Michael Anderson, NYC Chapter Leader, Achilles International

Automated Transcription

Joe Borchard: [00:00:31] Welcome to the Irun because podcast, we all have a reason why we run.

Each person has a unique purpose to answer their, why your, why moves you? Your, why gets you across the finish line? Your why can motivate others? I run because seeks to inspire others by exploring the why of athletes who run for charitable organizations. I'm your host, Joe Borchard. And I have my lovely host and my guide in life.

My wife, Christine. Hello. On this season of Iran, because we are highlighting the running club, Achilles international running club that partners guides with runners of different abilities to compete in mainstream running events while Achilles focuses on running. The truth is running is simply the tool for accomplishing their main objective to bring hope inspiration and the joys of achievement for all tonight.

We're really excited to have Michael Anderson chapter leader from New York city with us tonight. Michael, how you doing?

Michael Anderson: [00:01:24] hi, Joe and Christine. Doing great. Thanks for having me on.

Joe Borchard: [00:01:27] Good. We're so glad to have you. So, before we get into it, I just want to say, if anybody's ever run the New York city marathon, you've run, you've run past Michael. As you come into long Island city, he is a breath of fresh air coming over that bridge at the halfway point, him Michael, with the, the Achilles cheering squad.

Get you, get you through the second half. It's a great halfway point.

Michael Anderson: [00:01:50] Oh, thank you both. And I'm really happy that that is now what I'm associate. In the New York city marathon for years, it was always, Hey, how come you're not running? How come you're not running? I love running the New York city marathon. but I also love not running and being out there either as a, as a supporter cheering people on or in this case, Manning the halfway guide station for Achilles international.

Joe Borchard: [00:02:17] What is that halfway guide station for people who don't know about the New York city marathon.

Michael Anderson: [00:02:22] The purpose of it is twofold and it's a little deceiving. It's actually a little past the halfway point. It's at mile 13.6. The purpose is for. Circstances in which a runner has requested that a guide, take over for the second half. So one guide will depart at Mel 13.6 in a fresh guide will join them.

it usually results because either a, the runner is so fast that there are somewhere in that sub three hour range, that it's hard to find a guide to run the entire marathon with them, or perhaps they're, Their guide became injured during the course of the training and the Roadrunners approved them to swap them out.

the other purpose is, injuries do happen during marathons. That's what happens when you have 55,000 people running? So the, the Roadrunners have been kind enough to allow us to have a handful of emergency backup guides in case. the RA and Achilles runner and their guide to get to the halfway point and they say, Oh my gosh, my guide is in so much pain right now.

Can I please have a fresh guide? so that's what I do. It's a great place to, to it's a great race day assignment. It's a great place to be. I get to cheer people on. When they are at their most fresh, I usually have Larry Ceylan our official photographer joining me there. the police department, are wonderful to work with.

It's it's it's a joy. , what is already an amazing day?

Joe Borchard: [00:03:50] Just a fast story. Do you remember me there? Michael, when we were with Barbara Brown and I remember you, I didn't know what to do. It was my first year guiding New York city marathon and Barbara was having some difficulties and I looked at you. I said, She kept saying she wanted to finish, not finish. And I didn't know what my role was.

Do I encourage her to keep going? And I remember you said to me, you listen to your athlete, whatever she wants to do, she knows her body. And I was like, okay, because all along, I'm like, no, we can keep going. And I just didn't know my role. And I remember that's when you came running over the bridge and you caught us, I remember those are your words and it was helpful.

And then she was like, I think I could do it. And then we're like, okay, let's keep going.

Michael Anderson: [00:04:31] I remember that. Well, Barbara was one of the last athletes I was tracking and she had a, a nber of challenges that smer that kept her from getting her, her proper training in between injuries and job loss and other things. And it was, it was just a tough year for Barbara, but she, I, and I, I gave her the out.

I said, Hey, Barbara, if you don't want to run, we'll understand we'll support you in a future year. And she said, I'm doing this as long as I can stand on two feet. I am running this marathon

Joe Borchard: [00:05:03] And we finished

but I just didn't know my role. Like I was, I kept saying to her, cause she said, I'm done at the halfway point. I'm going to bail out. And I'm like, how am I supposed to be supportive and say, no, keep going. And I remember I looked at you and I said, I don't know what to do when you said she knows what she needs to do.

And it worked out.

Michael Anderson: [00:05:22] And the two of you found that right. Balance together between guide and athlete. I suggested to Barbara make it over to 59th street bridge and see how you feel. If you drop out, you drop out you you're, you're not the first athlete professional or otherwise. and something, I guess, something took over in those last 10 miles because she darn it.

She finished.

Joe Borchard: [00:05:43] that's why she has the nickname. Never quit Barbara Brown because she just was not going to quit. So we're very, it was a great day. It was a great day.

Michael Anderson: [00:05:50] I love it.

Joe Borchard: [00:05:51] Michael, before we get into your role with Achilles and, and how long you've been with the organization, I just want to go back a little bit, because I know, you're, you're quite an accomplished runner.

Like you, you've got some, some serious times and then eat to your belt. So did you start in high school? Just college, or if you want to just share with us how you got into running.

