Meet the Marathoner: Achilles Melbourne Athlete Teams Up with iFIT Trainer
Claudia Stevenson of Achilles Melbourne was born without sight. She often found it hard to participate in any mainstream athletics throughout her life, that is until she found Achilles.
“I was initially skeptical about joining Achilles after my awful experiences running at school,” Claudia says. “I didn’t know if I’d be welcome since I wasn’t a runner yet. I started dipping my toe in the water from a distance. I did my first ever race with Achilles in July 2016 and I was blown away by the great support I received. I quickly learned that Amanda, our chapter lead, had high expectations for people with disabilities and was there to support us participating in mainstream events. I knew that I had found something special.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Claudia began to use iFIT, a popular at home workout platform that offers trainer-led workouts. She enjoyed the workouts and felt a connection to some of the platform’s trainers, especially Knox Robinson.
Claudia will be taking on the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon for the first time this Sunday alongside her favorite fitness influencer Knox, who is serving as one of her guides.
“As a New Yorker, I’m proud to run my hometown race every year—not just to test myself on the epic, historic route, but to celebrate the best city on the planet. This year’s marathon with Claudia is such a special lifetime moment for me, and as a first-time guide for Achilles, I’m humbled by the opportunity to share these miles in such a powerful, personal way. To know Claudia and I are both connected to the global iFIT community—our iFIT fam!—means we’ll share our inspiring journey with folks around the world,” says Knox.
Read a short Q&A below to learn more about Claudia’s journey to the start line.
How did you connect with Knox Robinson? What led to him being your guide for this race?
“I originally was planning to have Pam, my longtime guide and friend, guide me during this race. I also enlisted Karen, one of our other Achilles Melbourne guides who is also a strength trainer, as my running coach to develop a training plan for me. I asked her if she’d accompany me as my second guide and she agreed. Unfortunately, Pam had to withdraw from the race for medical reasons, so that left me short one guide.
Since I was the one that got her hooked on the iFIT platform, she jokingly suggested I call Knox Robinson and see if he was available to take her place. Well, I didn’t quite call him but I emailed him and shared a bit of my story. I had seen a video he took during the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon for iFIT, and there was a section where he gave a shout-out to an Achilles team on the course. I was screaming at my treadmill with excitement, wondering if this could be me he was passing in the future. Well, it turns out he won’t be passing me as he has agreed to run with me instead!”
What inspired you to take on a marathon?
“I had seen the advertisements from Achilles International about opportunities to take on the New York City Marathon for years. Initially, I never thought that I could be a marathoner, but I was really just like a little seed that just needed a bit of water and light to grow.
As I was getting really into the iFIT platform, I really enjoyed the fantastic online community. Another trainer that I enjoyed, Tommy Rivers Puzey, took us all on his health journey and his diagnosis of a rare form of cancer. I followed his story through his time in intensive care, being unconscious on a heart-lung bypass machine, to him recovering, learning to walk and talk again. I watched him live as he crossed the finish line of the 2021 TCS NYC Marathon. It was then that I decided I wanted to do it myself. If Tommy could do it a year after learning to walk and talk again, so could I. I trained for a half marathon in 2022 and achieved that, so I knew that with a coach and a training plan it was achievable.”
How has Achilles impacted your life?
“I can’t begin to express what Achilles has given me. I think mostly a community unlike any other I have experienced in the disability world. I haven’t met anyone here who has that old-school, patronizing attitude. We’re all united by an interest in being more active, whatever that looks like! I really can’t believe that I am here, only a few days away from making this dream a reality. I really have to credit the whole Achilles team, especially Achilles Melbourne, for helping me get here.”
