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Meet Achilles Connecticut’s Athlete and Volunteer of 2017!

December 17, 2017

It started with the shirts. It continues, for Achilles athlete Mike Tubiak and his frequent guide, Laura LaRiviere, with their being named Achilles Connecticut Chapter’s Athlete and Volunteer of 2017.

Ask Achilles athlete Mike and his frequent guide, Laura, how they got first got involved with the Connecticut Chapter of Achilles International, and for both, the distinctive, neon-yellow shirts played a pivotal part.

“In one of the last big races I did by myself, the New York City Marathon, I struggled visually,” says Mike. A Naugatuck resident, Mike lacks peripheral (side) vision due to retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder that he was diagnosed with at the age of 14.

When he asked a runner in his pace group about the yellow shirts, he learned how Achilles provides guides and support for people with disabilities.

If you’ve ever met Mike, you know that when he says, “I got pumped about it!” he means it – in a big way.

Laura and Mike, rocking the Spartan Beast in Vermont!

Getting Involved
Likewise, Laura wasn’t looking for Achilles when she first got involved. She says it “kind of found” her, when she was running the Cheshire Half Marathon a couple of years ago.

“I saw the fan support for people in Achilles shirts, how that helped build awareness of what it was and how people could get involved,” recalls the Clinton resident. “Harry [McKinstry] was there, and had just done the 5k, and I was amazed.” (A longtime Achilles athlete, Harry has minimal mobility due to a traumatic brain injury sustained in a construction accident. But with the help of his “Team Harry” guides, he regularly competes in races throughout the year.)

After the race, Laura started talking to volunteers at the Achilles table, and later signed up to volunteer. In 2017, she’s guided Mike in the Bradley Road Race 10k, the Hartford Marathon, the Sunshine Kids Race, and the Spartan Beast Race.

The Spartan Beast is a grueling 12-plus miles obstacle course that takes runners straight up a Killington, VT, black-diamond ski slope.

On that co-endeavor, Achilles Connecticut President Erin Spaulding notes, “Laura was our first guide to run UP a mountain with one of our athletes!”

Giving Back
On a recent Friday morning in early December – the first real frost-on-the-windshields day of the season – you might have been surprised to see a duo starting off their day in a way that would make many others, well, shudder. Mike and Laura are at the Naugatuck High School track, defying the cold during intervals that include squats and crunches, and culminating in Mike carrying Laura around the track, piggyback-style.

In action!

Dirty, and celebrating!

Why the piggyback? Laura was a sponsor of Mike’s “Team Believe 923,” in support of funding equipment for athletes who are paralyzed or are amputees. Upping the ante on Relay For Life-type fundraisers, Mike had promised he’d carry his donors around the track.

As another way of “giving back,” Mike also gives all his race medals to a disabled child, who he simply refers to as his “buddy” Rylan.

On their cool down, when asked why they do what they do, Mike pauses, and responds, “Achilles is about just showing what anyone can do. Whatever the condition, there’s always a way to get things done, and there are awesome people out there.”

His final thought: “I couldn’t do what I do without Laura and the other guides.”

2017 runDisney Marathon Weekend Race Inspiration – Nicole Gaines

September 2, 2017

This year, as in several years past, Cigna is the sponsor for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. I had the pleasure of being invited to the blogger meetup event taking place this weekend. Prior to the races this year, I want to share some inspirational stories with you to give you some encouragement if this is your first race, or maybe your 50th race. Nicole is part of Team Achilles, which I also volunteer for. I hope to meet Nicole in person this weekend.

The first story I will share with you this week is of Nicole Gaines. Nicole is a Cigna customer and Achilles athlete participating in the Walt Disney® World Marathon 5K. Nicole Gaines, 33 years old from Troutdale, Oregon, is an active mother, wife, and registered nurse whose passion is caring for infant patients in the NICU and family birth centers patients. When she isn’t caring for patients or spending time with her family, you’ll find Nicole on the mountain slopes volunteering on ski patrol or teaching wilderness medicine to mountaineers and skiers.

