U.S. Chapter leaders during the March conference call. "Lukewarm doesn't cut it."
Achilles Queens held a virtual gala for the Chapter, complete with red carpet introductions of each member, a slide show of all the incredible moments and achievements of 2020, games, and a musical close. Chapter members stayed close during the pandemic via WhatsApp and weekly Zoom meetings. "We've tried email, Facebook, phone calls and text, but nothing worked as well as WhatsApp," says Wendy.
Achilles Utah, the same Achilles Chapter which was the first blind team to compete in the (Wabash) Ragnar, is plotting a 400-mile tandem ride from Salt Lake City to the St. George Marathon in October.