Michael Anderson: [00:06:12] sure, Jill, and thank you for those kind words. the funny thing is I. Was not a good runner in high school. I was wrestling with my main sport. my brother, my oldest brother was a wrestler. I was a wrestler and I would struggle to get through the practices. And I had a tough high school wrestling coach who would make us run before practice.

And what would happen was the run would be complete. And I would find myself winded and struggling to get through the drills and wrestling practice. my closest friend at the high school was a gentleman by the name of Damian O'Connor. We met through the youth group, really great guy. He was the captain of the cross country team and a very good runner, very accomplished.

He run the, he won the Rochester city Catholic championships two years in a row. So I was telling Damian about my struggles and he said, I think you should join the track team. He crazy. He talked me into it. I joined the track team and I was not very good. I think I was the worst person. I was the slowest front or on the team, but, so that didn't go too well.

so then Damien said, I've got another idea you should join cross country. You crazy. I trained all smer with a good friend of mine named Michael King, who was my, my neighbor. He was going to run for a rival school and, Lo and behold, I ended up really loving cross-country something about getting out in the trails and the outdoors.

I just really enjoyed and I managed to run injury free and I even ended up making the varsity by the end of my junior year. So I went from hating running to being, Oh my gosh, this is awesome. I love the comradery of the teammates and, and the, the whole concept of cross-country races. And, that's how I started, but, like a lot of folks, you know, life gets in the way I started college a couple years later and running fell by the wayside and did for nearly 10 years or so.

So it took, quite a long break from running actually.

Joe Borchard: [00:08:12] And then, you got back into it, I guess. how did you get back into running?

Michael Anderson: [00:08:17] Well, like a lot of things with running, it comes down to the New York city marathon. I kept trying to get back into it. I would do it with a lot of people do. And this is anyone listening. It's a mistake to set a new year's resolution to start running.

Joe Borchard: [00:08:33] Well, the weight that I'm always supposed to lose, you know, as a teacher, my new years is always, after labor day, truthfully, I make all these resolutions like September, like I'm going to lose weight. I'm going to be the best teacher ever.

Michael Anderson: [00:08:48] time of year to do it. I would, I would do it every year. I buy a new pair of sneakers. I'd say I'm going to start running and I'd, I'd run in the freezing cold. I lived in a couple years in Westchester and then I moved to New York city. I was living in Manhattan. Same thing would happen every year.

It'd be January. I'd get out for three or four runs. It would be freezing. I would get discouraged when it wasn't go going well. I, I, wasn't running my 5k time from 10 years earlier

Joe Borchard: [00:09:15] Okay.

Michael Anderson: [00:09:17] those sneakers would sit in the closet for a year. so it was a big mistake. however, what really helped was, some really good friends of mine were training for the.

New York city marathon and watching them train and then cheering them on, on race day. That just, that just gave me the push I needed to get back into running. Now, mind you, I didn't say, Oh, I'm going to go run a marathon. I just said, I want to get back to being able to running a five K maybe even a five miler.

And, that was what really helped was watching the New York city marathon. I believe the year was 1999 and I just watching runners from all over the world. And. And seeing what a difference the fans and spectators made that, that got me excited about running again. And that's when it really started to stick.

Joe Borchard: [00:10:02] That's great. And then you were running on your own or did you, run with the group within, in New York city?

Michael Anderson: [00:10:09] I was mostly running on my own occasionally with my roommates, occasionally with friends. a good friend of mine. His name is Kevin White. He, he and I were working catering gigs together at the time he was looking to make a career change and he was, about to join the. New York city fire department, where he's now been for nearly 20 years.

He's a captain now. He's the one that really pushed me. And he, he knew that I could become a good runner. it was great to have that friendship and that rivalry with Kevin. So he would push me, he'd say, I know you're better than this. And when I started running, you know, times that I was happy with, Kevin would.

Then push me and go, you know what? I think you're ready to try a 10 K and then eventually it was, I think you're ready for the marathon. so I'd run with Kevin and other friends. Sometimes I'd run, you know, Nike had a free running group. I'd run with them once in a while, but I wasn't really consistent about running with a group at the time, until later in my life.

In 2012, when I joined, when I moved to Hoboken, moved out of Manhattan. After 14 years moved to Hoboken and joined the Hoboken Harriers. And that's when I started running with the group. And, what a difference that made to run consistently with a great group of people, you know, four days a week, marathon training with them really pushing each other.

And that's when I really started to improve even more as a runner.

Joe Borchard: [00:11:30] And then was it that year that you ran the New York city marathon in 2012? Or was it 

Michael Anderson: [00:11:34] Oh, no, no. I had actually, I was fortunate to have a few marathons under my belt, by that point through, either winging it, getting advice from friends, reading a lot of runner's world reading tips online. I actually ran my first marathon in 2002. It was the Chicago marathon. I didn't get into the New York city marathon drawing.

So I decided to go for Chicago and, I set a goal of getting under three and a half hours. And there were no, I didn't even bring a stopwatch with me when I went to Chicago there. I didn't have a, certainly didn't have a GPS watch. I was just kind of winging it based on what I thought my start time was and darn it.

I got up by seven seconds. I broke three and a half hours.