But, on January 8, 2016 her active lifestyle came to a halt when she suffered a traumatic brain injury during a skiing accident. Nicole was also left with sustained injuries to her (left/right) shoulder and bicep tendon. In the days following, she went to an Urgent Care center and started physical therapy, but six weeks later when her symptoms of not being able to keep her balance, stay focused or have a coherent conversation persisted, she saw a concussion specialist who did an MRI and diagnosed her with post-concussion syndrome.

At work, Nicole’s injuries limited her ability to perform regular duties. Her main barriers to returning to work were vision challenges, memory issues, and fatigue as a result of her head injury. She took time off work to recover. Nicole continued with physical, occupational and speech therapy for eight months. During recovery, her husband and daughter were a huge support—driving her to and from her appointments and helping her with simple tasks at home such as cooking and cleaning.

By April, Nicole felt ready to return to work part-time doing back-office tasks and following up with patients over the phone. But, she was still unable to meet the cognitive demands of the shift, so Nicole was asked to take more time off work. That’s when in mid-June Nicole met Cigna vocational coach, Robin Randol, and the two teamed up to help Nicole reach her health and return to work goals.

Robin provided Nicole with screen magnifiers and screen readers to assist with vision issues, coached Nicole with nutritional and sleep hygiene best practices as well as computer use best practices to alleviate concussion syndrome triggers and fatigue, and provided cognitive strengthening strategies. “Robin has a deep background in working with people who have had brain injury,” said Nicole. “Robin’s expertise and the resources she’s provided helped normalize my struggle so I can worry less and stay focused on getting healthier and stronger.”

Robin also provided job placement and resume assistance to help Nicole connect with other RN opportunities, not 12-hour shifts, to help with her recovery. This September Nicole started a new RN position in employee health at a local hospital where she’s much happier working with patients again, has better hours and a better commute which support her while her brain continues to heal. To help Nicole strengthen her physical and cognitive stamina, Robin introduced Nicole to Achilles International, a non-profit organization Cigna partners with to help people with disabilities achieve their goals. Nicole worked with an Achilles personal trainer who provided a customized exercise program to help her increase physical activity gradually.

“Increasing physical stamina has made a big difference in my cognitive stamina,” Nicole said. “By doing my Achilles walk/run exercise program, I have more energy throughout the day which helps my cognitive stamina as well. I wasn’t a runner before my accident, but I love running and am making long-term health improvements.

”In recognition of Nicole’s desire and dedication to regain her health, Robin invited Nicole to participate as a sponsored Achilles athlete in the Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend 5K in Orlando this January.“When Robin invited me to participate in the Walt Disney World 5K, I was excited to join Team Cigna with other Achilles athletes whose stories have motivated me along my health journey. I hope my story can motivate others too.”

Nicole and daughter Kaytlin will participate in the 5K together. After completing her 5K, Nicole looks forward to her next goals: returning to work without restrictions, volunteering and being back on the mountain slopes. “My dream is to be fit and recovered enough to climb Mt. Rainier next year. Doing this 5K is a great start in making that a reality.”

Read more:

2017 runDisney Marathon Weekend Race Inspiration – Nicole Gaines

Running as a Guide for Achilles: The Shift from Self to Other

February 16, 2017

February 16, 2017    |    Michael Lo Presti
Source:  https://www.rundisney.com/blog/articles/Running-as-a-Guide-for-Achilles-The-Shift-fromSelf-to-Other/

In some ways, running can be considered a selfish sport. It’s all about you, and the time you personally dedicate to getting in your miles or crossing that finish line. After nearly 20 years of running races ranging from 5Ks to ultramarathons, I know how much “me” time and energy it takes to train and race year-round.

But there are lots of ways for running to be an incredibly rewarding team sport, one in which the emphasis shifts from the self to the other. I learned this the first time I met Erin.

Erin, a triathlete and mother of three, was recovering from an accident that caused a traumatic brain injury. After learning to walk again, she set an ambitious goal: To return to sports by running the Walt Disney World® Half Marathon. She was given the opportunity to run through a partnership between Cigna (my employer) and Achilles International, an organization that enables people with different abilities to participate in mainstream sports events.

Achilles athletes are matched up with one or more guides during the race. The purpose of the guide is simple: To help the athlete complete the event by providing support along the way.

