Experiences of a Stroke

This is an unusual posting for our blog - but please take the 18 or so minutes to watch the video. It is an amazing first-hand account of a neuro-scientist describe her own stroke experience.

Click Here

Achilles Quotes Wanted!

Dear Achilles Athletes, Volunteers, Guides, family members,

It is almost spring which means race season is just around the corner!! JUNE 22nd is HOPE AND POSSIBILITY !!!!!

Achilles staff members are in the process of putting together proposals to help underwrite many of our programs and athlete sponsorships.

As you know Achilles is celebrating 25 years and we would like to include some quotes from Achilles Athletes, volunteers, guides, and family members.

If you would be so kind to submit no more than a short paragraph or less including some or all of the following...

• a little anecdote about an experience with Achilles.
• or what it means to be part of Achilles?
• has Achilles changed you as a person? how so??
• why do you like Achilles?

We are adding more and more Achilles athletes to our roster on a daily basis and want to be able to provide sponsorship opportunities as much as possible. In order to do that.. we NEED your help!

Please send all quotes to Genna at ggriffith@achillestrackclub.org by Friday March 14th.

By sending your quotes you are giving us the permission to use this potentially in Achilles related materials and proposals for marketing and fundraising purposes.

We truly appreciate your input and support!!!!!


Genna Griffith :)



__,_._,___

March Birthday Babies

A big, warm Happy Birthday from the Achilles Family to these March Birthday Babes:

• Kelly McCourt - 3/3
• Alice Mathis - 3/10
• Jim Cunningham - 3/15
• Bob Cromer - 3/28
• Juddy Rossa - 3/30

Kathy D and Ski for Light

Love to Run (Ben Kweller)



Kathy, Jim, and Little-E are in Bend, OR for the program is called "Ski for Light".

The humans participated (sorry Elizabeth) in an awesome x-country ski program for the visually impaired and physically disabled.

Below is a link to a great story that was in the local Bend, OR paper.

Please read it as it was just an awesome program/trip. On the bad side I have to report that poor Kathy fell and hurt her knee and is currently hobbling.

First report from the doctors in Oregon was she "sprained" her MCL (Medial collateral ligament). But Kathy has an appointment on Friday with a local doctor who will look at it again and confirm it's not worse.

Send Kathy some good, healing thoughts!

On a positive note - great news is Kathy took 3rd place in her race division.

Congratulations Kathy - yea, yea, yea!!!!!

http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080218/SPORTS05/802180371/1013&nav_category=

Here is the article, but please check the link. Very cool photos.

Close your eyes for a moment. Imagine day-to-day life this way, without of sight. Then take yourself outside onto the nordic trails at Mt. Bachelor ski area. The announcer calls your name, and then the name of your guide — the person who will lead you through every move — and you are off on a 5- or 10-kilometer ski course. You are skiing by the eyes of your guide.

With the 33rd annual Ski for Light program, blind skiers did just that. They hit the ski trials Saturday at Bachelor for the week’s finale of races. During this past week, nearly 300 Ski for Light participants — skiers and guides — gathered from around the U.S. and seven different countries to ski, train, learn, laugh, overcome obstacles, and — above all — work as a team.

“The team effort is what makes it so special. It takes a pretty good skier and an excellent guide, and that’s what I had,” said the visually impaired Scott McCall of Atlanta, who finished third in the 10K Saturday with ski partner Byron Oberst of Bend. Ying Chan of Essex, England with guide Allen Takahashi was the top male finisher in the 10K, followed by second place John Sandell of Kristiansand, Norway, with his two guides Per Grimstad and Irene Larssen.

“It really is a team,” said McCall. “Too often, I think, we give too much credit to the blind skier and don’t recognize the precision that’s involved in guiding.”

“It’s just like dancing, you learn your partner and you know when to go fast and when not to,” said Oberst.

McCall has been cross-country skiing for about 25 years and during that time has been aided by more than 30 guides. He said he feels that this year, he and Oberst were a perfect match.

Since its inception in 1975, Ski for Light has attracted skiers of all levels of experience, from beginners to advanced competitors. And while many participants are longtime ski racers — some of them former Paralympians — the event is less about winning and all about camaraderie.

