Achilles Running Club Sydney - helping people who would like to walk and run -

January 2010 Newsletter

The Achilles Heel

Newsletter of the Achilles Running Club - Sydney

PO Box 240, Randwick,2031:
info@achilles-sydney.org.au

January 2010 Edition
www.achilles-sydney.org.au

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In this Edition:

President’s end of year message

Picnic in the Park and Andrew Bristow Awards

Matt makes a splash

Lindy goes to Canberra

Michael scales the heights

New York Nick

Sri Chinmoy Race

Rebel Run4Fun

Coming Events

2010 Volunteer Roster

PRESIDENT’S END OF YEAR MESSAGE

We have finally come to the end of a very busy and successful year at Achilles. There have been record numbers of members attending Sunday training and participating in the various athletic and social events during the year. The Club singlets and our revamped website have been instrumental in "marketing" Achilles. There is definitely a buzz of activity and excitement in the air in our Club. Next year is looking to be a very good one with various events planned for all members to participate in.

I hope that you all have a very merry festive season and a happy, healthy and active 2010. I'm sure that, come the first training session on 31 January, we all will be raring to go withall that is planned at Achilles.

Ellis

PICNIC IN THE PARK and THE 2009 ANDREW BRISTOW MEMORIAL AWARDS

In beautiful weather, we rounded off the Achilles year with the Picnic in the Domain. About 30 members and guests enjoyed a fine array of food and friendly banter in one of Sydney’s most pleasant spots.

During the breakfast, Club President Ellis Janks welcomed everyone, including Mrs Brenda Bristow. He also announced 2009 Andrew Bristow Memorial Award winners which were presented by Brenda.

The Disabled Athlete of the Year Award was won by Michael Bassil. Ellis praised Michael for being an inspiring example of a person who had overcome substantial difficulties and who had contributed much to Achilles. During the year, Michael underwent knee surgery and still made the effort to come to Sunday training, bandages, limp and all!

The Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Rael Cohen. Although in his HSC year, Rael had been present for most of the Sunday training sessions. His infectious enthusiasm had been appreciated by volunteers and athletes alike.

Ellis also commended the members of Foresight (Woody, Shayne, Joe and Sue) for their consistent support of the Achilles Club and its ideals.

MATT MAKES A SPLASH

Achilles member and Paralympian Matt Levy won six Gold Medals and broke six World Records at the recent World Multi-Disability Short Course Swimming Championships in Rio de Janeiro.

Matt’s impressive medal haul resulted from wins in the 50m butterfly, 100m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 100m individual medley. He was also part of the successful 4 x 100m freestyle and 4 x 100m freestyle relay teams.

After a short break, Matt will be training for the National trials in March in preparation for the World Championships in the Netherlands.

Matt is quite am inspiration in and out of the pool and we wish him well in his attempts to qualify for the World Championships.

Matt and his relay teammates waiting to receive Gold.

LINDY GOES TO CANBERRA

As Matt was winning his Gold Medals in Canberra, another Achilles Paralympian, Lindy Hou, was preparing for a move to Canberra. Lindy and her dog, Harper, joined us for a training session on Sunday December 6^th. Afterwards, those at training joined Lindy for a farewell breakfast in the park.

After arriving in Canberra, Lindy sent the following message:

“I would like to thank all the volunteers who guided me through those Sunday mornings runs. You folks are great, without your help we wouldn't get to enjoy those morning walks/runs. Congratulation also to those vision impaired people who managed to get out of bed on those Sunday mornings.

Harper & I will certainly keep up with our running and we plan to join the group for a run when we are in town.”

Lindy will be missed by her Achilles club mates but soon we will be able to follow her new challenges and triumphs on her website - http://www.lindyhou.com

MICHAEL SCALES THE HEIGHTS

For most people, running a Marathon is daunting enough. So consider the feat (and the feet!) of Achilles member and noted Ultra-runner Michael Lovric (Milo). He has just competed in the Coast to Kosciusko Ultra race. The C2K is 240 kilometres long and stretches from Boydtown Beach to Charlotte Pass, with a detour to the summit of Mount Kosciusko just before the finish. This is equivalent to 6 uphill marathons back-to-back. Michael finished the gruelling event in 4^th place in a time of 32 hours 7 minutes.

This is Milo at the summit. No he’s not smoking a cigar; he is eating a cookie.