Joe Borchard: [00:12:14] no way.

Michael Anderson: [00:12:17] So I, I, I set out to run the New York city marathon the next year. and that was a, and that went okay. I improved my time by a few minutes. and it was right around that time that I learned about this thing called the Boston marathon that you had to qualify for.

And, that be, kind of became like a lot of runners that became an obsession. I got to get into Boston. I got to get into Boston and, first few tries first try came up. Pretty short second try. I, I only missed out on Boston by 51 seconds, so I knew I was getting closed. Yeah, it was at the Buffalo American.

Oh, it's so close. Had perfect weather. Just didn't quite work out. And, unfortunately what followed was a string of injuries and disappointments for a few years and, well, like, like most runners we persevere and we stick it out. And, I eventually qualified and ran my first Boston in 2009. And, it, it went pretty well, but I knew I could do better.

So I went back in 2010 and improve my time by I think, like four minutes. and. And I just had so much fun. So I went back again and did it in, in, in 2011. Next thing, you know what? I had a pretty good streak going. and, it's, I've, I've, I've gone through some amazing times at Boston. There was the year that it was 90 degrees.

They still managed to finish. There was the sad tragedy of the bombing. The following year. I was fortunately my, my friends, my, my girlfriend now wife and I were all safe. 

Joe Borchard: [00:13:45] Did you run it that year

Michael Anderson: [00:13:47] I did run it. I run it. I've run it actually every year, since 2009. so I now have a streak of 11 consecutive years at the Boston marathon.

Joe Borchard: [00:13:57] you know, Michael, when I look at the times, I, when I'm 85, if I keep my pace right now, I might have a chance

Michael Anderson: [00:14:07] And that's all the motivation you need.

Joe Borchard: [00:14:10] it's yeah, no, it's, I I've. I've come to the conclusion that it's never going to happen. So now I'm just really focused on going there and cheering people on. So this year I know one of our athletes, Brandon was going to do it. And Joe and I were, we were going to go, go by Copley Plaza and hang out there and cheer him on.

So, I'm, I've lost the, I've lost the drive to actually qualify for that, but I'm in awe of anybody that does like, well, listen, now that. You know, this is why I love this podcast is because we get to learn stuff about people that we just. Never knew. So, Michael, I can't believe that you've qualified for Boston 11 years in a row.

So chances are, we can go to Boston just about any year, Chris, and we can watch at least almost somebody to wave to us. He runs past me. That is quite an accomplishment. Michael wants to wait around until I'm 80 to

Michael Anderson: [00:15:03] Let's do this. 

Joe Borchard: [00:15:04] keep the same pace as. That is quite an accomplishment, you know, make like, like I said, I knew you had a lot of hardware underneath your belt, but I really, I didn't realize 11 years of running Boston. That is man. That's something to be proud of. That really is

Michael Anderson: [00:15:21] yeah. Thank you. It would have been 12. It would have been nber 12 this year. If not for the cancellation.

Joe Borchard: [00:15:25] Well, there's, there's always next year. It's always next year. That's great. So, okay. So. Then, how did you get affiliated with, with Achilles? So w when did that come about and how did, what light bulb went on to say, Hey, this is the group.

Michael Anderson: [00:15:42] like yourself and a lot of others the first time that I. Witnessed the power of Achilles at a race? yeah, you're right. It was like a light bulb went off and I, you know, I'm, I'm having trouble remembering which race or which marathon it was. but, I certainly remember running my first New York city marathon and it was, It wasn't going as well as I'd hoped.

I was, I was off of my goal of qualifying for Boston and yeah, the thought of quitting did start to settle in and I remember passing some Achilles athletes and just saying. Wow. the thought and then the thought of dropping out just basically went out of my head. particularly when I, when I came across bill Riley, who many of, you know, as backwards bill, the guy who kicks himself backwards in a racing chair the entire way.

yeah, Bill's incredible. so I remember approaching and passing bill and, and, and basically. That the pain and the cramps, suddenly to do feel as bad as I knew that they were. And, the thought of dropping out completely exited my head. And that's when I just became the biggest fan of Achilles and was so.

Proud to, to be a runner and to, and to, to, you know, be in the know to shall go Achilles when you either got passed or passed by somebody and or if you're just out cheering. so that was, you know, probably early two thousands, 2003 or so when I learned about Achilles and. I was working. so this goes back.

About four years ago, I was working at a, as a contractor at the Google New York city campus. And, one of my coworkers, he's a coach by the name of Raj hath Ramani. He had been a guide with Achilles, probably. At that 0.6 or seven times at the New York city marathon and joining the crew on Saturday workouts from time to time and Raj and another Google runner named Brian murky Burton, Brian Murphy, both of them incredible runners.

they would just keep gushing about Achilles and they were more proud of their work. Of their service as guides than they were of, of any other accomplishments. And these two, I have to tell you are pretty incredible athletes. so. I said, you know what? This is my next goal. So for 2017, even though I had a time qualifier for the New York city marathon, I ignored the email from the road runners.

