The new dimension of Marathon running. Touching. Inspiring. A lesson for life...

The doctor said: "you won't be able to run the marathon... " see story and live pix from "within the race" further below

The protagonists: Athletes with physical disabilities, braving everyday challenges usually unknown, to even get to the starting line of a marathon. And inspiring themselves and others over the course of 42km.

This year through the person of Toshi - 100% visually impaired - and many others... A special moment for Toshi, it is his 10th participation (!!) at the NYC marathon, way to go Toshi!! It might well have been you who guided us ;-) Picture to the left: Toshi - second from left, and guides Eddy, Mika and Stephan, moments before the start at Verrazzano Bridge, Staten Island

The New York Road Runners Club, the generous volunteers, and the incredible crowds of New York who make any marathon runner's skin go goose-bumps. And that's little compared to when these many many unknown friends cheer on Achilles Track Club runners. Just unbelievable. Thank you, you're awesome !!!

Pictures above, from left to right: volunteers at a water station in Brooklyn, children supporting runners with water in Queens, policemen closing traffic on Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan

And last but not least, a fantastic organization, the Achilles Track Club, that makes physically challended athletes' dreams come true and helps guiding them all along the 42km to the finish line. A very special thanks in particular to Russell (all left) and Stanley (second from right), the two Achilles Track Club coordinators who made so many disabled athletes' dreams come true (left picture at the ATC tent, at the start; right picture at 5:00am - before boarding the buses that took us to the start)

And here's the story. Day before departure from Switzerland for NY. Last light jogging. Pain in the right calf for the past week, still hope it will disappear. Stop after 300 meters. No good. A trip to the hospital's emergency, and the doctors create clarity. No running. Absolutely. Oh no. All the prep, the long runs, the intervals, and foremost, the hopes to run for children in need. Brutal. Or... an opportunity?

An ever admiring thought crosses the mind, of the athletes who look 42km in the eyes, in the face of physical disabilities. These athletes who brave so many hurdles before even getting to the starting line. And then... Team Hoyt, the now world-famous father-son team that has completed over 65 marathons and the Ironman Hawaii. Could 42km be more than just a finishing time on the watch?

An email, several trips to the Achilles Track Club (ATC) tent at the Marathon Expo in New York, and especially the wonderful engagement and flexibility of Russell and Stanley (pictures above), two main ATC coordinators, make it possible: become an ATC guide, supporting a physically challenged athlete throughout the NYC marathon. Somehow, the excitment is stronger with this prospect, than with a normal marathon start...

Sunday November 2nd, 5:00am, meeting at the bus stop in Manhattan. I join a team of guides assigned to a group of Japanese athletes (picture above). The story follows, mainly in pictures... (picture to the right: with Alan, who has been an ATC guide for many years, and continues to inspire family and friends; thank you Alan, keep going!!)

Part of Team Japan at Staten Island, before the start. Sitting in front, from left to right: Toshi (in black), Kengo and a third athlete (in blue), also visually impaired. Picture to the right: an ATC guide from Japan, Toshi and Kengo.

Not visible on the picture, but real: it is FREEZING COOOLDDD!! Fortunately, there are warm coffee, warm tea and and bagels offered at the start. Uff....

Impressions from the ATC tent, at the start of the race: athletes getting their gear and themselves ready for the journey. What a spirit! In deep admiration, an inspiration!!

Time to get ready... this year different starting times have been allotted. The first teams start, we wait for our 10:20am starting time. Pix to the far left: Mika (guide), Toshi (athlete) and Eddy (guide). Picture to the left: Go Team Shin!

Time has come, we go to the starting blocks. It is still cold. We already dropped our bags at the trucks that would take them to the finish line. We stay in old warm clothes, later to be recuperated for New York's homeless people. . Nice initiative! Picture to the right: Eddy, Toshi and Mika

STATEN ISLANDS AND BROOKLYN - till 10km

And here we goooooo! Walking towards the starting line (green pillars). The strategy: one guide in front clearing the way of people and debris, one guide at Toshi's side, guiding him with a white rope, and one guide in the back, preventing other athletes bumping into Toshi. And the communication is in Japanese.

Crossing the starting line, a very exciting moment for Team Toshi!!

Below: pix from the Verrazzano bridge, with Fort Wadsworth (middle picture) and Manhattan's skyline in the back. Always spectacular: the series of Firemen ships that greet the runners with their waterworks. Very special impressions! And the bodies are still full of energy...

A close up of Toshi (closed eyes) and Eddy. Visible here is the white rope, with which Eddy is guiding Toshi.

Temperature is warming up, we're very lucky with the weather and soak in sunshine and blue skies. And slowly getting rid of extra clothing

Well visible here are the customary, red Achilles Track Club shirts for Guides. Lots of cheering from the crowds and from runners alike, when spotting these shirts. We start to sense the warmth of the community, and so many people shout GO TOSHI (written on Mika's shirt)!! He is a star, and so much enjoys it. Beautiful!

