FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - Achilles Melbourne
I’d like to volunteer, how can I be of assistance?
Volunteers are warmly welcomed for a number of roles. These include assisting with guiding athletes with vision impairment to run and/or walk, looking after guide dogs and running/walking with athletes at events. We try our best to match your pace to someone similar to you. However, you must be prepared to slow down to a walking pace for our athletes who are starting to build up their fitness or are walking only. Volunteers can also offer to act as a guide outside weekly Sunday training sessions and/or assist with transport to/from training and events.
I can’t even run 100 metres! Can I still attend training sessions?
Achilles Melbourne welcomes anyone of any ability. Whether you have mobility issues or injuries that prevent you from running or you can run a marathon in record time, we welcome you to our club.
How often are training sessions?
We train every Sunday morning at 8:30am, Janet Lady Clarke Rotunda at the Tan running track, 200m east of the corner of Linlithgow Ave and St Kilda Rds. We also train each Wednesday night for a strength cross-training session. Please see our training page for details. We meet rain, hail or shine…so be prepared for anything!
I’d like to attend my first training session. How do I let you know I’m coming?
We send out a newsletter every Thursday night. In this newsletter, you’ll find an RSVP link to notify the rostered coordinator that you’ll be coming to our Sunday or Wednesday training session. Please ensure you are on our mailing list by signing up via our website (www.achillesaustralia.org.au/melbourne) or contact [email protected]
Do you have enough guides?
At Achilles, we never turn away anyone who is interested in guiding as we believe that everyone should learn how to guide. While our Sunday trainings are well attended, our athletes can sometimes be left without a guide outside these times. Once you’ve trained as a guide by attending a Sunday training session, please get in contact if you can help with mid-week runs or Saturday parkruns at various locations around Melbourne.
Is Achilles Melbourne open to vision impairment and physical disabilities only?
Achilles Melbourne will consider people with other disabilities on a case by case basis. Please chat to us if you’re interested and you have a disability other than vision impairment or a physical disability.
I’ve never guided anyone who is vision impaired. Can I still be involved?
No prior experience with guiding is required! We have dedicated guide trainers available at every Sunday training session, so you can come along on any given Sunday training to learn how to guide (don’t forget to let us know you’re coming though – see above: “I’d like to attend my first training session…).
I’m having difficulty getting to the training venue. Is there any assistance with transport?
Please let us know if you are having difficulty with transport. Achilles does not provide transport to training or events. However, we are happy to try to accommodate your needs.
Is there car parking at the training venue?
There is ample free car parking on St Kilda Rds and Linlithgow Avenue.
Are there any membership fees?
It costs $30 to join Achilles for each calendar year. For 2022, new members receive a club running t-shirt (subject to availability). Membership fees will also assist Achilles Melbourne to continue to provide an exceptional running group. This includes weekly training sessions, paid entry (where possible) into Melbourne running events, social events and learning how to run with people with disabilities. We are happy for people to “try before you buy” and attend training for a couple of weeks before committing to a membership.
I don’t have a t-shirt yet, who do I contact?
Contact our friendly treasurer team at [email protected] to organise your club shirt. As we do not keep excess stock, you may be required to wait until we place our yearly order for new shirts.
Do I have to attend every training session?
While we’d love to see you every week (because getting out and about is good for the soul), we understand that life happens and that you may not be available every week. Please respond via our weekly newsletter (Thursday evening) to indicate if you are attending that week.
Is training still on if it rains?
Unless there is a severe weather warning, Achilles training will still run in rain, sunshine, but probably not hail. BYO ponchos and towels.
Is there an age limit to be a part of Achilles?
Achilles Melbourne is open to persons 16 years or older. Persons aged between 16-18 years must gain parental consent and be accompanied by an adult to participate. Should a prospective member be under the age of 16 years, we would encourage the person participate in other fantastic disability sporting opportunities for children and adolescents.
What happens if I sustain an injury at training?
While the risk of serious injury remains low when running or walking, participation with Achilles Melbourne is at your own risk and we strongly recommend you have personal ambulance cover in the event of a personal emergency.
I have heard about Achilles in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, and Central Coast/Hunter. Is Achilles Melbourne affiliated with these groups?
Absolutely! Achilles is an international movement promoting inclusion in athletics. Achilles in Australia started in Sydney 20 years ago and has slowly spread down south to Melbourne via Canberra. We are proudly affiliated with clubs in Canberra, Sydney, and Brisbane and encourage you to visit them if you are ever in their town. Please visit www.achillesaustralia.org.au for more information.
Achilles Melbourne sounds like a fantastic club. How can I become more involved?
We think Achilles Melbourne is fantastic too. We are always looking for a diverse range of people to assist with Achilles.
Want to volunteer as a guide or interested in finding a guide? Contact [email protected] where our volunteer coordinator will assist you further. For general enquiries, contact [email protected] where our committee can answer any other general questions.
