Name
Charlie Tomlinson

Where do you currently live?
Wynnewood PA

How long have you been involved with Achilles Philadelphia?
Since 2013

How did you find out about Achilles International?
I met Melissa Wilcox at the gym and she told me about the group

When did running become a part of your life?
As a young adult I started running

What do you gain from running?
Independence, an ability to clear my head, stress relief, enjoyment, comraderies, etc.

What is your favorite distance to run?
10 Miles

What is your most significant accomplishment to date?
Besides my three great kids, would probably be the 10 marathons that I have completed with the 11^th to occur shortly

Who/what is your biggest inspiration?
Every one of the Athletes inspire me, they have all overcome extreme obstacles in their lives and have made it through and day after day they become stronger runners

What quality best describes your personality?
Boisterous and Outgoing

What do you do for fun or a hobby in your spare time?
Hang out with my kids and run

Do you have a favorite quote?
Shut Up and Run!!!

What strength do you bring to the Achilles Philly chapter? (don’t be modest!!)
Seasoned distance runner with the ability to ramp up my pace to run with the faster athletes or ramp down to accommodate the slower athletes

What motivates you to keep coming back to the chapter workouts?
The group. It is hard to explain the cohesion of the athletes and volunteers until you attend a workout, but once you see/meet the amazing athletes that come week after week for not just the running but for the comradery it hooks you in. This group is like a second family to me. It is also a generational thing as many volunteers including myself have brought their kids who are now also hooked and come week after week

If you were speaking to a prospective volunteer or athlete and could only convey one thing about Achilles Philadelphia what would it be?
The cohesion of the group. That all levels, ages and disabilities are welcome. Whether you are a seasoned runner, a novice runner or a walker, you will be welcomed and find partners to exercise with. For the volunteer “ to have the opportunity to work with and become friends with some of the most amazing athletes in the area. I don’t look at any of the athletes as disabled and I don’t consider my time with Achilles to be community service, I consider it a great running club and time hanging out with my friends”

Name
John Encarnacion

Where do you currently live?
Center City Philadelphia

How long have you been involved with Achilles Philadelphia?
Since December 2012

How did you find out about Achilles International?
I found out about it through a friend who was volunteering.

When did running become a part of your life?
In high school, I ran recreationally to keep in shape and to build stamina for wrestling. I did not start running regularly and long distance until 2009 while recovering from a broken leg.

What do you gain from running?
I gain a sense of accomplishment of putting in more work than most people would do. I also am now in much better shape than perhaps even in my competitive sports days.

What is your favorite distance to run?
The 10 mile road race is my specialty.

What is your most significant accomplishment to date?
Generally, I would say it’s working as an attorney for over 15 years, including now at a large corporation. Running-wise, it’s being competitive and placing often in age-group divisions in several races, such as Philadelphia Bar Association 5K, Back on My Feet Halfway to Broad 5 Miler, Oddyssey Half Marathon, etc.

Who/what is your biggest inspiration?
It’s not one person. I am inspired by regular, everyday, non-elite athletes accomplishing amazing things. I use their achievements to push myself.

What quality best describes your personality?
I am super funny.

What do you do for fun or a hobby in your spare time?
I love enjoying good food and beers. In the winter time, I enjoy snowboarding.

Do you have a favorite quote?
Don’t believe the hype.

What strength do you bring to the Achilles Philly chapter? (don’t be modest!!)
I’m consistently present, I can run with everyone, and during races, I set consistent splits while pacing/bulldozing.

What motivates you to keep coming back to the chapter workouts?
Many things motivate me. The desire to help others who want encouragement and companionship on runs. The motivation to better myself by learning from and running with other volunteers and athletes. The food at monthly socials.

If you were speaking to a prospective volunteer or athlete and could only convey one thing about Achilles Philadelphia what would it be?
If you’re an athlete, you will benefit significantly through the support. If you’re a volunteer, you will get more out of it than you give.

Name
Tyrrell Schmidt

Where do you currently live?
Philadelphia with a lot of time spent in Chicago

When did you get involved with Achilles Philadelphia?
2013

How did you find out about Achilles International?
My company, Cigna, is very involved with Achilles around the globe and one of our employees started Philly Achilles

When did running become a part of your life?
Many, many years ago when I was in college (so many years that I am surprised that my knees have held up)

What do you gain from running?
A sense of accomplishment, fitness, and with Achilles, so much more.

What is your favorite distance to run?
Half marathons – though I love the challenge of an occasional marathon

What is your most significant running accomplishment to date?
The Dopey Challenge at Disney and “The Greatest Race on Earth” which was four half marathons in four months in four countries (Hong Kong, Singapore, Mumbai, Nairobi)

Who/what is your biggest inspiration?
Challenge is my biggest inspiration – I’m really uncomfortable with status quo

What quality best describes your personality?
Committed – to family, friends, work.

What do you do for fun or a hobby in your spare time?
In addition to spending time with my family, running and travel are my greatest passions

Do you have a favorite quote?
“It’s better to be interested. Not interesting” –by Joe Schmidt (words to live by)

What motivates you to keep coming back to the chapter workouts?
The people – hands down, the most amazing group I have ever had the pleasure to be a part of.

If you were speaking to a prospective volunteer or athlete and could only convey one thing about Achilles Philadelphia what would it be?
Same as Q15. It is TRULY the most amazing group of people – generous, fun, kind and committed – to a person.

 

Name
Ali Valin

Where do you currently live?
Old City, Phila

How long have you been involved with Achilles Philadelphia?
Since April 2014

How did you find out about Achilles International?
Odyssey Half Marathon fundraiser for Achilles

When did running become a part of your life?
Senior year of high school

What do you gain from running?
Peace and freedom

What is your favorite distance to run?
12 miles

Who/what is your biggest inspiration?
The athletes I meet every Saturday at Achilles

What quality best describes your personality?
Curiosity

What do you do for fun or a hobby in your spare time?
Besides running, playwriting

Do you have a favorite quote?
“Life is for participating, not for spectating.” Kathrine Switzer

What strength do you bring to the Achilles Philly chapter? (don’t be modest!!)
Positivity

What motivates you to keep coming back to the chapter workouts?
Friendship

If you were speaking to a prospective volunteer or athlete and could only convey one thing about Achilles Philadelphia what would it be?
Come to one workout, and you’ll be hooked. The people you’ll meet will simply blow you away.

 

Name
Patrick (Pat) McCool

Where do you currently live?
Erdenheim, PA

When did you get involved with Achilles Philadelphia?
Co-founder of the Philly Chapter

How did you find out about Achilles International?
I was a spectator at the NY Chapter run in Central Park (it’s a long story !)

When did running become a part of your life?
In my early twenties

What do you gain from running?
peace of mind

What is your favorite distance to run?
5 miles

What is your most significant accomplishment to date?
Helping to raise two spectacular kids

Who/what is your biggest inspiration?
Troy Roundtree, one of our Athletes

What quality best describes your personality?
Probably a good sense of humor

What do you do for fun or a hobby in your spare time?
read ( trying to write a book)

Do you have a favorite quote?
“Sleeping in on a Saturday morning is highly over-rated !”
What strength do you bring to the Achilles Philly chapter? (don’t be modest!!)
I guess it would be the ability to hopefully accomplish with whatever I’m asked to do.

What motivates you to keep coming back to the chapter workouts?
the selfish reward that volunteering gives you….every damn week !

If you were speaking to a prospective volunteer or athlete and could only convey one thing about Achilles Philadelphia what would it be?
Watch our video and I’ll see you next Saturday !