And I said, what I want to do is I want to be at guide at the 2017 New York city marathon for Achilles. And this is going to be. Probably one of the greatest things that's ever happened to me. what happens is life gets in the way sometimes. I ended up losing my job at the end of 2016. And, you know, in hindsight I realized what I should have done is I should have thrown myself into volunteering.

I said, no, no, I gotta get, I need to get a job first when I get a job. I'm going to start volunteering with Achilles. so it was on the job hunt and I, I had the information on how to get involved as a volunteer bookmarked. And I said, you know, this is going to happen. let me just get my, my job situation.

You know, set up first. Well, I came back from, what was a string of many bad job interviews. This particular one was on a Friday in March of 2017. It was cold. It was rainy. It was miserable. And I said, I didn't even want that job. And it, and it stunk. so I came in, poured myself a coffee, decided to go back to the, to the job search.

And I said, you know, let me, let me take a quick little social media break here first before I do. And that was when I noticed that there was a listing on social media for a position with Achilles international. I said, All right. I don't know how I'm going to do this, but I have to have this job. this brings together my love of running of, of, encouraging runners of all levels.

this is, this is my, this is gonna be my new goal in life. I had been coaching runners, while at Google and I said, I'm gonna, I'm gonna, put my effort into this. So I, I immediately got on the phone with, one of my closest friends. his name is Terrence Kirchberg. He was at the time, the executive director of back on my feet.

And he was a good friend of Toby. Tanzer the person who put up the job post Toby. For those of you don't know, not only an amazing and accomplished runner, he for many years was the race director for the Achilles Holton possibility race in central park. Well, wouldn't, you know, a week later I'm sitting, in Dick traa's office, the founder of Achilles getting interviewed by he and Toby, and then, meeting the rest of the staff, Ellie Cox, Janet Patton, Joe Tr, girly shagged, Dar.

And I was just amazed and I was, Karen Lewis from Achilles kids. I, I, I, I knew that I knew right away that if they would have me that I, I found my new, my new family. And, while I didn't get to run in the New York city marathon as a guide in 2017 and I still haven't, I'm happy to say that I, I found, I found my dream job.

Joe Borchard: [00:21:06] I like the post that you have. If I have the privilege of doing it again, I like seeing you at it's a great halfway point.

Michael Anderson: [00:21:14] Thank you. 

Joe Borchard: [00:21:14] great though. How cool does that, that, you know, you want her to. That was a year that you really wanted it to say, all right, I'm going to guide with the Achilles. And then here you end up working with them, which is even better.

That's awesome. See, I didn't know that.

Michael Anderson: [00:21:28] Yeah, thank you. It's it's kind of funny. People ask me, how'd you get involved with Achilles? So then they say, well, yeah, I took the reverse route. Usually you're a guide first, but, it all kind of, it all came together at once.

Joe Borchard: [00:21:41] That's great. So now, as a New York city chapter, Director. Well, you know what, let me just go back one second, because the while we're on the, on the topic of running and, and, and how you got into running. so this podcast is, you know, we're exploring the reason why people run. So why, why do you run Michael

Michael Anderson: [00:22:00] that's a question I don't get asked. A lot. and it's, it's a good one. I mean, I run obviously, because I love running for me. Why do I love running? Why do I run? I think we have to go back a couple decades. and, this was in the late nineties. my, my father had passed away. He had after a battle of cancer and, I was going through a tough time in life.

I was struggling with, grief and depression. I was making some bad decisions, both personally and professionally. I was using alcohol to self medicate and it was, It was a really bad time. And the one thing that I found was helping me to make healthy choices and make healthy decisions was running and having a goal as a runner.

so, you know, it meant saying I'm not going out tonight. I'm not staying out late tonight because I know I have an important run in the morning, or I have a race coming up and I really want to beat my time from the last one. and what I found was it was bringing me joy. It was bringing me happy, happiness.

It was bringing me in touch with. With people who I admired and cared about, and I was forming new friendships, many of which I still have to this day. in fact, I met my wife through running. She and I met through the Hoboken Harriers back in 2012. we both joined because we were looking to run with a group and.

And meet other likeminded people. And well, lucky for me, we both showed up on the same night, got into a great conversation and the rest is history.

Joe Borchard: [00:23:47] That's great. That's great. You know, it's, it's so true, Michael, like I know I was a runner younger in, in my age, in my, you know, in high school and then life got in the way and I had stopped and Christine part of that reason why, but then I brought him back. Yes. Yeah. You know, one day we were sitting on the couch, probably watching American idol or something like that.

And my wife looks at me and goes, ah, I'm going to start running. I said, Good for you. That's great. You know, and she started running and you were running for quite a few years, and then you made it a goal to run the New York city marathon, which is how you ended up running into Achilles too. So backwards bill.

And he's the reason why I wear yellow now. Yeah. And then I drag Joe into it. So it's yeah. It's all good. Yeah.

Michael Anderson: [00:24:37] Wow. Bill's the reason so many of us ended

Joe Borchard: [00:24:39] You know, I saw, on the bridge and I remember, I, I remember, being in Iowa and I didn't know anything about Achilles. And then I came home and investigated it and I told my husband, I said, well, the next time I run any race, it's going to be with, with the group. You know, it's because of, the yellow shirt that really, and I remember had balloons or somebody was carrying balloons.