I had first heard about Achilles and guiding from Cigna’s CEO, David Cordani, who had served as a guide the previous year. He inspired me: If our CEO can do it, why can’t I?

Erin and I met for the first time in December about a month before the race. We went on a practice run together in her Connecticut hometown. We weaved our way through the shoreline community streets on that cool late fall morning, getting to know each other and talking about what all runners talk about: family, relationships, politics … and, of course, running. As her guide, this practice run gave me the chance to understand her unique running needs: How I can serve as an extra set of eyes for her impeded peripheral vision, how I can give her an arm to lean on for stability around turns, and how I can give verbal warnings for bumps or potholes in the road.

During the run, I was virtually unaware of my own – suddenly minor – aches and pains. It was the shift from self to other. All that mattered was helping Erin finish that run safely, which we did.

We became friends that day, and that friendship carried us through the Walt Disney World Half Marathon. We shared an amazing race experience, along with her husband who served as a second guide. We reveled in the energy of the crowd. We cried when we caught our first glimpse of Cinderella Castle. We took lots of pictures. And we crossed the finish line hand-in-hand-in-hand.

It’s been both thrilling and humbling to be part of the Cigna and Achilles teams these past few years. I’m grateful to Cigna for being an employer that cares about my health and well-being – even encouraging me to keep up with my annual check-ups and stay on top of my important health numbers (Body Mass Index, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol). And I’m also grateful to Achilles for the racing opportunities they provide athletes and guides around the world. Both organizations help people do amazing things.

I’ve since guided many Achilles athletes, but that first experience with Erin – who has become a good family friend – marked a material shift in my running career. The shift from running being a mostly solitary endeavor to being a way to help others achieve their dreams. A way for me to give back through the sport I love most. And a way to make our community of runners stronger.

Michael Lo Presti is the Communications Director at Cigna. Cigna is the presenting sponsor of Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend and Disneyland® Half Marathon Weekend.

ACHILLES CT ATHLETES AND GUIDES GOT THEIR NEW YORK ON!

November 12, 2015

Nov 12, 2015 | Erin Spaulding, Achilles CT Chapter President

In the early hours of Sunday, November 1st, 7 Achilles CT athletes (and 1 honorary) and 8 guides arrived in Staten Island to embark on a journey that would take them on foot through the five boroughs of New York City; or as guide Chris Love called it, “a 26.2 mile block party!”
The CT Chapter started planning for the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon back in March.  The first call for athletes led to 10 coming forward to begin training.  Guides were recruited, logistics were planned, and goals were established.  Injuries sidelined some; others pushed through and kept their dream alive.   Personal records were shattered on race day; medals were hung around necks as tears were shed.  Families cheered along the way and celebrated together at the finish line!
In order of their finish times, here’s each Connecticut athletes’ and guides’ inspiring story of success in the NYC Marathon:

  • Krys Zybowski finished his third marathon in less than a month in 1:29:43, taking 5th place male in the hand cycle division (out of 72 men) and adding another PR in his quest to qualify for Boston 2016.  This year, his wife and all 3 kids were at the finish chanting “good job daddy!”  Up next for him is the Philadelphia Marathon on Nov. 22nd!  Good luck Krys… we will be cheering you on from CT!  You have proven what a world-class athlete you are!!

  • Tom Stearley shaved an impressive 31 minutes off his time from last year and finished his 2nd NYC Marathon in 1:57:28!!!  He enjoyed the friendly competition from NYC hand cyclists Romel Palis, Ricardo Corral, and Carlos Guzman; all had fun re-hashing the race in the Achilles reunion area!  Tom was greeted by friends at the finish line and planned a well-deserved post-race brunch!  “Amazing day, awesome people,” were Tom’s post-race words!

  • Mike Loura finished his race in 3:11:08, and celebrated his return to NYCM with a large group of family and friends in the reunion area!  Mike was excited not to be sidelined by a hurricane or a hand cycle wait list as he was in the past, and was all smiles coming across the finish line!  Awesome job Mike…you should be proud of all that you have accomplished!

  • Alexia Boukoms came across the finish line in her hand cycle on the heels of Tom in 3:12:11, completing her 3rd NYC marathon with her son, daughter and other family members cheering her on.  Alexia also shared street time with Meb Keflezighi, as evidenced in the NYRR video of the marathon of him running by her!  Alexia, fresh off the Hartford Marathon like Tom & Krys, represented female hand cyclists in a small field of 9 (vs. the men who had a field of 77!)  Way to go Alexia!!