NEW YORK NICK

In the October Newsletter, we wrote of Nick Gleeson’s plans to run the New York Marathon. Prevented from running the 2008 New York Marathon because of injury, Nick felt a little short of peak condition for this year’s race and a niggling injury refused to go away. Nonetheless, Nick and his guide completed the race in a shade over 6 hours.

Nick and friend Vina experience a Runner’s “Hi” in New York.

We were able to follow Nick’s progress on the internet. The only worry we had was that he was referred to throughout as “Nick Gleeson of Austria”. We wondered whether he would be bundled onto a plane for Vienna at the end of the race. However, he returned safely to Sydney and has resumed his running with Achilles.

“When we crossed that finish line everything became so very special. Achilles members were always in my thoughts.” – Nick, soon after the race.

SRI CHINMOY RACE IN CENTENNIAL PARK

Be and Martin approaching the finish.

After completing the Rebel Run4Fun (see below), Ben Phillips was keen to enter another race. The Si Chinmoy series is a popular set of races and Ben, guided by Martin Ruane, ran the Centennial Park race in November. On a hilly course over different terrains, Ben completed the race in 49 minutes.

REBEL RUN4FUN

Brian, Ben, Diana, Oscar and Phillip

On a blustery and wet Sunday, Ben Phillips (guided by Brian O’Dea and Oscar Frangiocomo) and Phillip Cook (guided by Diana Saleh) ran the inaugural Rebel Run4Fun race at Homebush. Philip completed the twists and turns in 62 minutes, while Ben, in his first race, got home in 71 minutes. Also running in the race was Colin Bradford, who took the above photograph.

COMING EVENTS

First day of training in 2010 is Sunday 31st January

The new season’s training will start at 0810 on Sunday 31^st January from our usual spot at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. In 2010, we will be adding some variety to the Sunday sessions in order that people can monitor their fitness. We will let you have the details when they are finalised.

Volunteers: Don’t forget to bring your Parking Letters on 31^st January. If you do not have one, we will provide it on the day of training.

Orange Running Festival – March 6^th and 7^th.

As mentioned previously, we intend to take a team to the Orange Running Festival, which takes place on Sunday March 7^th. The events will be a half-marathon, 10K and a 5K family run/walk. The official website is here. However, at the time of writing, it is still under construction. During the coming weeks, details will be posted on the site.

We plan to arrive in Orange on Saturday 6^th. In order that we can arrange the bus hire and the Orange accommodation, we will need to have a list of entrants by the end of January. We will contact you early in January to advise how to confirm your interest.

Sri Chinmoy

The Sri Chinmoy 2010 series of races begins on Sunday February 21^st in Centennial Park. Held monthly in different parts of Sydney, these races cater for the competitive and the first-timers. Courses range from 4K to the Half Marathon. The post-race pancake-breakfast is sufficient incentive for some people. The 2010 Sydney running calendar can be found here.

Sydney Striders

The Sydney Striders is one of Sydney’s best known running clubs. Its programme includes a series of 10K road races. These take place on the first Saturday of each month, from February to November. Currently, these races are run over three courses: Lane Cove, Homebush and North Head.

Because of restrictions placed on Sydney Striders, there is a cut-off of 60 minutes in each of these races. So, go easy on the holiday festivities and start training.

Let us know if you wish to enter any of the 2010 series. The first race is at the hilly Lane Cove course on February 6^th. The Sydney Striders website is here.

Sydney Marathon Clinic

The Sydney Marathon Clinic is another great Sydney club. Its team of volunteers are friendly and efficient. There is great camaraderie among the runners and the SMC will welcome runners from Achilles. The monthly events include a 5K walk, 10K run and a longer race, which can be 21.1K, 25K or 30K.

The 2090/2010 series is underway, with the next races being run on 17^th January. (The series runs from October to June). All races are held at Smithfield. If any of our disabled members is interested in running in any of these races, contact Brian O’Dea at b.odea@bigond.net.au .

The Sydney Marathon Clinic website is here.

2010 VOLUNTEER ROSTER

January 31^st is not far away and we will soon be working on the Volunteer Roster. If you wish to be removed from or added to the current roster, lease contact Rozanne at Rozanne@bigpond.net.au

MISSION STATEMENT

"To enable people from all walks of life, including those with physical impairments, to enjoy the health giving benefits of walking and running in a supportive, social and encouraging environment."