BROOKLYN - between 10K and 15K:
- picture to the left with two very special friends, who every year come to cheer us on at the 10K mark: Phil (sunglasses) and wife Lisa Terry, this year even with a bottle of rum for us runners. Your cheers make such a difference. You're the best, we love you!!
- Picture in the middle: also there every year, firemen, saluted with much emotion and admiration, especially after 9/11
- and picture to the right: lots of country flags, here a Swiss flag, a little bit of home abroad ;-)

BROOKLYN - QUEENS, between 15K and 20K:
- Toshi and Eddy, still looking strong!
- 2 runners from France, in authentic Cancan costumes. Yeeeeehaaaaa! (who said that marathon running was no fun??)
- and again and again, children cheering on and offering water to runners; pure magic, goes straight to the heart. THANK YOU !!

And again and again, the fantastic crowds all along the course, who make the NYC marathon a unique sports event and experience. Below:
- pictures to the left: crowds and a big school orchestra cheering on the runners with their music
- picture in the middle: the "Swiss House", has become a landmark
- picture to the right: Lele Bardolini, from Prato in Italy, met on the course, on his 107!! participation in a marathon. Incredible Lele, you're a legend! On Lele's Tshirt, his motto: "START SLOWLY AND KEEP SLOWING DOWN!
- picture to the bottom right: Mika guiding Toshi

AROUND THE HALF-MARATHON MARK:
We start to walk through the water stations (picture below), a short break before starting over. Toshi is admirable. He pushes forward, with an untamed spirit. And he would continue running, until the finish line.

The sign to the right... soooo true (or not) ;-)) And the bonding with the crowd goes on! NYC is so much more than just running!

Picture above: a fireman, walking the entire marathon in full gear, incluuding oxygen container on his back. What a feat!! We see several of them along the course, walking in memory of their peers who tragically passed away during 9/11. Go NYFD!!

And to the left: the one and only... Larry the Lighthouse. We couldn't believe our eyes. The full marathon, with a lighthouse on his shoulder. What a man! We will see him again after the finish line (picture below). Larry for sure made many friends during the marathon, and many pix were taken of him.

And here we are, at the half-marathon mark: Toshi and Mika, both looking strong, with Manhattan in the background. A special moment, from now on the countdown starts. Mika is amazing, we think she's run two marathons in one, constantly running back and forth to make space and getting debris out of the way. What a job, what a guide. Amazing!!

And further along, we get passed by a one-legged Achilles athlete with crutches. 42km of bravery, he has truly inspired us, and surely many others!

And as so often, there are real characters entering the marathon, like this 70 year young gentleman, celebrating his 70th birthyear with 42km and two US flags on his hat. His motto on the back of the shirt: "Life begins at 70!" You're the man, and for sure a great example. Thank you!

QUEENSBORO BRIDGE and 1st AVENUE: 25km- 30km
And as usual, shortly after the half-marathon mark, the Queensboro Bridge, over 1 mile long, that takes runners into Manhattan's 1st Avenue. Getting onto Queensboro Bridge signals one of the longest climbs of NYC marathon, and often a first time runners start to tap into their reserves.

Pictures below:
- left, Team Toshi attacking Queensboro Bridge
- middle: an Achilles team encountering one of the "institutions" of NYC marathon, an elderly gentleman who has been running NYC since over 25 years in a row... way to go!
- right: Team Toshi, with Eddy, Toshi and Mika (guiding) on the last meter of Queensboro, preparing to enter 1st Avenue

But the effort is worth every drop of sweat. The left U-turn at the end of the bridge, straight into Manhattan's 1st Avenue, is one of the most touching moments of the marathon, when runners are greeted by a huge, frenetic crowd (up to 5 rows of people on both sides of the avenue). Goose bumps guaranteed.

Pictures below:
- left, this is the moment, overwhelming, entering Manhattan's 1st Avenue, a main life venue of NYC, full of runners and cheering crowds. The cheers are unbelievable. That's how it must feel like being a world champion ;-)
- middle top: meeting a group of Japanese friends, a real boost to morale!! Thank you!
- middle bottom: a picture of the crowds, chock a block, cheering on the runners like nowhere else in the world. Thank you, thank you, you make this marathon truly unique!!

Pictures below:
- left: starting to feel the hunger... we haven't eaten a lot, someone in the crowds offers banana, bless her soul. These little gestures of kindness make a runner's day!!
- middle: another highlight for Team Toshi - Team Kengo is catching up on 1st Avenue. Unexpected and after almost 30km of race. A big party, moments of friendship, shared experiences and emotions like there only are with ATC at the NYC marathon ;-)
- right: meeting Maria, from Quito-Ecuador, at the 30km mark, sporting her Ecuadorian flag, on her first marathon ever. Going strong Maria! We briefly chat about Help-for-Hope and the hospital "Un Canto A La Vida" in Quito. Minds and hearts meet...