  • Rob DeLuca, along with guides Olivier Chedemail and Michael Lo Presti, finished his 3rd NYCM in 5:06:29…11 minutes faster than his time last year!  Wife Anja was there to drink his celebratory post-race beer with him!  Both Michael and Olivier were first-time guides in NYCM.  Both accomplished marathoners, Michael celebrated his 50th lifetime marathon with his wife Sara and daughters Becca and Abby at the finish line.  Congratulations to Michael!  Olivier, who is Rob’s co-worker from France, flew with his family from France for a vacation…and a marathon!  Olivier, around mile 6, asked Rob if the crowd was going to be cheering for Achilles (like that) the while way.  When Rob replied, “Yes!” Olivier said, “then I’ll be smiling for 5 hours!”

  • Adam Fleisher finished his first marathon (as in first, EVER!) in 5:17:33 with guides Peter Lamothe and Chris Love by his side.  It was also Chris’ first NYC Marathon and he soaked in the NYCM/Achilles experience all weekend, joined by daughter Bridget at the finish line!  Peter, who has run NYCM several times on his own, was an invaluable resource to Team Adam!  This was Peter’s first time guiding an Achilles athlete as he joined the Chapter earlier this year! “It was great to run with Adam and Chris and to support one another along the race course… overall an incredible experience with Achilles!”   Congratulations Adam…you have earned a new nickname:  “The Bionic Marathoner!”

  • Tracy Andrews became a first-time marathoner in New York, crossing NYCM off her bucket list!  Tracy, plagued by painful plantar fasciitis for the last part of her training, persevered through 26.2 miles to finish in 6:10:53 with her cousin Nina Purslow (also a first-time marathoner fulfilling her dream) and Kristin Huntington guiding her to what was a life-changing day for all on Team Tracy! Kristin, who has run NYCM 3 times on her own, summed up the day perfectly. “Running by Tracy’s side for 26.2 miles and watching her find the strength within to accomplish her marathon dream is something that will stay with me forever.  This experience summarizes what we are capable of when we believe in ourselves and add dedication and determination to it.   What an epic day for all of the athletes.”

  • Honorary Achilles CT athlete Rick Asselta (who lives in Puerto Rico and CT) finished his marathon in his hand cycle in 5:41:13.  Achilles CT guide Jon Romeo accompanied him.  Rick was an integral part of getting the CT Chapter started back in the ‘90’s, and was featured in the blog about the History of the CT Chapter.

  • Out of the NYCM due to injury but not forgotten by the Team:  Julie Aresco, Dana Albrycht (with sibling guides Cory Albrycht and Ashly Nokelainen), and Tony Allegretti (whose bib was given to another hand cyclist which made it look like he did finished his 5th NYCM! J)
  • Other members of Achilles CT in the marathon included Kim Marchand (3:23:21), Jeanne Corey (3:41:03) Mike Feinberg (4:29:40), and Mena Shehata (4:30:01).  Mike ran and raised money for Achilles…wearing his CT Chapter hat with pride!  Thanks Mike for making a difference while running a marathon! Congratulations to all of our members!
The NYC Marathon is truly unlike any other event, and the energy that pulsates throughout New York City is indescribable.  I worked a shift at the Expo on Friday, covering the Achilles table and checking in the athletes and guides at packet pickup.  I was able to share in pre-race excitement with Mike Loura and his wife Sue, and Adam Fleisher and Chris Love!  I met athletes from all over the world, including the legendary Bill Reilly and his team of guides (who is excited that our own Harry McKinstry has a new racing chair like his!!)  Harry WILL be at the starting line with Bill next year!
On race day, Roberta Brown and her husband Dan volunteered with me in the Achilles Family Reunion Area.  We were able to personally congratulate all of our CT Team after they finished and meet their proud families!  We also helped out hundreds of athletes and guides that day….294 athletes with disabilities and 330 guides came across the finish line and needed a foil wrap, a cup of hot chocolate, their checked baggage, or a celebratory hug!  Congratulations to all of the Achilles athletes and guides who were part of the Magic of Achilles at the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon, and thank you to the volunteers and Achilles staff who made the day possible!
Written by:
Erin Spaulding, Achilles CT Chapter President

