"There Are Safe Ways to Have a Good Run"

On Sunday, March 21, about 20 runners from the New Jersey chapter of Achilles International, a global organization that transforms the lives of people with disabilities through athletic programs and social connection, joined together to run the Virtual United Airlines NYC Half Powered by Strava.

Running in Saddle River County Park, the group followed COVID-19 health and safety procedures and protocols including temperature checks, masks, and social distancing. Achilles NJ has trained together throughout the pandemic, adhering to those same guidelines, and they ran the 2020 Virtual TCS New York City Marathon together last November.

“Now, more than ever, [athletes with disabilities] and their guides may feel lonely and isolated, so this is a way to keep everyone included and healthy and to get people out and keep people active,” said Joe Sorbanelli, head of Achilles NJ.

“Achilles New Jersey has always strived to show people that even though you have a disability you can still participate in mainstream sports,” said Declan Ryan, a member of the group since 2018. “We also want to prove that just because we are in the middle of a pandemic, you don’t have to stop participating in running. There are safe ways to have a good run.”

Declan, who is legally blind, has drawn on many sources of inspiration in his training for the Virtual United Airlines NYC Half. “What has motivated me to run is not only show the nation and world that New York and New Jersey are resilient, and it will take more than a pandemic to stop us, but also to hopefully inspire others who don’t think they can run to get out and try it,” he said.

He’s also motivated by his mother, who is battling stage four cancer, and the athletes and volunteers with Achilles International New York and New Jersey chapters. “Both my mother and Achilles International have shown me that despite what one might be dealing with to never give up and persevere through life’s obstacles,” he said.

They also hope to inspire other people with a disability to remain active during the pandemic and show that they can do so in a safe and healthy way. “Being legally blind presents many challenges yet running is the one activity where we are all equal,” said Declan. “Hopefully, seeing a blind athlete running a half marathon will serve as motivation” for athletes of all abilities.