I mean, there was just, and I remember stopping well, because I had to stop cause I was exhausted and I'm a guy who was walking alongside them and I'm like, you guys are great. And it just felt, it was just a, it's just a great moment. I remember you coming home. Tell me about that. There was this guy in a wheelchair.

He was going backwards. Yeah. That's part of this group. We got to find out what this group is about and. Well, like you said there, the rest is history here. We are doing a podcast about Achilles and running with Achilles and part of this amazing organization.

Michael Anderson: [00:25:27] Yeah, it really

Joe Borchard: [00:25:28] I'm meeting amazing people like you, Michael.

Yeah. 

Michael Anderson: [00:25:31] you. Thank you.

Joe Borchard: [00:25:32] So now you run the, the New York city chapter and you bmed about the New York city marathon.

Michael Anderson: [00:25:39] I was bmed as anybody else, but I, you know, I, I know that. We're going to make the most of this, whether, whether we get together and do it as a virtual run, or we do some kind of crazy relay event, we're going to make this happen. And, and at Achilles we adapt and we overcome, and that's what we're going to do.

And just wait until 2021. It's it's gonna be an incredible year.

Joe Borchard: [00:26:07] Looking forward to it. Cause I'm done with 2020. I'm done. 

Michael Anderson: [00:26:11] I hear 

Joe Borchard: [00:26:11] I'm hoping somebody needs me for 2021.

Michael Anderson: [00:26:15] Let's hope so.

Joe Borchard: [00:26:16] I'm hoping. so if, if you don't mind, why don't you tell us a little bit about the New York city chapter, because, tell us some of the things that you were doing prior to COVID and then some of the things that you've been doing, during quarantine, because as many of the listeners know New York, New Jersey were probably the two toughest hit areas in the country.

So we've been affected much, much harder than, A lot of the other areas of the country. So what were you guys doing prior to w w what were some of the workouts that you guys were doing?

Michael Anderson: [00:26:47] so a little about the New York city chapter, we meet twice a week. Tuesdays. We had been meeting twice a week, Tuesdays at 6:00 PM. Saturdays at 10:00 AM, anywhere from on the nicer days, up to 40. 45 walkers and runners with disabilities. Another eight to 10 hand cyclists sun on good weather days. and then, you know, another 65 or so amazing guides out there providing support.

so while, while many of our runners were training for races, like the New York city, half the Brooklyn, half the Boston marathon, starting having an eye towards the triathlon season. Many of our, our runners and walkers, they're just out there. Cause they just love the, they just love the fresh air and the exercise and especially the community aspect of it.

so yeah, we had probably around 35 athletes that were going to do in the New York city half. I was coaching. Several, runners, myself, I was coaching Hannigan Avios who is going to do the, the race on her crutches. I was coaching Mel bloom, who was a visually impaired runner Irwin Ramirez, who is the head of the DC chapter.

He's a blind runner. And I was just so incredibly hopeful because each of these runners were meeting and exceeding their goals and the chapter was doing great, helped by some wonderful volunteers like Rebecca Lyndon, Ba, and coach Anthony Bonamassa. We were just doing such amazing things and, and of course COVID-19 hit it all.

It started with the cancellation of the New York city half sadly. Oh, when I was going to be a guide at the half two, I was so bombed this wonderful new ish runner, very fast, her name, Bo barley. I was going to guide him Taren sexually from back on my feet. And I were going to be his two guides and what a bmer.

Joe Borchard: [00:28:42] man. 

Michael Anderson: [00:28:43] but

Joe Borchard: [00:28:43] It is a bmer. 

It 

really was a bmer. Like I know my husband was working with, two of our twin athletes and we, they got so far, like they started off not even being able to run a mile and just, they got them to the point where they were ready for this half marathon. And it was, it hurt. That's part of the journey too.

You know, Michael, like as a guide, like when you see athletes. You know, progressing each week and you become so vested in this succeed. Yeah. So like I wasn't running, I mean, I was running in New York city, half marathon as a guide, but I was so excited for the two athletes that we were going to be running with.

And you, when I found out it was canceled, I was just so bmed, you know, so bmed for them because they put the time in, they were ready for it. And I just wanted to see them cross the finish line. Next year

Michael Anderson: [00:29:37] Yep. I agree. I had to immediately take the emotion out of it and, and, function as the chapter director, as disappointed as I was and Bowen Karen's were, you know, luckily Bo had a great spirit about it. He's he was, a medical doctor before becoming blind. So he understood why it was canceled and why it was necessary.

but, like I said earlier, At Achilles, we adapt. We overcome. And I huddled immediately with our CEO, Emily Glasser, and with the director of our tri program, Francesco Magis, Sano Francesco. For those of you don't know, blind athlete, triathlete, amazing athletes. we got together and said, all right, we can't get together as a group.

Let's figure out a way to keep the community. Connected through relationships and through fitness. And the first thing was a no brainer. Let's continue to meet Tuesday nights with virtual Hangouts on Google, meet at six o'clock when we'd normally be in central park together, which we're still doing. And we will, until it is safe for us to get together, we do a different theme every week.