“(The bonding) is my favorite part of the whole experience,” said Nancy Stevens, a blind skier from Glenwood Springs, Colo., who teaches the guides how to lead the blind and mobility-impaired skiers. “And coming up with the whole communication system that’s going to work really well,” she said. “And just the friends that you make here. It’s just a really fabulous group.”

At age 47, Stevens was the second female finisher in the 10K Saturday, behind Robin Van Lant of Louisville, Colo. Stevens is a triathlete and cross-country ski racer. Ski partner Brook Yates, originally of Breckenridge, Colo., is involved in a travel-study program to become an orientation and mobility instructor and a teacher for the visually impaired. She will spend the next few years traveling the country to follow her career passion.

“Part of our (Ski for Light) mission statement is that it’s recreational-based and not competition-based. So this race that you see here is all very much about fun and it’s fun-spirited. It’s not cutthroat.”

“Unless you’re Scott McCall,” Stevens added, joking about McCall’s competitive nature.

While the majority of skiers were visually impaired, there were a handful of mobility-impaired skiers, one of whom lives in Redmond.

Carl Backstrom was paralyzed from the waist down about 20 years ago in a motorcycle accident, but continues to partake in all sorts of recreational activities. He is on the board of directors for Oregon Adaptive Sports, an organization that takes frequent ski trips to the two Central Oregon downhill ski resorts, Hoodoo and Bachelor.

Backstrom completed the 10K race Saturday on a ski sled, using just his upper body to complete the 6.2 miles.

“A lot of it is more technique than strength,” Backstrom explains. “Especially for me with these sit-skis. When you are pushing uphill, instead of using your arms and rocking ... I focus on alternating muscles groups as much as I can.”

Just about every skier at the Ski for Light festivities at Mount Bachelor had an inspiring story to tell. Some participants have been involved in the program for 20 to 30 years — either as a guide or visually/mobility-impaired skier — traveling all over the world to various Ski for Light venues. Some were learning to ski for the first time.

What all the skiers had in common though was their ability to push beyond obvious physical obstacles.

“It was one of those life changing weeks for me,” said Oberst. “Just to see these people who can’t see, accomplish so much of independence and the ability to ski a very difficult course that they cannot see — following our lead. I’m just in awe of their ability.”

Katie Brauns can be reached at 541-383-0393 or kbrauns@bendbulletin.com.

ING NYC Marathon Alert

If you are a Madison Achilles member interested in participating in the ING New York City Marathon on Nov 2, 2008 please contact Capt'n Kimmer BEFORE applying online for a Lottery spot.

Meet Jean Driscoll

You are invited! Please mark your calendar

Meet Jean Driscoll - Olympian, Paralympian, author & advocate for persons with disabilities around the world

When: Wed., March 12th, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Where: at Huegel Elementary School
2601 Prairie Rd, Madison, WI 53711

(Prairie Rd. is off of Raymond Rd. between Whitney Way & McKenna Blvd.)

Jean was born with spina bifida, and despite this fact, she has won the Boston Marathon eight times and is the only person in the 100 plus year history of the event to achieve that feat.

Sports Illustrated for Women recognizes Jean as one of the top 25 female athletes of the 20th century. www.jeandriscoll.com. Photo is from Ms. Driscoll's website.

Sponsored by Capital City Harley-Davidson, MADISON SCHOOL & COMMUNITY RECREATION, Madison’s Spinal Cord Injury Group, The McBurney Center, UW Health, UW Accessibility Advocates Student Organization, and other sponsors

To RSVP for services or to ensure adequate disabled van-accessible parking, please contact Monica KamalRossa at 608-288-0340 or xena-rolls@charter.net

MS Seminar

What: MS seminar
Who: given by the company that makes Rebiif
When: Tuesday, Feb 19th
Where: Biaggi's Restaurant on Junction Road, next to TDS Building.

To register call tollfree: (877)329-8327.
To read more: www.mslifelines.com

Zoom Zoom

We got into Keystone Condo's at 4 a.m. Thursday morning.

After unpacking we took a short 3 hour nap before heading to the mountains for a full day of skiing.

The Summit area has been getting a ton of snow too - Keystone reporting over a 60" base.

I had four days of racing in the morning - 15 races in all - each of them ranked at Platinum (one step above Gold).

Saturday and Sunday were picture perfect days , 33F and sunny, very low winds.

