ACHILLES ADELAIDE

Adelaide FAQs

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – Achilles Adelaide

I’d like to volunteer, how can I be of assistance?

Volunteers are the heart of Achilles Adelaide, and we warmly welcome those who want to get involved. There are several ways you can assist, including:

Guiding athletes with vision impairment during runs or walks
Caring for guide dogs while their owners are training
Running or walking with athletes at events
Providing transport assistance to and from training sessions or events
Offering to guide outside of weekly training sessions for additional support

We do our best to match your pace with an athlete of similar ability. However, flexibility is key—you may need to slow down to support athletes who are building fitness or prefer walking.

I can’t even run 100 metres! Can I still attend training sessions?

Not a Runner? No Problem!

Achilles Adelaide welcomes everyone, regardless of ability. Whether you’re unable to run 100 metres, have mobility challenges, or are recovering from an injury, you are still more than welcome at our training sessions.

Our community includes people of all fitness levels—from those just starting out to experienced marathon runners. Whether you prefer to walk, jog, or run, we’re here to support you in a fun and inclusive environment.

Come as you are and go at your own pace! We’d love for you to join us.

How often are training sessions?

We train once a week on Saturday mornings at Glenelg, meeting at 8:45 am for a 9:00 am start at the Rotunda.

We also plan to introduce a weeknight strength cross-training session once we have enough interest to make it viable.

Rain, hail, or shine—we train in all conditions! So come prepared for anything and join us for a great session.

I’d like to attend my first training session. How do I let you know I’m coming?

We keep our members and volunteers updated each week via Facebook and Instagram, and we’re also planning to introduce a weekly newsletter.

Our social media posts will include an RSVP link, so you can let the rostered coordinator know if you’ll be attending a training session.

To ensure you’re on our mailing list, please contact us at achilles-adelaide@outlook.com. Stay connected and don’t miss out on important updates!

Do you have enough guides?

At Achilles Adelaide, we never turn away anyone who’s interested in becoming a guide. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn how to guide, and your support can make a huge difference to our athletes.

We’re working towards establishing a roster system to ensure we always have enough guides available for our athletes. This system will help provide consistent support for those who want to train, while also allowing our volunteer guides to have well-deserved breaks when needed.

Your involvement is invaluable, and the more guides we have, the better we can support our growing community.

If you’d like to get involved, please reach out to us at achilles-adelaide@outlook.com. We’d love to hear from you!

Is Achilles Adelaide open to vision impairment and physical disabilities only?

Inclusive Participation

At Achilles Adelaide, we primarily support athletes with vision impairment and physical disabilities, but we are always open to considering people with other disabilities on a case-by-case basis.

If you have a disability and are interested in joining us, we’d love to chat and see how we can support you.

For any inquiries, please contact us at achilles-adelaide@outlook.com. We’re here to help!

I’ve never guided anyone who is vision impaired. Can I still be involved?

No Experience? No Problem!

No prior experience with guiding is required! We have dedicated guide trainers available at every Saturday training session, so you can come along on any Saturday to learn how to guide in a supportive and welcoming environment.

If you’re interested in attending your first training session, please let us know in advance so we can be ready to assist you.

Ready to give it a go? Contact us at achilles-adelaide@outlook.com to get started!

I’m having difficulty getting to the training venue. Is there any assistance with transport?

Need Help with Transport?

If you are having difficulty with transport to training sessions or events, please let us know. While Achilles Adelaide does not provide transport, we are happy to try and accommodate your needs where possible by connecting you with other members who may be able to assist.

If you need support, contact us at achilles-adelaide@outlook.com, and we’ll do our best to help!

How long is a training session?

At Achilles Adelaide, we walk or run for about an hour in the local area. The distance, time, and pace will be determined in collaboration with the athlete you are guiding to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for both of you.

Whether you’re walking or running, the focus is on inclusion, support, and participation at all levels.

Want to get involved? Contact us at achilles-adelaide@outlook.com to join a session!

I’d like to donate or know someone who is keen to support Achilles Adelaide. What do I do?

