Six hours into the race, he knew from the familiar cheers his team was about to finish first.
Mike Zampella couldn’t help but smile. The eight-person squad had covered the 53-mile B2B/Bridge to Bridge Relay event in magnificent fashion.
He didn’t need to see the joy on his teammates’ faces to know something great was about to happen. He could tell from the sound of their shouting and laughter.
Zampella, captain of his Aisle 13 team, is a member of the Philly Achilles Club and has been sight impaired since childhood.
There have been many special moments in his running career but this one on Oct. 5 along the banks of the Delaware River might have been the topper.
Making the day extra noteworthy? The second of the club’s three teams, the Cheese Steaks, came in second place in the field of 22 teams.
Yardley’s Eileen Mannix, an accomplished individual marathon runner herself, organizes the three Philly Achilles race teams and said the victory made for an unforgettable day.
“The support that we got, the cheering, and the ‘Way to Go!” that we got from all the other teams was just amazing,” Mannix said. “It was just so heartwarming. Everyone was cheering us on.”
According to Mannix, who recently completed the Chicago Marathon, Zampella is the first Philly Achilles member to captain a B2B team.
For Zampella, this was an experience to remember. As it was for those around him.
It’s safe to say Zampella is always quietly gratified when people not only acknowledge his disability but offer encouragement.
What’s the initial reaction when people learn about his condition?
“They’re all shocked, they’re amazed,” he said. “They say you’re inspiring and all that.”
Zampella races and trains with the assistance of guide runners. Often they’re longtime friends or runners associated with the club.
“I have guides and I’m very lucky, said Zampella, 51, a native of Long Island, N.Y. who resides in King of Prussia. “We train on the weekends, meet every Saturday in Philly starting at the Cigna Building.”
The cheering doesn’t just come from onlookers in this area. Zampella recently ran the San Francisco Marathon and got the same treatment, not just from spectators but from fellow runners.
“They shout out ‘Go Achilles!’ because they know,” Zampella said. “It’s amazing. The know the runners, the organization.”
Zampella has qualified for and is planning to run the Boston Marathon next April.
The three Achilles team rosters for B2B:
>Aisle 13
Mike Zampella (captain), Michael Faia, John Gares, Stephen Papa, Craig Polakoff, Walt Dearing, Emma Helstrom, Sofia Benedetto.
>Cheese Steaks
Caitlin Nelson, (captain), Mike Acer, Giovanni Campagnoli, Jen McIssac, Nick Falco, Joe Fagan, Josh Cyphers, Flora Marciano.
>Soft Pretzels
Eileen Mannix (captain), Chris Lynch, Juliette Warren, Bharat Dixit, Anthony Rewinski, Claire Coopes-Meske, John Benincasa.
The B2B is organized by the Bucks County Roadrunners Club. The course starts at Washington Crossing Historic Park, goes up to Center Bridge, turns back down to Scudder Falls Bridge and then returns to the WC Park. Then runners get to do it all over again.
The Achilles clubs are an international organization of volunteer guides and athletes with disabilities.
How did the winning team come up with its somewhat unique name?
Well, it had something to do with Zampella’s food preferences.
“I go into Wegman’s (supermarket) in King of Prussia,” Zampella explained with a chuckle. “Aisle 13 is the candy aisle. So that’s my starting point in the store when I go shopping.”
As a child, Zampella grew up with a medical condition called retinitis pigmentosa. He gradually lost his sight as he reached young adulthood.
He battled through this adversity for many years. He managed to play lacrosse in high school, went on to become a gym teacher and later worked as an assistant principal at a high school for nine years.
All the while he’s maintained his running, enlisting the help of others such as Philly Achilles.
“I ran with Eileen’s team the previous two years in this race (B2B),” Zampella said. “We came close last year. I said, ‘Eileen, I think we can win this race.’ And that’s how Aisle 13 started.”
Mannix has been pleased by the steady improvement of her teams and this year’s outcome.
“It’s just getting more and more successful,” she said. “We have the financial support of Philly Achilles. They paid for vans to transport us as a team. Each had its own van. And we had a designated driver to go from transition area to transition area. So we stayed together as a team.”
Bravo to all the people associated with this incredible event.
>Chicago Marathon finishers
Bucks County had its share of strong finishers at the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 12.
Yardley’s Alex Carideo led the way with a fine 2:24.04, good for 78th place overall.
Also, Pat Donadio of Bensalem ran fine 3:11.12 in the 55-59 age group.
Other local finishers: Natalie Johnson, New Hope, 40-44, 3:20.42; Kevin McKale, Feasterville-Trevose, 50-54, 3:22.17; Lori Wade, Richboro, 45-49, 3:37.36; Jin Lee, Warwick, 50-54, 3:49.56; Anthony Rewinski, Yardley, 3:37.36; Eileen Mannix, Yardley, 4:51.32.
>Race calendar
>Saturday
Black Cat 5K, 9:30 a.m., Chalfont. Contact www.runningintheusa
David’s New Day 5K, 9 a.m., Warminster. Contact www.runsignup.com
Slay Sarcoma 5K, Langhorne. Contact www.slaysarcoma.com
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