More than just exercise. Helping people who would like to walk and run, able-bodied and disabled, to do it together.
The Achilles Resolution Run Team 2012.
Club activities include:
* Weekly training
* Taking part in walking and running events
* Learning how to guide
* Enjoying social events
Training will restart on Sunday 29th January 2012, wishing everyone a happy holiday and restful break.
Congratulations on everyone who competed in the Blackmores Running Festival. More information will follow in the next newsletter. A particular mention and congratulations to Ben Phillips on completeing his first marathon. To hear his interview with Adam Spencer on ABC radio - click here
A training guide for all volunteers has been added to our site - click here to view. We advise all volunteers to read and refresh themselves.
Congratulations to all members who completed the 2011 City to Surf. A full report will appear in the next newsletter.
Census night is on the 9th August. To request information in Braille, large print or audio format please call the Census Inquiry Service on 1300 338 776.
Congratulations to Charlie and Karen who ran the 11km Sutherland to Surf in 63.21 mins. This is not an easy course and Karen Charlie’s average pace of 5 minutes and 45 seconds per kilometre is a great effort.
The July 2011 newsletter is now out - click here
The new volunteer roster is now complete - click here.
Photos of the triathlon have been posted to the site - click here (posted 28/04/11)
ACHILLES GOES TO ORANGE
Once again an extremely enthusiastic group of 16 Achilles members travelled by bus to participate in the Orange Colour Running Festival on Sunday 5 March. This wonderful event in the rural setting of Orange NSW included a 5km, 10km and half marathon. Six members ran the 10kms and the rest walked in the 5 km event. Of particular note, Majella, guided by Brian finished her first ever 10km event while Ben and Charlie, guided by Marcelo and Ellis finished the 10 kms in under an hour. Sue, Shayne, Nastasia, Joe, Jenny, Kerry, Sandy, Colin, Brian all enjoyed the 5 km walk. This very social and fun weekend away should definitely be repeated next year with even more Achilles members!
EVEREST CONQUERED - Posted 16/10/10
The Achilles "Blind Ambition II" team has just returned from Nepal and a trek to Everest Base Camp. Achilles members Charlie McConnell, Nick Gleeson, Rozanne Green and Brian O'Dea were joined by Vina Accomazzo for the trek. Blessed with glorious weather and a superb team of Sherpa guides the team achieved its objective without mishap and had lots of fun along the way. A full report is expected soon (though Charlie us insisting "What happens on tour stays on tour"
CONGRATULATIONS TO LINDY HOU FOR COMPLETING HER FIRST MARATHON IN MELBOURNE LAST WEEK IN 4 HOURS 12 MINS. (Posted 16/10/10)
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR MEMBERS WHO RAN IN THE SYDNEY RUNNING FESTIVAL.
The latest addition of the Achilles Heel Newsletter is now out - to read - Click here
SYDNEY BLACKMORES RUNNING FESTIVAL - Posted 22/9/10
Well done to Ben Phillips, Markus Schar and Ellis Janks on finishing the Half Marathon in 2:08 and to Kathy Fela and Dianne Whalstromfor completing the Bridge Fun Run.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR MEMBERS WHO TOOK PART IN THE CITY TO SURF.
The latest addition of the Achilles Heel Newsletter is now out - to read - Click here
Photos of the Orange Running Festival are now posted - Click Here
Magnificent Doug and Markus are Successful
Doug Ritchie and Markus Schar (guiding François, a blind Achilles South Africa member) tamed the hills and flats of the Comrades Marathon to finish in 11 hours 35:58 mins and 11:46:32 respectively – a great effort. Congratulations to them both!
They ran most of the race very close together (although they wouldn’t have known it until afterwards). We look forward to hearing all about the race from both of them.
(posted on - 3rd June 2010)
BEN PHILLIPS LEAVES FOR WEST INDIES
Ben Phillips departed these shores with baggy green in hand (or on head) to tour the West Indies with the Australian blind cricket team. We wish Ben all the best of luck. We will keep you updated with the news from the Caribbean.
(posted on - 3rd June 2010)
BEN PHILLPS COMPLETES HIS FIRST HALF MARATHON
Congratulations to Ben Phillips who completed his first half marathon on the 16th May. Guided by Markus with the help of Ellis and Doug, Ben finished in 2 hours 16 minutes. Well done Ben, I am sure this will be the first of many.
DOUG AND MARKUS HEAD TO SOUTH AFRICA
Two Achilles members Doug Ritchie and Markus Schar have left for South Africa to compete in the 2010 Comrades Marathon on the 30th May. The Comrades Marathon is the World’s oldest and largest Ultra marathon, run over a distance of 89km (56 miles) between Pietermaritzburg (capital of Kwazulu – Natal Provence) and the coastal city of Durban, South Africa www.comrades.com or www.alsoranrunners.info/ . The direction of the race alternates each year between the “up run” starting from Durban and the “down run” starting from Pietermaritzburg. This year 2010 is a “down run”. The race is run over a strenuous course which encapsulates the “Big Five”, the five hills to be traversed on the run. There is a 12 hour time limit to cover the 89km’s. The “down run” is (sadly) known to be the tougher of the two direction due to the damage done to toes, feet, quads and knees as a result of the unavoidable action of having to running down hill for extended periods of time www.comrades.com/images/routeprofilemap.jpg
NICK AND BRIAN FLY THE ACHILLES FLAG
Congratulations to Nick Gleeson and Brian O’Dea who are both celebrating the completion of the Oxfam Trial walk and the Boston Marathon respectively.
Nick and his team ‘The Tigers’ finished the walk in 34 hours and 42 minutes. Despite a lost toe nail and sore feet Nick is recovering well. A great effort Nick.
Brian travelled to Boston for the marathon. He finished the race in an excellent time of 3 hours and 56 minutes with some energy spare to enjoy the post race celebrations with other members from Achilles International. Well done Brian.
BRIAN O’DEA – BOSTON HERE HE COMES
Best of luck to Brian O’Dea, committee member and guide extraordinaire, who heads off to the USA to run the Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest and one of the most prestigious major annual marathons in the world. It was first run in 1897. Brian was extremely lucky to gain entry into this race that has well over 100 000 applicants for the 25 000 places. To be eligible to enter, you also need a qualifying marathon within a certain time.
The 2010 QUALIFYING STANDARDS for men in the different age groups are:
18-34 3hrs 10min
35-39 3hrs 15min
40-44 3hrs 20min
45-49 3hrs 30min
50-54 3hrs 35min
55-59 3hrs 45min
60-64 4hrs 00min
Have a GREAT RUN, Brian and bring back some interesting stories!
6 FOOT TRACK MARATHON
Congratulations to all our members who produced fantastic results in the 6 Foot Track Marathon last weekend. A number of these supreme athletes ran their personal best times and all produced excellent results.
Of particular note is John Domandl,a visually impaired member from Newcastle who, together with 2 of his best mates as sighted guides finished the grueling 45 km mountain run 2 mins and 46 secs ahead of the cut-off time of 7 hours. What a fantastic effort! John continuously traded positions at the back of the field with the sweep team and at one stage (Cox River) was 10 minutes behind them. It took an extreme effort to make up time over the inhospitable terrain along fire trails and bush tracks to the finish line at Jenolan Caves.
The finish times of the Achilles “team” were:
Michael Lovric 4 hours 30 mins 21 secs
Markus Schar 5:34:51
Michael Levy 5:50:11
Doug Ritchie 6:13:54
Nick Dreyton 6:48:04
Viv Kartsounis 6:48:04
John Domandl 6:57:14
