(Actual Post Date: Mar. 12th 2011)


Saturday was a great race day for Achilles Scottsdale. We had 11 team members show up to run the Mountain to Fountain 15K. Since we don't have official team shirts, Angela had the great idea that we wear St. Paddy's Day shirts. The busses dropped us off in the McDowell Mountain Park and we hung out and chatted together until the race began. The race took us through the park into Fountain Hills and ended at the Fountain.
We didn't win our weight in beer but we had an awesome time. Angela wanted to average 9:45's and they came pretty close as her official chip finish was 1:31:08. Angie's garmin said they averaged 9:44’s but they ran a little bit longer than the course due to not taking the tangents, etc. They are over-achievers! It was a super hilly course too but Angela motored up those hills without breaking a sweat. Mike and Angie were her guides and they had a blast.
Achilles finished 14 overall for mixed teams with the average from our top 4 runners' times: 1:21:29 (thanks to Greg, Ivonne, Torsten and Angela). Darius also tackled the race in a great time (1:25:50) but had been pulled from our team to keep our number at 10. We had Abby and Andy also join us for the race, along with Jerry who just had knee surgery, and pregnant and glowing Karen.

There was also a race for the kids that a few of our little Achilles participated in in the Fountain Park. We didn't get a team medal but we got free burritos and beer as a reward. We will definitely be doing this race next year so mark your calendars!

Here is Angela's race report:
“Go Team Achilles! What a fantastic race. Coodos to Sandy and the Bandidos for putting on such a fun event. Well, I learned one thing ... that little race ekg thing they post on websites to illustrate the course layout doesn’t really do a great job preparing you for the hills to come on race day (smile). Lucky for me I had two outstanding guides/cheerleaders to get me through what seemed like a mile-long climb up Everest. Thanks so much to Angie and Mike for all their help – you guys rock! I’m so proud of the whole team. What a turnout. Being the only disabled athlete in this race I was really spoiled and I think the term “entourage” was even tossed around. Great job everyone and I look forward to the next one.”