Pictures below:
Team Toshi and Team Kengo, sharing 1st Avenue in joy and friendship. Kengo and Toshi know each other, there is a special bond between them. Mika continuing to guide Toshi safely through Manhattan. What a great guide.

THE BRONX : 30km - 35km
And here we go, crossing Willis Bridge, Team Toshi enters the Bronx!! Again great crowds, with lots of "ambiance", music, cheers, people supporting the runners in every way they can. A blessing at this stage, for tired mind and muscles.... Picture below:
- left: Team Toshi getting off Willis Bridge and entering the Bronx
- middle: a group of Japanese people sporting the Japanese flag and shouting "Gambatte Toshi" - go Toshi... always very emitional moments for Toshi, who is very receptive to the sounds and cheers around him
- right: the very last stretch Northwards, in the Bronx, before turning left and then South towards Manhattan

Pictures below, in the Bronx:
- left: always a special moment, the big "live" screen entering the Bronx, where athletes can spot themselves running the marathon - it certainly lifts the pace ;-)
- middle: a Japanese drummer group, beating a rhythm that gets runners and crowds dancing; thank you!! Please keep it going also for the years to come...
- right: two supporters cheering on a runner from Ecuador... true to its multicultural population, NYC and its crowds demonstrate an incredible display of different nationals and flags, all together in peace and celebrating the marathon event. Just beautiful... it can be done!

THE HOME STRETCH: 5TH AVENUE AND CENTRAL PARK
And finally, we turn South, the legs hurt, we're tired and hungry, but every step gets us closer to the Finish line! And the crowds are fantastic, they keep pushing us on and on.

Picture left: entering 5th Avenue, we're back in Manhattan and spot the Empire State building in the far back (just barely visible on the pix); what a sweet sight!!

Picture below right: Team Toshi on its last meter of the ever ascending and cruelly long 5th Avenue (mentally one of the toughest part of the marathon), happy to finally approach entry into Central Park

Picture to the left: this sign has become a classic, on 5th Avenue, when everything hurts and the body doesn't want anymore. If you knew what a difference you make, that sign DOES speak to the runners, thanks thanks thanks!

Picture below: Team Toshi in Central Park, and also here - same as with the crowds - a good number of the runners passing us give Toshi the thumbs up, and clap in admiration. Lots of solidarity, just beautiful.

And there he goes again (picture below), Larry with his lighthouse, approaching one of the very last turns, about one mile to go, in front of the famous Hotel Waldorf. People and we are all in disbelief, what a feat!

And yes(picture to the left), this is it, Columbus Circle, last turn and then back into Central Park for the last stretch.

Picture below right: Team Toshi, with Toshi and Eddy, in Columbus Circle; tiredness is gone, spirit is elated, the legs fly...

Picture to the left: the long awaited sign, 26 miles, only some 200 yards to go, the finish line is palpable ... what a moment!

Picture to the right: Team Toshi with Toshi and Eddy in view of the finish line, on the very last meters. All smiles, pain is gone, Toshi feels it, he can sense it, hear it, touch it, he pushes forward, how much preparation has gone into this moment, how many sacrifices, how many training rounds in Yoyogi Koen, in the midst of Tokyo, runninig with volunteer guides, and showing the world that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!!

And finally (picture below), Team Toshi crossing the Finish Line, hand in hand, in one big celebration...

... a moment that words cannot describe. And a bonding that will keep us together in memory for the rest of our lives. 42km ran together, shared together, caring for each other, as a team... Congratulations Toshi, you're the man, and THANK YOU for a gift we will never forget!!

A word on Mika and Eddy: incredible guides, never tiring, physically and mentally, always upbeat, always positive, keeping their own struggle (if there was one) invisible, and focusing permanently on Toshi to make his experience so safe and successful. Outstanding!! You both were the model of Achilles Guides, truly inspiring!

And by the way, congratulations Eddy on your perfect Japanese, and on completing your first marathon ever!

To the right: Team Toshi, just after having crossed the finish line. Tired but elated from a magic experience!!

Picture below: the traditional "medal picture", Team Toshi, a time of 6:00:19, in our eyes unbeatable, unstoppable, unbelievable!!

Congratulations and a big thank you also to all the other Achilles runners and guides, to the NYRR, to the NYC crowds, and to all the people mentioned and unmentioned who have made this experience so unforgettable. THANK YOU!!

And here he is (picture below), Larry the Lighthouse, still wearing his costume after 42km. Congrats man, you're unbelievable!!