Re-formed late last year, after a three-year hiatus, Achilles NZ Dunedin pairs supportive guides with athletes experiencing a range of disabilities, to enable them to participate in walking and running sessions and to compete in athletics events.
Dunedin co-ordinators the Rev Rachael Masterton and Jo Gibson said members had been meeting weekly on Tuesday evenings for walks along the city’s cycle-walkways, training for Sunday’s mass community event.
On Sunday, six people will walk under the Achilles NZ Dunedin banner — visually impaired Achilles athlete Michael Bardrick will walk the 10km with Ms Masterton as guide; visually impaired Achilles athlete Katie Short will walk the 5km with guide Susan Craig; and Achilles guide Brent Hill will walk the 21km half marathon with Blind Low Vision NZ athlete Leanne.
All will be clearly visible to other competitors in their bright yellow T-shirts, labelled with Achilles NZ.
"It’s very exciting for all of us to get out there among all the many hundreds of walkers and do our best in the event," Ms Masterton said.
Fellow Dunedin co-ordinator Jo Gibson, a keen runner, will compete in the full marathon.
Ms Masterton said she had been guiding Mr Bardrick, who was visually impaired, since 2019, while Ms Short had joined the group this year.
"Although our group is small, it is enthusiastic — it is a lovely opportunity to not only train, but also to socialise," Ms Masterton said.
Being a guide for a visually impaired walker could be quite challenging, as well as being enjoyable, and the athlete must trust their guide.
"When you are guiding, you are tethered together and constantly scanning for trip hazards or things your athlete might bump into or bang their head on," she said.
"You also need to keep a close eye out for other people — especially when taking part in events like the marathon.
"We try hard to keep out of people’s way, by starting right at the back and being careful.
Mr Bardrick was a very trusting and patient person, and it was a pleasure to guide him, she said.
"And he has said that he wouldn’t be able to get out walking without us."
Ms Gibson said Achilles was an international organisation, and there were nine groups across New Zealand, involving 328 people, which shared the vision of every person with a disability being supported to experience the joy and benefits of movement and community participation.
People were attracted to being Achilles guides for a range of reasons — they might have family members who were living with disabilities, or might have been carers in the past.
Guides completed safe-guarding training and went through police checks to ensure the safety of athletes.
"We would really like to have more guides and athletes here in Dunedin, so we can strengthen our group and give more people with disabilities the opportunity to get out there and be active," Ms Gibson said.
Marathon update
A record crowd will tread the tarmac as registrations for the Emerson’s Dunedin Marathon hit an all time high.
Online sign-ups ended at midnight on Tuesday, with 3746 confirmed entries, surpassing last year’s official 3631 figure and establishing the highest tally yet for the popular event.
Totals may climb further, through in-person late entries at the Sargood Centre tomorrow from 4.30pm to 7pm and Saturday from 9am to 5pm.
Race director Becs Adlam wished participants a safe and successful day and reminded motorists that Portobello Rd, from Short St to Glenfalloch, would be closed from 9am to about 11am on Sunday, except for emergency vehicles and buses.
Full results will be published in the Otago Daily Times on Monday.