All donations over $2 are tax-deductible. At Achilles Adelaide (ABN: 28 995 161 798), we are looking into a platform so your donations are secure. You can contact us directly and donate via EFT and we can manually issue you a receipt for tax deduction. If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch via 0439 600 546 or via email achilles-adelaide@outlook.com

Is there car parking at the training venue?

There is ample free car parking at the training location.

Are there any membership fees?

Becoming a member of Achilles Adelaide helps support our inclusive running community and provides access to a range of benefits.

Membership Fees:

New members: $65 – includes a club running t-shirt (subject to availability).
Renewing members: $35 (if a new t-shirt is not required).

Your membership fees contribute to the sustainability of Achilles Adelaide, helping us continue to provide:
✅ Weekly training sessions
✅ Paid entry (where possible) into Adelaide running events
✅ Social events
✅ Guidance on running with people with disabilities

Try Before You Buy!

We encourage new members to try a couple of training sessions before committing—come along and see what we’re all about!

Ready to Join?

Click here to sign up: Achilles Adelaide Membership 2025

I don’t have a t-shirt yet, who do I contact?

Club Shirts

To organise your Achilles Adelaide club shirt, please contact our friendly treasurer team at achilles-adelaide@outlook.com.

As we do not keep excess stock, you may need to wait until our yearly order is placed for new shirts. We appreciate your patience and will do our best to get your shirt to you as soon as possible!

Click here to sign up and pay for your club shirt: Achilles Adelaide Membership 2025

Do I have to attend every training session?

Let Us Know If You’re Attending

While we’d love to see you at training every week (because getting out and about is great for the soul!), we understand that life happens and you may not always be available.

To help us plan and ensure we have enough guides for our athletes, please RSVP each week via our social media links or through our weekly newsletter (coming soon!) to let us know if you’ll be attending.

Your response helps us create the best experience for everyone—thank you for your support! 😊

Is training still on if it rains?

Rain or Shine, We Train!

Unless there is a severe weather warning, Achilles Adelaide training sessions will still go ahead—whether it’s rain or sunshine (but probably not hail! 😉).

Make sure to come prepared with a poncho, towel, or weather-appropriate gear so you can enjoy your session comfortably.

See you at training—whatever the weather! 🌦️

Is there an age limit to be a part of Achilles?

Age Requirements for Participation

Achilles Adelaide is open to individuals 16 years and older.

Participants aged 16-18 years must have parental consent and be accompanied by an adult to take part in training sessions.
For those under 16, we encourage exploring other fantastic disability sporting opportunities designed specifically for children and adolescents.

If you have any questions about eligibility, please contact us at achilles-adelaide@outlook.com.

What happens if I sustain an injury at training?

Safety & Personal Responsibility

While the risk of serious injury when running or walking with Achilles Adelaide is low, participation is at your own risk.

We strongly recommend that all members have personal ambulance cover in case of a medical emergency.

Your safety is our priority, and we encourage all participants to take necessary precautions while enjoying their training sessions with us.

What does training involve?

Guiding & Social Connection at Achilles Adelaide

At Achilles Adelaide, able-bodied members are paired with members with a disability, ensuring that everyone has the support they need to run or walk safely and enjoyably.

Guides are assigned based on their interest and ability, so no one is expected to do more than they feel comfortable with.
If a faster athlete with a disability does not have a guide who matches their pace, they are happy to adapt to a slower pace to train with an available guide.
As one blind runner put it:
“This is 100% better training than a treadmill, and 1000% more interesting.”
If there are more guides than athletes, guides are encouraged to join other groups for a run or walk—the more, the merrier!

A Social & Supportive Community

Achilles is more than just a training group—we strive to create a friendly, welcoming, and social environment where everyone can enjoy exercise together.

After each session, we meet back at the starting point, and all members are welcome to stay for a coffee, tea, or juice at a local café. To foster even stronger connections, we are introducing a monthly scheduled social catch-up on the first Saturday of each month for members to relax, chat, and connect.