Our final day of skiing was Sunday - after putting in my 5 races in Nastar I grabbed a quick lunch and headed out to "tame" the mountain and rip through the mogul covered Black Diamond runs.

It was an awesome 4 days of skiing - loved it, great condo mates and a safe trip home...to my Achilles family.

Happy Birthday, Vortex

"Love and furry hugs"

from your wonderful Achilles Family.

Welcome Back, Cap'n Kimmer

Babar on Skis in the Snow
Artist: Jean de Brunhoff

Feel Better, Deb!

Deb,

Hope you feel better soon and are back at Achilles on Thursdays,

your Achilles family.

Get Well Vortex!

More on the Hockey Stick

Announced stated......Accepting the stick for TDS Game Day are:

TDS employee Kim Virden, who is the founder of the Achilles Track Club in Madison. Achilles Track Club trains local runners with physical challenges. Along side her is member, Kathy Ducat and her Guide Dog Elizabeth. Kathy's goal for this year is to run the New York City Marathon in November with Elizabeth. TDS is "big fan" of Kim and her Club. TDS invites you to join them in supporting this great cause.

February Birthday Babes

Warm Happy Birthday wishes to our Achilles Members:

• Terry S. February 7
  
• Patty Z. February 24

Fun Facts about February:

February was named after the Latin term februum, which means purification, from the purification ritual Februa held on February 15 in the old Roman calendar.

February begins with the sun in the sign of Aquarius and ends in the sign of Pisces.

Historical names for February include the Anglo-Saxon terms Solmoneth (mud month) and Kale-monath (named for cabbage)

In Finnish, February is called helmikuu, meaning "month of the pearl"; when snow melts on tree branches, it forms droplets, and as these freeze again, they are like pearls of ice

Enjoy the 5th Dimension and The Age of Aquarius from Hair



This video is in Central Park of NYC and a bit weird, but fun

UW Hockey Stick Presentation

On Friday evening, Feb 1st, TDS Telecom in conjuction with UW Athletics presented the "game stick" (versus the Game Ball) to the Achilles Track Club during the UW Men's Hockey game vs. Minnesota-Duluth.

Representing the club and receiving this great honor was President - Kim Virden, VI athlete Kathy Ducat and her loyal and dedicated Guide Dog Elizabeth.

The hockey stick is hand signed by coach Mike Eves and Achilles can raffle off the stick to raise money for the teams expenses.

Kim in Brava Magazine

Making a Difference: Kim Virden

"As founder of The Achilles Track Club-Team Wisconsin, she inspires others to run with - rather than from - their disabilities."

Kim Virden of Madison is not one to shy away from a challenge. The 45-year-old is a marathon runner, championship skier and nationally recognized bike racer. She’s even had the distinguished honor of carrying the torch during the Olympics. But athletic achievements pale in comparison to the uphill challenge she faced following one day in 1979.

Already an enthusiastic athlete at age 17, Virden endured a serious skiing accident. The resulting brain injury robbed her of her memory. It took five patient years of relearning to get her life back. And even then, things weren’t the same.

“Nothing worked for me after that,” recalls Virden. “I lost a connection with most of my friends in high school. After the accident there was a lot of depression and there was no motivation.”

Solace on the road

Virden eventually found solace in biking. Six years after her accident, she entered a small race near her hometown in Kalamazoo, Mich. Much to her surprise, she finished in second place.
“Riding a bike got me physically active again. It got me outdoors,” says Virden. “[The race] was a big turning point for me.”

As Virden tells it, that little bike race had her hooked. She trained and got stronger. She kept entering races and achieved the highest national ranking for a bicyclist. The ranking led to that 1996 Olympic torch hand-off to then Notre Dame head football coach Lou Holtz — an accomplishment that for Virden ranks No. 2 in her life.

Virden’s crowning achievement is also her life’s passion: the Madison’s Achilles Track Club, an organization that encourages people with all kinds of disabilities to participate in long distance running.

Virden first discovered the club while reading a book by Trisha Meili, better known as the Central Park Jogger, who was savagely raped, beaten and left for dead in New York City’s Central Park in 1989. Virden was drawn to Meili’s story about her recovery from her brutal beating and brain injury.

“She talked about how as part of her recovery she joined the Achilles Track Club,” says Virden. “First her rehabilitation was running a half a mile and before she knew it she was running regularly.”