We've done. Dance parties. We've done. Tell us about your first experience with Achilles. Tell us about your favorite race. Hannah is going to Gavi also is going to teach a yoga class coming up. It's, you know, it's a lot of fun and I love what the New Jersey chapter has been doing as well, Brooklyn and others.

So, we're not the only ones. All the chapters are finding ways to connect. Now when it comes to the fitness aspect of it, obviously still very important to our mission. So Francesco and I foolishly thought, Oh, I bet there's some great videos out there for people who are blind, who want to do yoga and get in shape and.

Well, aside from one or two, we found almost none. We said, okay, I think this is on us. So Francesco and I started getting together and deciding on different, different exercises that would highlight cardio strength core. And he. Would create the videos from the perspective of a blind person. And he, and I would decide on the workouts together, and I'd get them posted out to social media, to our mailing lists.

So, other organizations started doing the same thing as us who work with, athletes with disabilities, but I'm proud to say that, we had Achilles where once again, the trailblazers, and, we were one of the first to get our content. original content out there and it's been great. So it's been content for the, you know, with, with the, with the blind athlete in mind with those, with, upper and lower body impairments in mind.

And we just kept cranking out content, sometimes borrowing from other organizations like dare to try sometimes posting our own. And, that's been a great way for us to stay connected. And even now Francesco and I are. Presently hosting live Saturday workouts, which has been a lot of fun. So 10:00 AM, instead of being in the park, I'm in my living room, he's in his living room and we're, we're walking everyone through different exercises with variations.

And, w we're doing that for now. I know New York city is in phase two, but, it's just too soon. We really want to wait until. We know that it is completely safe for our athletes to get together and for us to be inclusive of, of having everyone out there. And I really hope that soon. I'm sure you guys do too

Joe Borchard: [00:33:05] but that's great. That sounds like some, some, some fantastic activities for, for your members and actually members at large, you know, cause 

Michael Anderson: [00:33:12] Nber. Yeah. All chapter member.

Joe Borchard: [00:33:14] that's the thing I think during this time, it's just so important to stay connected and, and you're right. You know, one of the things that we did, I think it was probably Chrissy and I are, our favorite.

we, we were doing zoom meetings and we did a, a metal Intel and people had to bring out their, their favorite race medal. And it was so much fun and we were talk, everybody gave me a new list of racist. I was like, did you get that metal from that one? That was probably one of our favorite,  zoom meetings with our New Jersey chapter.

You're right. Like we have a whole list of new races that we have to do because of the, the metal.

Michael Anderson: [00:33:49] Oh, that's so fun. Yeah. I joined the Boston chapter one night. It was like a where your favorite race shirt. And I learned about some new races and, for, for one of ours, I think it was when the Brooklyn half was officially canceled. I said, we all know central park and hope and possibility. but tell, tell us about your favorite experience that did not take place in central park.

Let's get out of the park for a minute. And I learned about some great races. Yeah. It's been really fun in many ways.

Joe Borchard: [00:34:17] Oh, that's great. Yeah, soon, soon we're going to get together. It's going to be a, and when it does, you know what? I'm so excited to see our athletes see our guides, because I got to tell you, I, I missed them. I mean, you know, we call them Achilles family for a reason. And it's it's because we get so vested in their lives and their stories and their success.

And, I miss. I miss our Achilles family. I'm looking forward to seeing them again. It was a good two weeks, two weeks. I was like, Oh, okay. I don't have to run. Like, I really, I took advantage of the extra wine on the couch. And then after a while I was like, Oh, like, I, I started feeling it. I want to say a good three weeks.

And then I said, Oh, I need to get out of this house. I'm like exercise. But I had, like, I took advantage of the quarantine for a little bit. And now. We're back, right Joe we're back. Yeah, we'll see. I was holding on hope, Michael. Cause I was, I was registered for a Ironman 70.3 in Maine and I was still training for it and it just got canceled on Friday and I was like,

Michael Anderson: [00:35:19] I'm sorry.

Joe Borchard: [00:35:20] Yeah, that was the nail in the coffin.

I'm like, Oh man, I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for Chicago, but I don't know. That's why I'm like, you know what I needed though? I that's, what's getting me out right now is because it hasn't been canceled. So it's, it's, it's, it's good. And it's bad. It's the reason why I'm moving because it's not canceled yet.

She's supposed to go out there with, the Daredevil and, and Jamie,

Michael Anderson: [00:35:42] Oh, that would be amazing if

Joe Borchard: [00:35:44] it would be.

Michael Anderson: [00:35:45] Let's hope for a miracle.

Joe Borchard: [00:35:46] We will hope for a miracle, but you know, as of right now, I'm like Joseph, until you officially cancel it, I'm still going. I'm still moving.

Michael Anderson: [00:35:54] right. And what would I have done with the Boston marathon now? Officially canceled. initially I said, who wants to do a virtual marathon? Not me, but wouldn't, you know, my, my local running club, the Hoboken Harriers, a few of them were supposed to do it. And they said, let's do this. Let's have, let's have a water station.

Let's do a virtual Boston marathon in September 12th. And that kind of changed my attitude. That was a little boost that I needed. So I reached out to my two chapter athletes that were set to run. Maricio Blandino. And Melissa bloom. And I said, all right, team, I think I've changed my mind on this. Let's do, let's do a virtual Boston marathon.

