Name
Cedric ‘Ced’ Edwards

Where do you currently live?
Philadelphia, PA

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

How did you find out about Achilles International?
Affiliation through work at Cigna

When did running become a part of your life?
2008

What do you gain from running?
A sense of accomplishment and self-motivation

What is your favorite distance to run?
Marathon

What is your most significant accomplishment to date?
Completing my 30^th marathon!

Who/what is your biggest inspiration?
My inspiration comes from other runners of all abilities

What quality best describes your personality?
Cheerful

What do you do for fun or a hobby in your spare time?
Play golf and watch sports

Do you have a favorite quote?
“Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever” – Lance Armstrong

What strength do you bring to the Achilles Philly chapter? (don’t be modest!!)
A willing volunteer to support the chapter in any way I can

What motivates you to keep coming back to the chapter workouts?
The support of all the members…athletes, volunteers and family supporters

If you were speaking to a prospective volunteer or athlete and could only convey one thing about Achilles Philadelphia what would it be?
Philly Achilles is full of dedicated athletes and volunteers with a passion for achievement and having fun.

 

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
Greg Cully

Where do you currently live?
Marlton, NJ

How long have you been involved with Achilles Philadelphia?
Since day 1, 2012

How did you find out about Achilles International?
The first time I heard of Achilles was when I was asked to guide an athlete during the Disney Half Marathon

When did running become a part of your life?
7 years ago

What do you gain from running?
I get x number of minutes of uninterrupted silence to think

What is your favorite distance to run?
Half Marathon

What is your most significant (running) accomplishment to date?
Completing the Goofy Challenge

Who/what is your biggest (running) inspiration?
Kinzey Lynch! He triumphs over every challenge that is put in front of him.

What do you do for fun or a hobby in your spare time?
The honey-to-do-list, running, cyling, brewing beer, hang out with friends and family

Do you have a favorite quote?
The faster you run, the faster you finish!

What strength do you bring to the Achilles Philly chapter?
The ability to motivate others to work harder than they think they can.

What motivates you to keep coming back to the chapter workouts?
The people.  We’ve developed into a family that would do anything for one another.

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 a runner/walker, give us a try, I promise you’ll be hooked!

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
Holly Lynch

Where do you currently live?
Collegeville, PA

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

How did you find out about Achilles International?
Through my son, Kinzey’s cornea specialist.

When did running become a part of your life?
HAHAHA…Running became a part of my life when Kinzey started running track/field, and cross country in middle school. I’m pretty much Kinzey and Chris’ cheerleader.

What do you gain from running?
I gain happiness from seeing my two favorite guys run and become physically fit together.

What is your favorite distance to run?
5k. I’ve only completed one 5k but I’m gearing up for a couple more.

Who/what is your biggest inspiration?
I can’t give you just one. First it would be Kinzey. He is such a determined and driven young man. Tell him what he can’t do and he will show you what he will do. He is kind-hearted and just a really all-around great young man that I am beyond proud of wearing the title of being his mom. Then it’s my husband; Chris. He is my Heaven on Earth! He is so competitive and tenacious. One of the traits I admire about him is his consistency. That consistency has allowed him over the past 2 years to develop his athletic skills from running his first 5k to now being able to run in half-marathons. I can’t leave out the many other Philly Achilles volunteers that go above and beyond what is often expected of them.

What quality best describes your personality?
Nurturing and extremely loyal.

What do you do for fun or a hobby in your spare time?
I don’t know what spare time is! Although, I have started to take my own physical fitness more seriously, so I’m working out and running 4-5 times a week.

Do you have a favorite quote?
Not really a quote but I have a favorite Bible verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13”

What strength do you bring to the Achilles Philly chapter?
My positive spirit and willingness to help all our members…volunteers and athletes alike.

What motivates you to keep coming back to the chapter workouts?
The friendship and love that is within our chapter. We are like big family!

If you were speaking to a prospective volunteer or athlete and could only convey one thing about Achilles Philadelphia what would it be?
One visit…one step is all it takes!