Disabled runners stepping out in NY

By Vicki Woolley

NZ Herald·

30 Oct, 2015 04:00 PM4 mins to read

Tamati Pearse (centre), with Kiri Price and Ben Thompson, says he would advise anyone contemplating a marathon to get out there and give it a go.

A number of Kiwis will forgo the Rugby World Cup final to stand on the start line of the New York City Marathon tomorrow morning. Courageous beyond measure, eight of the athletes representing New Zealand are disabled. Travelling to a foreign country to run a marathon with a disability adds a layer of complexity that is difficult to comprehend.

Tamati Pearse, 21, was born with glaucoma and has been blind since birth. He spends weekdays boarding at Homai School - but there are no blind running guides located in South Auckland, so Pearse cannot go out for midweek runs. He trains on a treadmill until he can get home to the North Shore and meet his running guide, Ben Thompson.

Tomorrow Pearse jokes that he will complete two marathons this weekend: his first, the NYC marathon; the second, fulfilling his mum's shopping list.

Pearse won't be alone - seven other New Zealand Achilles athletes will be on the start line. Achilles International is an organisation that provides disabled athletes with the opportunity to participate in mainstream events. For 20 years, the New Zealand chapter has sent a team to the NYC marathon under the watchful eye of founder Peter Loft, with an astounding 100 per cent success rate.

Get Running coach Kiri Price has been working with the Achilles athletes for two years and will lead the team to the Big Apple this year. Price is inspired daily by the determination shown by the Achilles team.

"The obstacles to overcome to get to New York are so much greater for a disabled athlete. We took a blind athlete over last year who has a guide dog. We couldn't take the dog and without it, our athlete felt completely lost. Many of our athletes are on medication that can be affected by travelling, time zones and unfamiliar food - one of our athletes is going over two days earlier to manage the fatigue associated with travelling."

Despite the support of Achilles International in New Zealand and at the event, one of the bigger challenges the team faces is fundraising - athletes, guides and supporters must pay their own way.

Each athlete will have a number of experienced guides with them during the event. Pearse describes the relationship he and Thompson have established: "Ben got tips from Mike Lloyd and we worked out our own code: he might say 'Step up in 3, 2, 1 ... ' If it's something like a moving vehicle which he doesn't have time to explain, he will just say 'Stop'. We have a tether so try to use arm signals rather than talking - if I feel my arm jerked up, I know to step up: if Ben brings the tether behind his back it means there is a narrow space."

Developing that rapport wasn't seamless, Pearse reveals: "We were halfway through a 10km run in the early days and I was a bit tired. My feet didn't do the 'high knees' required for a gap, and as I fell down, I put my arms out - but my elbow caught Ben in the ribs, taking him down too. I jumped straight up on to my feet but Ben was like: 'what just happened?'"

Price will place herself wherever she is most needed during tomorrow's event. "We will meet on Saturday morning and talk through the event. The athletes have all afternoon to prepare themselves mentally. My advice to them on the start line will be: Relax. Focus on you. Take in every moment - this is an experience that will stay with you for life.

"The itinerary is simple and low stress. This is not a shopping trip. We are going to New York to run a marathon and we are going to give our athletes a marathon experience. We can do the sightseeing after our run."

The diminutive coach beams with pride: "Our athletes are sports ambassadors: athletes in their own right representing New Zealand. We have a long-standing tradition: Peter Loft's good friend Mort lives at the eight-mile mark. He allows our athletes to use his toilets - and provides waffles. It is the NZ Achilles Team Waffle Stop - and we can't wait!"

Pearse intends to continue with Achilles after NYC. "I love being active, doing something - just getting out of the house," he says. "I'm looking forward to completing the marathon under six-and-a-half hours ... and the waffles". His advice to anyone considering trying a marathon: "Just get out there. If I was your friend, I would support you."