Learn How to Guide

Watch this short video by Achilles International to see how guiding works and get started!

For more information or to get involved, contact us at achilles-adelaide@outlook.com.

Am I guaranteed a run at training?

Can I Train at My Usual Pace?

No, your pace at training will be determined by the members with a disability who attend on the day.

If you’re keen to run, we’ll do our best to pair you with a member who also wants to run.
However, the distance and pace may be shorter and slower than what you’re used to.

For this reason, we don’t recommend relying on Achilles training sessions as one of your usual running days. Many of our volunteer runners treat it as a rest or recovery day, focusing on guiding and supporting our athletes rather than their own training.

That said, it’s a rewarding and social experience—we’d love to have you join us! 😊

What if I can’t run?

Not a Runner? No Problem!

Whether you’re not a runner or a runner recovering from an injury, you are still very welcome at Achilles Adelaide!

Many of our members with a disability prefer to walk, and they rely on our volunteers to support them on a walk instead of a run.

If you’d like to get involved as a walking guide, we’d love to have you! Achilles is about inclusion, community, and movement—at any pace.

Join us and be part of the journey! Contact us at achilles-adelaide@outlook.com to get started.

Who are your members?

A Diverse and Inclusive Community

At Achilles Adelaide, our members—both volunteer guides and athletes with a disability—range in age from 18 to 70+. Each week, we welcome anywhere from 10 to 20+ people at our training sessions. We hope to increase these numbers throughout the year as we grow.

Our athletes have various abilities, including those who are vision-impaired or have mobility challenges. They participate at different speeds, whether walking, jogging, or running.

Some volunteers walk with an athlete who prefers a slower pace.
Others guide runners who want to go at a faster pace.
We also have vision-impaired athletes who are eager to race and need guides who can support them at the right time.

If you’re interested in helping an athlete prepare for a race, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us at achilles-adelaide@outlook.com to get involved.

Do I have to come every weekend?

No! We welcome all levels of involvement from our volunteers and members.

While some volunteers and members attend most weeks, we also have a large base of casual members who come less regularly.

We occasionally use a roster system for volunteer guides, but we also rely on others to show up as they can.
Since we never know exactly how many athletes will attend each session, having extra volunteers available is always helpful.

If you’d like to volunteer but can only attend irregularly, you are still very welcome (and needed!).

You can even let us know how often you’d like to help, and we can add you to a rotating (non-regular) volunteer roster.

Get involved at a level that works for you! Contact us at achilles-adelaide@outlook.com to learn more.

I have heard about Achilles in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Central Coast/Hunter. Is Achilles Adelaide affiliated with these groups?

Part of a Global Movement

Absolutely! Achilles is an international movement dedicated to promoting inclusion in athletics.

Achilles in Australia began in Sydney over 20 years ago and has since expanded to other cities, including Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and now Adelaide.

We are proudly affiliated with our fellow Achilles clubs across Australia, and we encourage you to visit them if you’re ever in their city.

For more information about Achilles Australia and our national network, please visit www.achillesaustralia.org.au.

What else does Achilles do?

Beyond Weekly Training – Events, Socials & Future Growth

At Achilles Adelaide, we want our members to have the opportunity to participate in a variety of walking and running events, including:
🏃 City to Bay
🏃 Half marathons & marathons
🏃 Local community fun runs

Expanding Our Activities

If there’s interest, we can also organise the occasional bush walk for a change of scenery.
In addition to weekly training sessions, we’re happy to arrange extra training runs at mutually convenient times and locations—especially when major events are coming up.
We love bringing our community together, so we sometimes organise social events like post-run breakfasts or group dinners before big events when staying overnight.

Looking Ahead – Expanding Inclusion

Our goal is to expand Achilles Adelaide to support all disabilities, both physical and mental, as we grow our network of volunteer guides.

If you have a special area of interest or know someone who could benefit from our support, we’d love to hear from you!

📩 Contact us at achilles-adelaide@outlook.com to get involved or share your ideas.