A Guide's View: Jenny and Harris' Journey to Tokyo
Read a first person testimonial below from Jenny Paulson, an Achilles NYC guide about her journey to the Tokyo Marathon with Harris Warsaw, an Achilles NYC athlete.
The thrill of crossing a finish line was no mystery to Harris Warsaw, who completed 31 marathons in his life.
But four years ago, a brain tumor put Harris’s life on another track. After a surgery with only a 30% chance of survival, the tumor only partially removed, and ten days in intensive care, Harris awoke to his vision and limbs compromised.
“I had to relearn how to walk, like a child,” said Harris.
He continued pushing forward, and with the support and encouragement of his wife, Shelley, he joined New York Road Runners and Achilles International, a leading adaptive running nonprofit that offers athletic programs for people with disabilities.
On November 5th, Harris went on his routine four-mile Tuesday evening run with me, his assigned guide. With a passion for running and dedication to community, I had already completed 11 marathons and participated in several Achilles volunteering opportunities since becoming an international and domestic guide.
I did not anticipate that particular evening would mark the beginning of such a wonderful and special friendship. The first surprise was Harris’s friendly, chatty nature.
“Hey hotshot,” he said, bumping me with his elbow, “What’s your story?”
I explained my reasons and passion for running, listing the marathons I’d completed in 2024. Harris immediately identified them as the Abbott World Marathon Majors.
“Sitting in my apartment, I often try to imagine how it would feel to have that medal around my neck,” he said.
Harris still needed to complete Tokyo to make his cherished dream a reality. While he already had an entry secured, there were no guides available to run by his side.
After listening to his story — speechless with shock of the twists and turns life can suddenly take — I slowed my run to a walk, and gently grasped Harris’s arm.
“Harris, God gave you a second chance at life for you and I to meet. I will be your guide in the Tokyo Marathon. I’ll do my very best to bring you across the finish line, and when we finish, I’ll ask you how it feels to have the Abbot World Marathon Majors Medal around your neck.”
He began to cry and asked, “Are you for real?”
“Yes, I really mean it,” I assured him.
“You are an angel entering my life!” he said.
Since that fateful evening, we’ve been training every Saturday morning, with Shelley cheering us on from the curb, a routine we’ll continue leading up to the start line of the Tokyo Marathon on March 2. In addition to our regular runs, we frequently even run into each other as we live in the same neighborhood, invite each other’s families over, and text updates about our training.
Harris, a beacon of hope and resilience, symbolizes the progress and change born of strength and determination, defying all limitations.
“I’m very grateful to have been given a second chance, and I’m determined to make the best of it,” Harris says.
His advice for other athletes with disabilities?
“Never give up on yourself. Nothing is out of reach if you put yourself out there. The Tokyo Marathon is what I started out thinking was the prize, but the real prize is the journey and what comes after. Achilles has given me back a big part of my life that will continue long after Jenny and I complete Tokyo,” says Harris.
