Un día increíble en Central Park con los atletas de Achilles que inspiran a todos

More than 5,800 runners raced through Central Park on Sunday, as athletes with disabilities ran side by side with able-bodied runners at the Achilles Hope & Possibility 4M by TD Bank.

After a week of thunderstorms in New York City, the weather gods delivered, bringing clear skies for our runners and walkers, who lapped up the sunshine.

Achilles International, the main sponsor of the race, enables people with all types of disabilities to participate in mainstream running events in order to promote personal achievement. And the course was a sea of yellow with plenty of Achilles athletes and guides wearing their team’s iconic shirts.

Bronx runner and Achilles member Anthony Butler, who was a member of Team #MovedMe for the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon, said the four-mile race was a “day for Achilles to recruit new people and show people what we can do on the course.”

“This is our day,” he added.

At the race, Butler crossed the line in 37:36, guided by Meredith McIntosh-kean. Without the help of guides, he said he wouldn’t make it to the start line.

“It’s a very selfless act. Without my friends, I probably wouldn’t be able to run as I hate running on treadmills,” he laughed. “It takes a village of people for me to complete a race. Along with Meredith, I have four other people who run with me during the week. I’m just happy I have these people, who help me to reach these goals.”

McIntosh-kean moved to New York three-and-a-half years ago and immediately looked for opportunities to get involved in the community. When she saw a bunch of people running in the park wearing the yellow shirts, she was hooked. “It’s cool to see so many of us here today and see how large the actual community is,” she said.

The race, which celebrates all athletes running together, had an accompanying 1 Mile Walk, as well as a Rising New York Road Runners event. Handcyclists, wheelchair athletes, and mobility-impaired athletes were also given own space on the starting line. And medals were handed out at the finish for adults and RNYRR kids.

Benjamin Simmons, who has a running prosthetic, got involved with Achilles 10 years ago after moving to the U.S. from the United Kingdom. “When I got my running prosthetic, Achilles really helped me to build my confidence as a runner. It was a life-changer for me,” he said.

“It would be difficult to run without that sense of community. You see more and more people run with prosthetics these days compared to 10 years ago, but when I started, I was very self-conscious about it. Now I find it helps inspire other runners out there.”

Handcyclists were first over the starting line at the race in Central Park.

John Pierre, known on the NYRR scene as the “Ultimate Running Machine” added that “Achilles makes us all feel strong.” Pierre, a staple of NYRR races, has been an Achilles member since 2012 and finished this race in 43:29. “It’s great to see all of us out here today, the whole Achilles family. I couldn’t run without them and their support,” he noted.

Despite the high temperatures, Irwin Ramirez, president of the Washington, DC, chapter, raced home in 29:04 alongside his guide Tory Johnson. The pair ran the Boston Marathon earlier this year and now have their sights set on the TCS New York City Marathon later this year.

“The help of a guide makes it a lot safer and more fun,” said Ramirez, who recorded a PR at the four-mile race. “But there’s mutual support for each other. You help motivate each other and it’s a win-win situation.”

For Johnson, New York seemed like a “big place” when she moved to the city. Trying to find a way to make it smaller, she found team Achilles after spectating at the New York City Marathon and she started guiding athletes soon after. “I love it. I’d rather run with people than run alone.”

Achilles teammates Nafij Ahmed and Lisa Bowers were embarking on their second race as a pairing in the adult race. Bowers is a longtime member of team Achilles, having joined in 1998. “It has transformed my life,” she said. “I don’t think of it as giving back to the community. I get a workout and run with people who inspire me.”

And for those people thinking of joining team Achilles, Simmons had some final words. “Don’t think about it. The guides inspire the athletes and the athletes inspire the guides.”