2015 EVERSOURCE HARTFORD MARATHON, HALF & 5K TEAM ACHILLES CT RACE RECAP

October 17, 2015

Oct 17, 2015 | Erin Spaulding

Congratulations to the athletes and guides who participated in the 2015 Eversource Hartford Marathon, Half Marathon or 5K!  After a great 2-day presence at the Total Fitness Expo at the XL Center, Achilles CT took to the streets of Hartford on a spectacular fall morning and showed everyone what they are made of…heart, determination and inspiration!
In the 5K…

Holly Smalley took first place female and won the Physically Challenged Division, with an impressive net time of 36:36. Awesome job Holly!  Erin Spaulding and guide Hilary Dording had a great time walking with Tom Branchaud and guide Andy Anderson (they finished in 49 and 56 min. respectively). Erin did some “wogging” the 2nd half of the race; her first Hartford 5K since her hip injury in 2013!  Jen Gonzalez, back in her first race since her hip injury in June, was supported on the course by guide Ellie Morse!  It was Ellie and Andy’s first time guiding an Achilles athlete, and they both did a great job!!  Not able to race this year due to illness, Rosita Cascudo and Diane Amato, who cheered the team on in spirit!!

Amy Dixon, along with guides Natalie Kronick and Noah Hallisey, took first place in the Visually-Impaired Female division, finishing in an impressive 22:23!!!  Amy recently learned that she has qualified to represent Team USA in Paratriathlon in the Rio Paralympics next summer!!  Congratulations to Amy!!  Gary Allen also set a new PR in the men’s Visually-Impaired Division, coming in first in 31:29!  Thanks to his guide Cindy Drozd for helping him achieve his goal this year!
In the Half Marathon…

Team Achilles CT had three wheelchair athletes in the half…In fact they were the ONLY wheelchair athletes in the entire half marathon!!  Way to represent!!  Amy Saffell and her guide Lauren Kollinger came up from Achilles Nashville to join the Team in her first Hartford Half (and her first time in CT!)  CT guide Sue Grigely joined Amy and Lauren, and they finished in 2:33!  Martin Reyna, who joined Achilles CT just in September, finished his race in 3:05 with the amazing support of first-time guide Jared Senelick!   Congrats to Vinnie Ligouri, who finished his first half marathon in exactly 2:00….crushing his projected finish time of 2:15 and exhausting his guides Marni Luby and Jeff Amell, who provided on-course support and attempted to pace him!

In the Physically Challenged Division, Rob DeLuca took 2nd place male in a competitive field, finishing with first-time guide Mena Shehata in 2:02. Rob and Achilles CT guide Michael Lo Presti (who paced the 4:20 marathon group), are heading to the NYC Marathon on 11/1!!  Good luck Rob and Michael!  Adam Fleisher and guide Chris Love, who are also heading to NYCM, had a great race, finishing with Adam’s son Miles in 2:30:18.  Julie Aresco and her first-time guide Nicki Remeika, finished strong in 2:58:02, coming 2 minutes under her goal of 3:00!!

In the Visually Impaired female division, Cathy Beaudoin, an Achilles athlete from Vermont, finished 3rd in 2:51!  We were happy to have Cathy, and her guide dog Maggie, join Team Achilles CT!  Guides Patti Clarke and Elizabeth Gordon (first time guide), provided amazing support to Cathy on the course!  Hope to see you next year Cathy!
In the Marathon…

The hand cycle field was the largest in race history, with Krys Zybowski leading the pack of 7 athletes!  Congratulations to Krys whose 1:28:33 finishing time qualified him for the Boston Marathon, his personal goal!  Krys heads to NYCM, The Marine Corps Marathon, and the Philadelphia Marathon this fall in pursuit of his dream!  Go Krys!!

