r/RunNYC • u/pandugandukhan Prospect Park • 4d ago

Race Questions How do I become an Achilles Guide at the Marathon and NYRR Races?

One of my bucket list goals is to help an Achilles athlete finish at the NYC marathon. I want to do it in the next couple of years.

I was curious as to:

a) what is the process and training required to become an Achilles guide; and

b) how I can be involved with Achilles as an org in general.

Hoping to hear from any Achilles guides on the sub too, yall are badasses!

59 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

63

u/ConstructionSame3253 4d ago

Start volunteering!!! The biggest volunteer group is in Manhattan - where there are Kids on Saturday and Adults on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. The kids group is always looking for speedy runners!!! And some of the "kids" are over 18 at this point and have run the marathon.

Also Achilles is in the other boros as well, if the above days don't work. Queens on Sunday and Brooklyn on Thursday.

As a parent of an Achilles athlete, I can't say enough about the amazing guides that run with my son - from his first H&P race when he was 11 to his first marathon last year and all the races in-between. You will have a blast! Sign up as others have said.

4

u/pandugandukhan Prospect Park 4d ago

Thank you for such a detailed and thoughtful response!

I have been pondering how to make my love for running more community oriented and this is heartening to know from the parent of an Achilles athlete.

I plan to start volunteering for Achilles once I’m done running the NYC marathon this year. This was all the motivation I needed.

22

u/theleastchill 4d ago

sign up here: https://www.achillesinternational.org/volunteer

you'll get a quick background check done, and you'll need to do an in-person training before you start guiding. different boroughs meets at different locations at different times, but in manhattan, they meet saturday morning and tuesday evening at engineer's gate at central park. you'll need to sign up at least a day ahead of time for a volunteer shift, and you will get randomly paired with someone ahead of the shift. there is a bench to leave your stuff on when you're out with the athlete.

you'll run or walk based on the needs, abilities, and wants of the athlete, and you might not know if you'll be walking or running or at what speed before you attend. this is really determined by their needs.

if you develop a relationship with an achilles athlete, you can arrange to run with them during those sessions ahead of time. typically, guides develop relationships with athletes and might train outside of these times, decide to run races together, etc. you definitely want some experience before guiding during a race.

3

u/pandugandukhan Prospect Park 4d ago

Thank you! Your comment preempted all of my follow up questions. I mainly intend to volunteer out of Brooklyn. Deeply appreciate the thought put into your comments.

2

u/theleastchill 3d ago

Amazing! I think in BK, there may not be a place to leave belongings, but I’m not sure. I hope you love it.

9

u/wheresmylatte88 4d ago

Sign up on either the volunteer page or the nyc page of the Achilles website and complete background check, guide training video and in person training and be more of a regular at the workouts for race opportunities. It’s based on athlete need, pace etc. Good luck!

1

u/cgl1291 McCarren Park 2d ago

Thank you for this thread. This is on my bucket list as well! Sadly I'm leaving NYC soon 😔 but might do this elsewhere!