Faxon Law New Haven Road Race will feature record contingent of disabled runners – New Haven Register

Achilles International-Connecticut Chapter, formerly the Achilles Track Club, is a non-profit organization in Branford that supports athletes with disabilities and part of that support is getting them involved as participants in mainstream sporting events.

For years the organization has had a few of their athletes compete in the Faxon Law New Haven Road Race. But Achilles International-Connecticut president Erin Spaulding is especially proud to have a record number of disabled athletes from her organization compete in the event on Monday.

“Achilles International-Connecticut has participated in the New Haven Road Race in the past, but usually with just a few athletes and their guides,” Spaulding said. “This is the first time we have had a large Achilles International team of disabled athletes and their guides competing. We have one wheelchair athlete in the half marathon and 15 athletes with a variety of disabilities in the 5K (visual impairment, paraplegia, and medical conditions).

“Getting active in road racing, like competing in the New Haven Road Race, is a different type of challenge than what they may experience living with a disability or medical condition. Some of our members are very active and compete in other adaptive sports. Others are just starting out and learning the sport. It is exciting to support our athletes no matter from where they are starting. They all set goals for themselves, work hard in their training, and then feel the pride in accomplishing their goal when they cross the finish line.”

One person who sets goals for himself every time he runs in a race is Edgar Machicote, 24, who resides in New Haven. He will be running in the New Haven Road Race for the first time with his wife Dali Cantu. Both are blind. Machicote went blind following a brain tumor operation and Cantu was blind at birth.

“Since I started running races in 2015, I have run a lot of 10Ks and 5Ks, but I am looking forward to running in the New Haven Road Race (5K) for the first time ,” Machicote said. “I’ve always heard about the New Haven Road Race and now I get to run in it.

“I don’t look at running as a mental challenge or use it as motivation. I just like being out there and running with everyone and it’s great to run with my wife who started running with me a year ago.”

Each blind athlete trains and runs races with running guides. The blind athlete and guide hold onto a short rope that keeps them together whenever they run.

“Depending on their disability, they may need a guide to accompany them for workouts and on race day,” Spaulding said. “Guides are able-bodied volunteers who go through a training process with us. We pair them in advance of race day so they can train locally in their communities together.

“We have a network of guides throughout Connecticut who may be part of that athlete’s team to help them prepare for the distance in which they are racing.”

Disabled runners have participated in the New Haven Road Race throughout its history. New Haven Road Race director John Bysiewicz has always been impressed by the blind and disabled runners who have competed in the 20K, Half Marathon and 5K races.

“I’ve always been inspired by them,” Bysiewicz said. “We’ve always had disabled runners compete here. This year there are more disabled athletes than ever competing from Achilles (International). They bring a certain energy to the event.

“We always do everything we can to give all our disabled runners and wheelchair participants what is required to help them out including special parking. The blind runners come with their guides and we have bikes follow them when they run too.”

Athletes from Achilles International-Connecticut compete in races around the Northeast between March and November.

“Part of our mission is to bring awareness of the accomplishments of adaptive athletes to mainstream athletics, such as the New Haven Road Race,” Spaulding said. “We promote inclusion, and I work with race directors around the state in advance of race day if any accommodations are needed.”

Machicote has set the same goal for the New Haven Road Race as he does for every 5K race.

“For me, I’m a guy who sets goals,” Machicote said. “My goal in every 5K race I run is to finish between 40-50 minutes. That’s a good time for me and that’s the plan on Monday in the New Haven Road Race.

“Every time you finish a race it makes you feel like you accomplished something, that you finished what you wanted to do. It means even more when you accomplish your goal.”

For more information on Achilles International-Connecticut visit its website at https://www.achillesct.org/.