Not far behind Krys was Carlos Guzman (1:29:36), Ricardo Corral (1:42:53) and Romel Palis (1:56:09), elite NYC hand cyclists who joined Team Achilles CT for the race!  Tom Stearley finished in an impressive 2:10:02 and Alexia pushed through a hand injury to finish in 3:14:35.  Tony Allegretti hit traffic on his way to Hartford but was with the team in spirit.  All of the hand cyclists head to the NYC Marathon in a few weeks for more friendly competition!  Thank you to Rachel Whitney who guided the marathon on her bike and kept an eye out for our hand cyclists!

David Alejandro ran an impressive 4:21 marathon with guides Dave Hayes (first leg) and Aviva El Kayam (2nd leg).   David’s wife Tracey was with him on the course capturing his marathon moments! Congratulations to all of the athletes in the marathon!
Charity Runners…
As an Official Charity Partner of the Hartford Marathon, we had 3 Charity Runners running for Team Achilles CT and raising money along the way!  Thank you to Adam Osmond, who ran the marathon in 4:15:59, Fred Bennett, who ran the half in 1:54:12, and 5K athlete & Chapter President Erin Spaulding.  Collectively, they raised $1,184 for Achilles CT!  Thank you to all who donated in support of them! Erin and Adam were also members of the 2015 Aiello Inspiration Team, proudly representing Achilles International CT Chapter!
Volunteers…
We could not put on an event of this magnitude without “a little help from our friends!”  In total, we had 38 additional volunteers who helped make this day possible and successful for Achilles CT!
Hartford Marathon Planning Committee members started working with Chapter President Erin Spaulding in August, meeting weekly via teleconference.  Thank you to Jennifer Gonzalez (Co-Chair), Marni Luby, Sarah Ferrero & Colleen Danaher (Pasta Dinner Coordinators), Cindy Drozd (Expo Coordinator), Roberta Brown (Starting Line Volunteer Coordinator), Kim Lowman and Alicia Novi (Race Day Volunteer Coordinators), Alyssa Bush (Athelte Coordinator), Michelle Currier (Guide Coordinator), and Taylor Benedum & Gladys Alcedo (Marketing team).  Special thanks to Rebecca and Samantha Ferrero who made our Team Movie!
Representing Achilles CT at our booth at the Total Fitness Expo on Thursday and Friday were Erin Spaulding, Cindy Drozd, Margaret Rorrio, Adam Fleisher, Gary Griffin, Sarah Ferrero, Michelle Bosco, Elizabeth Gordon, April Rodrigues, Rachel Tressy, Andy Anderson, and Kim Lowman.  We had amazing promotional materials thanks to Taylor and Gladys, and raised awareness of Achilles.
Achilles volunteers served as Official Charity Partner-Starting Line Volunteers for the Hartford Marathon, Half & 5K.  What better way to have a front row seat to all the action and see our athletes off in their races!!  It was a big job to do and they all did it well!  Thank you to:  Roberta Brown, Dan Brown, Jared Senelick, Dave Hayes, Bev Hammond, Ray Beaulac, Will O’Shaunessy, Alicia Novi, Carrie LaSpada, April Rodrigues, Shelly Traska, Brian McNealey, Mike Feinberg, Margaret Rorrio, Andy Anderson, Rob McLaughlin, Jodi Blyler, Cathy Esposito, and Eric Rathbun.  HMF sent feedback after the race that they were the best starting line crew ever!!
We had a dedicated and busy group of Race Day Volunteers at our Tent in the Charity Village.  Alicia Novi, Kim Lowman, Chris Deneen, Rob McLaughlin, Eric Rathbun, Roberta Brown, Courtney Sheehan, Shelly Traska, Margaret Rorrio, Jodi Blyler, and Amy Bennett did everything from watch Cathy’s guide dog, guard valuables and port-a-potties, run athletes to the starting line and to/from their cars, take pictures, pick up food and awards, cheer at the finish line, and everything in between!!!  It truly was a team effort on race day…thank you all for going above and beyond!!
A special thank you to the Hartford Marathon Foundation staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes and on race day.  They are a hard-working team and we appreciate all that they do for Achilles CT!
We have collected photos taken on race day and put them up on an online site for you to view and purchase if you’d like.  The 2015 Team Video (made by Samantha & Rebecca Ferrero) is also posted to the site.  Here’s the link: https://teamachillesct.shutterfly.com/pictures
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