52 min
NYC Marathon & Achilles International, with Blair McConnell Running Anthropologist
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- Sports
The TCS New York City Marathon is a race like none other, and many train for years in expectation of being able to take part, including this episode's featured guest Blair McConnell of New Zealand, who came as part of the Achilles International Delegation from his home country. Having been thwarted by the pandemic in 2020, he waited three years longer to run his ultimate destination race, and first marathon, through the 5 boroughs: starting in Staten Island and proceeding over the Marzano Bridge into Brooklyn, then the Bronx, Queens and Manhattan. In this episode, we have a few live clips from just before and just after the marathon alongside Anton McLean (his guide from Christchurch) and Mark Lane-Holbert (myself, guide from USA). However the majority of the episode is recorded with Blair a few weeks after the marathon with him back in Christchurch, adding some perspective.
We explore what it's like to join an Achilles Chapter and why he runs with them, how he found his guides, and several high points and considerations of traveling internationally for a marathon. We also discuss some of the challenges of being a visually impaired running in a crowded big city marathon, but juxtapose this with the joy and thrill of immense crowds along the course, including the music and languages of many different cultures represented in NYC along each distinct neighborhood.
We also touch on the phenomenon of Park Runs, true to his recent accomplishment of 100 Park Runs! Finally, we ponder his upcoming adventures and what NYC marathon means for what comes next. Needless to say, both of us were extremely grateful for the opportunity and somewhat in awe of the support and organization NYRRs provided us as part of the Achilles International team. If you would like to explore Achilles International, you can visit their website: https://www.achillesinternational.org/ Here, you'll find chapters around the US and the world, and find out more about both athlete and guide opportunities. Finally, you can link to more articles and photos on our blog site: www.runninganthropologist.com
If you have a corner of running culture you are exploring, share with us on FB or Instagram. Until next time, Happy Running!
The TCS New York City Marathon is a race like none other, and many train for years in expectation of being able to take part, including this episode's featured guest Blair McConnell of New Zealand, who came as part of the Achilles International Delegation from his home country. Having been thwarted by the pandemic in 2020, he waited three years longer to run his ultimate destination race, and first marathon, through the 5 boroughs: starting in Staten Island and proceeding over the Marzano Bridge into Brooklyn, then the Bronx, Queens and Manhattan. In this episode, we have a few live clips from just before and just after the marathon alongside Anton McLean (his guide from Christchurch) and Mark Lane-Holbert (myself, guide from USA). However the majority of the episode is recorded with Blair a few weeks after the marathon with him back in Christchurch, adding some perspective.
We explore what it's like to join an Achilles Chapter and why he runs with them, how he found his guides, and several high points and considerations of traveling internationally for a marathon. We also discuss some of the challenges of being a visually impaired running in a crowded big city marathon, but juxtapose this with the joy and thrill of immense crowds along the course, including the music and languages of many different cultures represented in NYC along each distinct neighborhood.
We also touch on the phenomenon of Park Runs, true to his recent accomplishment of 100 Park Runs! Finally, we ponder his upcoming adventures and what NYC marathon means for what comes next. Needless to say, both of us were extremely grateful for the opportunity and somewhat in awe of the support and organization NYRRs provided us as part of the Achilles International team. If you would like to explore Achilles International, you can visit their website: https://www.achillesinternational.org/ Here, you'll find chapters around the US and the world, and find out more about both athlete and guide opportunities. Finally, you can link to more articles and photos on our blog site: www.runninganthropologist.com
If you have a corner of running culture you are exploring, share with us on FB or Instagram. Until next time, Happy Running!
52 min
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