2025 Achilles Relay

On September 3, military veterans of the Achilles Freedom Team will embark on the third Achilles Relay visiting Achilles chapters in five different cities (Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.).

Up to 1 in 4 (26 percent) adults in the United States live with a disability. Nearly half of those living with a disability get no aerobic physical activity. Research also shows that people with disabilities are more likely to report feelings of loneliness and social isolation. The majority of our members say that before they joined Achilles, they limited their physical activity because they did not have access to a supportive group to socialize or train with.

The Achilles Relay was first introduced to our community in 2021 when we had to adapt to find a safe way for our community to run, walk and roll together coming out of the pandemic. We discovered that in addition to conquering some mileage together, it connected our micro communities in a new way reaffirming how it feels better when we push forward together.

To continue the momentum, Achilles hosted its second relay in 2023, and to add more meaning to our miles as we train for the fall race calendar and beyond, we are honored to host our third relay in September, 2025 which brings together the Achilles community for a celebration of inclusion, perseverance and the transformative power of the sport of running.

Led by our military veterans who do not live near a chapter, Achilles will hit the road to welcome people with and without disabilities to celebrate the athlete within and show how we can overcome obstacles together. From September 3 through 10, hundreds of Achilles members on the northeast coast will log training miles together and nourish the Achilles community spirit while doing so.

“Events like the Achilles Relay are very strategic and give me the chance to tell my story and encourage others to do the same when it comes to adaptive sports and overcoming challenges. You really have to depend on your team. Learning about them, their capabilities and how the sport makes you stronger as a team. We all love what we do, and we’re all working together towards a common goal. It’s not just about racing, it’s about learning, growing, and leading together. Each time we come back as a team, we build on our leadership skills, raise awareness, and pay it forward so the next group of veterans can share the same experiences and opportunities that shaped us,” says Marcus Chischilly, a veteran of the U.S. Marines and member of member of the Navajo Nation.

Learn more about the 2021 Resilience Relay and the 2023 Relay. Follow Achilles on social media this fall to see our athletes in action on major race courses and make a gift to support their journey to the next start line.

Route Highlights