Bringing the message to Madison

Intrigued, Virden began her own research. She called the club’s founder and inquired about starting a club in Madison. He encouraged her to come to New York to participate in the organization’s annual Hope & Possibility Run/Walk fundraiser.

“I got a ticket and I stayed with a blind runner. He took the subway and buses to get there to pick me up. He said, ‘You’ll recognize me — I’m the one with the white cane.’ He made sure I got around and showed me New York.”

Virden met other incredible individuals with disabilities that day. It didn’t take long to realize she had found the ultimate challenge.

“When I came back I was 120 percent excited,” says Virden. “I had to give everything I had into [starting a Madison Achilles Track Club chapter]. I started contacting people. I knew I had to get information out to the public to get people to come.”

Virden dutifully advertised and hosted weekly meetings. She’d often be the only one to show up. But her hard work and persistence finally paid off. The Achilles Track Club-Team Wisconsin, as it’s now called, is in its third year and has 50 active members.

“We heard about Achilles through the newspaper. We started going to workouts and we loved it,” says Rene Cromer, who joined with her husband, Bob. “Achilles has gotten him off the sofa and given him a social life.” A former airline and fighter pilot, Bob, 49, has had five strokes, lost a third of his brain function and lives with right side paralysis, frequent headaches and depression.

Beyond the workouts, Rene Cromer says her husband’s friendship with Virden has given him purpose and hope. “She’ll come over and visit us and check on Bob. She sits down next to him and even though he can’t converse with her, she understands how to communicate with him,” says Cromer. “Kim is not only a great coach, but she’s a wonderful motivator.”

Cromer says Virden has that personal touch with all Achilles members — people who have disabilities ranging from visual impairments to brain injury, multiple sclerosis, cancer and limb loss.

Camaraderie and support

In addition to Thursday night trainings, Virden arranges social gatherings for her athletes. She says, much like with her own experience and that of the Cromers, many in her club find that friends simply stop calling.

“People with disabilities really get alienated from society. Their friends feel uncomfortable and they don’t know how to talk to them anymore,” she says. Virden has seen how making time for social connection has become just as important as the training. “They certainly love that social part — they say let’s get the workout done so we can go to dinner!”

This past summer the Cromers and other Madison athletes joined Virden for the Hope & Possibility run in New York and cheered her on as she accepted the track club’s prestigious Athlete of the Year Award. In turn, Virden was just as excited to see her friend Bob Cromer complete the race — the longest distance he’d attempted since his strokes.

“I couldn’t believe he would do it or could do it, but Kim convinced Bob to do it and he got excited about it,” says Rene Cromer. “When we got to the finish line, we were the last ones to cross. Everyone had left, they were taking down the route markers and standing at the finish line was Kim. And she was sobbing and she hugged him so hard. She leads by example. She is just an incredible woman.”

Although Virden might have the medals and awards to prove that, she doesn’t hesitate to reveal what inspires her. “The Achilles has been a passion for me giving back and encouraging [people] to get active again. They just light up when we participate in these runs.” Their enthusiasm is Virden’s true inspiration.

Achilles Track Club-Team Wisconsin meets each Thursday from 5:45-7 p.m. at Fleet Feet Sports on Old Sauk Road. People who are interested in participating, volunteering or donating should contact Kim Virden at (608) 828-9700 or lovetorun5@yahoo.com.



From Brava Magazine.

@ the Source

Dick and Mary are way cool! It was an honor to visit the Achilles headquarters where this all started 25 years ago!

Madison Celebrating the 25th

Celebrate! Celebrate!

January 8, 2008 is the 25th anniversary of the first Achilles workout held in Central Park, New York City.

More January Birthdays!

A big, warm Happy Birthday to our Achilles Members:

• Mary H. - January 16
• Monica R. - January 19
• Judith R. - January 22
• Chari H. - January 28
  

Q. Does a pink candle burn longer than a blue one?
A. No, they both burn shorter!

Q. Why did the birthday cake go to the doctor?
A. Because it was feeling crumby!

Q. What do they serve at birthday parties in heaven?
A. Angel food cake!

What did one candle say to the other?
"Don't birthdays burn you up?"

Why was the birthday cake as hard as a rock?
Because it was marble cake!