I’d like to volunteer, how can I be of assistance?
Volunteers are warmly welcomed for a number of roles. These include assisting with guiding athletes with vision impairment to run and/or walk, looking after guide dogs and running/walking with athletes at events. We try our best to match your pace to someone similar to you. However, you must be prepared to slow down to a walking pace for our athletes who are starting to build up their fitness or are walking only. Volunteers can also offer to act as a guide outside weekly Sunday training sessions and/or assist with transport to/from training and events.
I can’t even run 100 metres! Can I still attend training sessions?
Achilles Melbourne welcomes anyone of any ability. Whether you have mobility issues or injuries that prevent you from running or you can run a marathon in record time, we welcome you to our club.
How often are training sessions?
We train every Sunday morning at 8:30am, Janet Lady Clarke Rotunda at the Tan running track, 200m east of the corner of Linlithgow Ave and St Kilda Rds. We also train each Wednesday night for a strength cross-training session. Please see our training page for details. We meet rain, hail or shine…so be prepared for anything!
I’d like to attend my first training session. How do I let you know I’m coming?
We send out a newsletter every Thursday night. In this newsletter, you’ll find an RSVP link to notify the rostered coordinator that you’ll be coming to our Sunday or Wednesday training session. Please ensure you are on our mailing list by signing up via our website (www.achillesaustralia.org.au/melbourne) or contact [email protected]
Do you have enough guides?
At Achilles, we never turn away anyone who is interested in guiding as we believe that everyone should learn how to guide. While our Sunday trainings are well attended, our athletes can sometimes be left without a guide outside these times. Once you’ve trained as a guide by attending a Sunday training session, please get in contact if you can help with mid-week runs or Saturday parkruns at various locations around Melbourne.
Is Achilles Melbourne open to vision impairment and physical disabilities only?
Achilles Melbourne will consider people with other disabilities on a case by case basis. Please chat to us if you’re interested and you have a disability other than vision impairment or a physical disability.
I’ve never guided anyone who is vision impaired. Can I still be involved?
No prior experience with guiding is required! We have dedicated guide trainers available at every Sunday training session, so you can come along on any given Sunday training to learn how to guide (don’t forget to let us know you’re coming though – see above: “I’d like to attend my first training session…).
I’m having difficulty getting to the training venue. Is there any assistance with transport?
Please let us know if you are having difficulty with transport. Achilles does not provide transport to training or events. However, we are happy to try to accommodate your needs.
Is there car parking at the training venue?
There is ample free car parking on St Kilda Rds and Linlithgow Avenue.
Are there any membership fees?
It costs $30 to join Achilles for each calendar year. For 2022, new members receive a club running t-shirt (subject to availability). Membership fees will also assist Achilles Melbourne to continue to provide an exceptional running group. This includes weekly training sessions, paid entry (where possible) into Melbourne running events, social events and learning how to run with people with disabilities. We are happy for people to “try before you buy” and attend training for a couple of weeks before committing to a membership.
I don’t have a t-shirt yet, who do I contact?
Contact our friendly treasurer team at [email protected] to organise your club shirt. As we do not keep excess stock, you may be required to wait until we place our yearly order for new shirts.
Do I have to attend every training session?
While we’d love to see you every week (because getting out and about is good for the soul), we understand that life happens and that you may not be available every week. Please respond via our weekly newsletter (Thursday evening) to indicate if you are attending that week.
Is training still on if it rains?
Unless there is a severe weather warning, Achilles training will still run in rain, sunshine, but probably not hail. BYO ponchos and towels.
Is there an age limit to be a part of Achilles?
Achilles Melbourne is open to persons 16 years or older. Persons aged between 16-18 years must gain parental consent and be accompanied by an adult to participate. Should a prospective member be under the age of 16 years, we would encourage the person participate in other fantastic disability sporting opportunities for children and adolescents.
What happens if I sustain an injury at training?
While the risk of serious injury remains low when running or walking, participation with Achilles Melbourne is at your own risk and we strongly recommend you have personal ambulance cover in the event of a personal emergency.
I have heard about Achilles in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, and Central Coast/Hunter. Is Achilles Melbourne affiliated with these groups?
Absolutely! Achilles is an international movement promoting inclusion in athletics. Achilles in Australia started in Sydney 20 years ago and has slowly spread down south to Melbourne via Canberra. We are proudly affiliated with clubs in Canberra, Sydney, and Brisbane and encourage you to visit them if you are ever in their town. Please visit www.achillesaustralia.org.au for more information.
Achilles Melbourne sounds like a fantastic club. How can I become more involved?
We think Achilles Melbourne is fantastic too. We are always looking for a diverse range of people to assist with Achilles.
Want to volunteer as a guide or interested in finding a guide? Contact [email protected] where our volunteer coordinator will assist you further. For general enquiries, contact [email protected] where our committee can answer any other general questions.
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MELBOURNE | Training | About Us | Membership | Future Events | Contact Us