It's September 12th and they're going to come out to Hoboken and join me and it's, it's going to be great. And we want to find some way to make this, a chance to raise awareness for Achilles and a fundraising opportunity. Cause, while there are so many. necessary and needed COVID-19 charities that we all rightfully should be supporting.

You know, it's a good time to remind people that the athletes we serve are rather underserved and underfunded. and it's, it's important that we keep all of these charities in mind when we're considering what we might be able to give.

Joe Borchard: [00:37:13] That's true. Did you say September 12th? I just wrote it down on my little piece of paper. Cause we're going to have to go down to Hoboken and cheer you on.

Michael Anderson: [00:37:19] Oh, come on out. It's going to be a, it's going to be a fun time.

Joe Borchard: [00:37:23] Done. I'm going down there with the cow bell. I got it. We'll be down there. You know, it's true though. The virtuals, even when they first I'm like, I'm not running a virtual and that it really, I needed to get out of my house. And right next to my husband is a one, two. How many are there, Joe? One, two, three, seven virtual runs we signed up for, because it just, it got us out of the house, you know, a little.

Michael Anderson: [00:37:48] one of them is the Achilles virtual hope and possibility race.

Joe Borchard: [00:37:53] It's already in, it's already in the queue.

Michael Anderson: [00:37:57] all

Joe Borchard: [00:37:57] We've got, we've got a couple other virtual races that we have to run before that, but we're, that's definitely in the queue. So definitely, funny, you should bring that up. So why don't you tell us, by the time this airs, the hope and possibility race will have passed, but why don't you tell us a little bit about the hope and possibility race, for the New York chapter.

Michael Anderson: [00:38:13] Sure thing. so the, race got its name from the, central park jogger, Trisha Miley when she, got up the courage to reveal who she was and what the horrible tragedy that she went through, being attacked and left for dead in central park, back in the 1980s, she. used running as, a tool to help her with her recovery from a traatic brain injury and in other near life threatening elements and Achilles was part of her recovery process.

so when she wrote her book, I am the central park jogger, a story of hope and possibility. that's when Achilles decided to put together this amazing race that has been happening since the early two thousands and, every year brings together people with and without disabilities in a, in a mainstreaming fashion.

And it's the biggest race of its kind that that does. So, and it's just, it's such an incredible day, every year in central park. And so of course the race was canceled, but. We, we didn't let that get us down. We, we approached our sponsor TD bank and said, we still want to do this. If you do. And they said, let's make this happen.

And, Jenna Griffith my coworker and I, we just sat down and we hammer out a plan. We're gonna, we're gonna have the race, timing company, elite feats, help us produce this and boom. Here it is the virtual hope and possibility 5k. And then we decided let's add a 10 miler. Let's add, let's add a tandem bike.

Let's have fun with this. Anyone can do it. I have people signed up from Japan, from Peru, from Boston Nashville. that's, what's really cool about a virtual race. So.

Joe Borchard: [00:39:55] And you know what people want them like. And like I said, in the very beginning, I'm like, nah, I'm going to hold out. Now people want to go out and run. You know? So like, I it's the option now. No one wants to learn from home, but virtual learning happened and now no one wants to run virtual, virtual running is the thing right now.

People want to get out and run. And if it gives them a reason and a purpose too,

but I think we, we have to give a, a big shout out your right to, to TD bank for being the title sponsor and, and not pulling out when I think they could have easily pulled out, but to still sponsor the New York city chapter hope and possibility race, what a fantastic job for a TD bank, you know, coming through with that.

And just like you hole you hole is the title sponsor for the, hope and possibility New Jersey race. They, Great great partners to be part of and, of our fantastic organization.

Michael Anderson: [00:40:46] Yeah, we're very lucky to have both of their support. So both new Holland and TD, and that's what I love. It's it's a partnership. It's a collaboration. Many of their employees are guides and they, they get our mission. and that's what's who was so, so much fun about this. And I'm really excited that this is happening.

And while I don't know if I'm going to be guiding or running solo, I've signed up for both the 5k and the 10 miler as have so many others. So I can't wait to do the double in a week or two.

Joe Borchard: [00:41:18] That's great. 

All right, so, so Michael, now we're gonna move to a, another segment of our podcast. this is where we, it becomes real, real tough. We're going to, we're going to hit some firing line questions here. Christina, did you study? I don't know. Christine has some really tough questions for you and they're going to come at you at rapid pace.

Michael Anderson: [00:41:39] All right. 

Joe Borchard: [00:41:39] , No, you should be. It's called R a. It's called the finish line questions. All right, Chrissy. Okay. He's all yours.  Okay. Nber one, Michael, what is your post race meal? What do you usually eat? Right after a race?

Michael Anderson: [00:42:00] I always have a bagel. That's what they give you usually at the Roadrunner drinks. But when I like to sit down to a meal, like at brunch though. Oh man. I think, my favorite is, it's a egg and cheese sandwich with avocado.

Joe Borchard: [00:42:15] Yeah, Joe and I are close. We're what are we? Pork roll, egg and cheese, egg, and cheese. All right. Nber two. Your favorite distance that you run.

