Volunteer guide runners help athletes with disabilities race with Achilles International
Achilles International pairs athletes with disabilities with volunteer runners called guides, who act as their eyes, ears and safety assistants. At a 2023 panel in New York, athletes and guides described how the partnership works and why it helps both of them.
Achilles International works with youth, adults and veterans with disabilities through athletic programmes and social connection. Much of that work depends on volunteers called guides: runners of all paces who serve as the eyes, ears and safety assistants for athletes who want to experience the sport.
In June 2023, as part of its Hope and Possibility 4 Mile race presented by TD Bank, Achilles held a panel with New York Road Runners at the NYRR RunCenter in New York City on what it takes to be a guide. Nearly 200 people attended, including race participants.
Athletes and guides talked about training and racing together, from getting past the first nerves and the sense of responsibility to the funny discovery that shouting "Watch out!" does not tell a runner very much. One guide said that focusing on someone else's goals even helped him through his own races. Another point the panel made was that every athlete needs different support.
The event has grown since. Achilles reports that its 2026 Hope and Possibility 4 Mile brought more than 8,000 athletes, guides, volunteers, supporters and partners to Central Park to celebrate inclusion through sport. The organisation also runs a free adaptive cycling programme in New York City with weekly handcycle and tandem rides.
A guide's time and attention lets someone who cannot run alone take part in a race, and the guides say they gain from it too.
Source: Achilles Hosts Panel on How to Be a Guide Runner with New York Road Runners and TD Bank (Achilles International).
Written by the HappyGood desk from the primary source linked above and checked against it. Every story links its source. Corrections: [email protected].
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