Michael Anderson: [00:42:24] half marathon.

Joe Borchard: [00:42:27] That's a popular one animal surprise. Cause I think a lot of people want to say the marathon, but now they have your favorite race that you've ever run.

Michael Anderson: [00:42:35] I am going to say the shelter Island, 10 K in long Island.

Joe Borchard: [00:42:40] I'm writing it down. Cause I don't know that one shelter Island,

Michael Anderson: [00:42:43] I could have said Boston. I could have said New York or Chicago.

Joe Borchard: [00:42:46] thinking you were going to go Boston. I would have put all my chips on Boston sheltered. You know, Michael, I saw you at the spring Lake race. That's my favorite race. The spring Lake five miler.

Michael Anderson: [00:42:56] Another

Joe Borchard: [00:42:56] I saw him there. Yes. Do you remember that, Michael?

I walked over to you and said, 

Michael Anderson: [00:43:00] I do remember that.

Joe Borchard: [00:43:01] Yeah, I think I saw you. And I'm like, Oh Christine, I'm from New Jersey. I didn't really know you then, but I saw you. Yeah, that's my favorite. All right. Last question. I went off topic, your favorite GoTo song, something that gets you pped up and ready to run.

Michael Anderson: [00:43:15] This is going to be a weird one. Okay. Do you guys remember the TV show this week in baseball?

Joe Borchard: [00:43:21] No, no, you got me now though.

Michael Anderson: [00:43:24] Okay. The theme music from this week in baseball gathering crowds is the actual

Joe Borchard: [00:43:29] I'm writing it down. Gathering what? 

Michael Anderson: [00:43:32] Gathering crowds.

Joe Borchard: [00:43:34] Okay. So I do my research after this is over. I have to look at this shelter Island race, the 10 K and this gathering crowds. Okay. I learned some stuff today, Michael. Yes. That was great. Okay. So, Michael, is there anything that we missed, anything that you want to share with?

September 12th? I wrote that down on my notes too. We got homework to do. Oh my gosh. Is there anything that we missed? Anything you want to add that we didn't ask you?

Michael Anderson: [00:44:03] no, I just, I just wanted to say, first of all, thank you. Both of you for having me and everyone let's just, continue to be patient because if we, if we are patient and we do it right, then we will run again together as a, as a team.

Joe Borchard: [00:44:20] That's right soon and it can't be soon enough, man. 

Michael Anderson: [00:44:24] Can't 

Joe Borchard: [00:44:24] alright. so there you have it, on another episode of I run because Michael Anderson the New York city chapter of Achilles, be sure to follow us on Facebook. I run because follow us on Instagram or visit us on our website. I run because.net. thank you very much, Michael.

It's always great to talk to her, check into New York city and you can possibly guide if you need to. if you're looking to guide, you have to look in the guidance of the Achilles

international 

Michael Anderson: [00:44:50] Achilles international and click on New York city chapter.

Joe Borchard: [00:44:53] Yes, definitely. All right, Michael, thank you so much. Take care. Be safe. And, we hope to see you soon.

Michael Anderson: [00:45:00] Thanks so much Joe and Chrissy, and looking forward to the Achilles New Jersey hope and possibility run.

Joe Borchard: [00:45:06] Hi, Michael. Thanks for joining us.

Michael Anderson: [00:45:08] You bet. Thank you.

Joe Borchard: [00:45:10] The voice from beyond really was listening the whole time, Michael.

michael-anderson_recording-1_2020-06-29--t10-55-12pm--williesanchez: [00:45:10] Don't hang up yet. Don't hang up. 

Joe Borchard: [00:45:10] All right. Time to connect with hella and get an update on the run everyday challenge.

Hellah Sidibe: [00:45:15] Alright, so now we're going to week 11. Week 11. We're really going to really get after the gas a little bit. , so our body is healing properly, but getting off the gas does not mean that we're taking too many rest days because we don't want to lose, , all the work that we've done up until this point.

So what we're going to do is we're going to go, everything is going to be conversational pace of this week. So we're talking about 70 to 80% of the work, even the hit, if you need to do, if we need to do a hit in the middle of the week. So just go on a nice, easy 5k. , one of the days of the seven days a week, , of week 11.

, go on a nice cruise, long cruise, conversational pace, again, slow yourself down. And, , for your head day, you can take that off completely. Or if you want to do something, don't spend more than 20 to 30 minutes with the hit and we'll pick it back up again. , go on a nice cruiser, again, five miler. And after that, take another rest test and try to get to rest day, , and week 11 and the last day of the week.

We'll go on a nice, comfortable cruise. Again comes down, conversational pace going for seven miles or 10 miles at most. And we 12 then that's when we're going to try to push it a little bit. 

 Joe Borchard: [00:46:24] thanks everyone for listening. We really hope you enjoyed those amazing stories. They are truly inspiring people. We get to talk to here and are forever grateful. Make sure to share this episode with your friends via social networks. We need these athletes and guides stories to get out there.

So until next time, I'm Joe 

Christine Borchard: [00:46:43] and 

I'm Christine. Thank you for listening.