Achilles Waikato

17/02/2026

Kia ora Achilles Waikato!
We’re all set for 5:30pm at Memorial Park tonight. The forecast is looking like it’ll clear by around 5pm, so we should be in good shape. And honestly, a little cloud or wind never stopped us before 💪
Bring a light layer just in case, bring your usual great energy, and let’s get stuck into a solid session together.
See you at 5:30!
Kia pai te rā.
Have a good day,
Achillies Waikato

Achilles International New Zealand

15/02/2026

What to do on a wet Saturday morning...
parkrun New Zealand run or walk of course..
Hamilton Lake parkrun had a few yellow T-shirts getting wet..

12/02/2026

Yes please 😁

10/02/2026

This looks like fun

Waihi Beach Adventure Day

Our annual adaptive surfing day is coming up and this year we are partnering with Achilles, Halberg & Live Well Waihi Beach to offer you adaptive surfing, beach run/walk/wheelchair races as well as lots of beach games. This will be followed by the official opening of the new accessible changing room facility.
Sausage sizzle and ice blocks will be provided !

Please RSVP to cathy@parafedwaikato.co.nz

Achilles Waikato Achilles International New Zealand Halberg Foundation Sport New Zealand Sport Waikato Blind Sport New Zealand Blind Low Vision NZ Waikato Blind Sports and Recreation Club

04/02/2026

Kia ora team,

Training is on tonight as usual — same time, same place. There’s a small chance of showers forecast, but it looks like that should pass through, so we’re planning to go ahead as normal.

Please come prepared just in case, and let’s make the most of getting out there together for a solid session. See you tonight! 💪🌥️

Ngā manaakitanga.
Best wishes,
Achilles Waikato

03/02/2026

Kia ora team,

Just an update to let you know that we will not be holding our Sunday training session this weekend.

As we are attending Born to Adapt on Saturday, our guides and volunteers are limited on Sunday, and a few athletes are also committed to other events. So, we won’t have the capacity to run a safe and supported Sunday session.

That said — please don’t let it stop you from getting out for a walk, a light run, or whatever good Sunday movement looks like for you.
Let’s hope we get good weather regardless and enjoy it if we do. 😊

Wednesday training is on tomorrow as usual — we look forward to seeing you then.

Ngā mihi nui,

Achilles Waikato

Achilles International New Zealand
Parafed Waikato Waikato Blind Sports and Recreation Club
Special Olympics Waikato

27/01/2026

Kia ora whānau,
Finally — a nice day to get out and train! ☀️
Training is on this evening as usual, and it’s shaping up to be a great chance to enjoy some movement together in much friendlier conditions. If you’ve been waiting for a good-weather session to jump back in, this is a perfect one.
Same time, same place — come along, get some fresh air, and enjoy training with the crew.
Looking forward to seeing you all out there!
Ngā mihi nui,
James
(on behalf of Yoke & Achilles Waikato)

Achilles International New Zealand

23/01/2026

Awesome weekend, who is training hard for this one...

20/01/2026

Due to the weather worsening, we’ve made the call to cancel tonight’s training session. While it’s never ideal, safety always comes first — thank you for understanding and being flexible.

If you’re still feeling up to it, consider doing a little something for yourself this evening — a short walk, some stretching, or mobility work at home all count. Every bit of movement helps keep the momentum going, even when we can’t train together.

🔔 Looking ahead to Sunday:
Sunday training is still planned to go ahead this week. At this stage, it may be a damp morning, but please note that Sunday sessions will only be cancelled if conditions are heavy or otherwise unsafe to train in. We’ll keep you posted if anything changes.

Stay warm, stay dry, and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Ngā mihi nui,
James
(on behalf of Yoke & Achilles Waikato


Achilles International New Zealand
Parafed Waikato
Waikato Blind Sports and Recreation Club
Special Olympics Waikato

12/01/2026

Kia ora whānau,
Happy New Year and welcome back to Achilles Waikato! 🎉
We hope you’ve all had a refreshing break and are feeling ready to step into 2026 with energy and optimism.
Wednesday training starts again this week, and we’d love to see a strong turnout as we reconnect, move together, and cheer each other on toward our goals for the year ahead — whether they’re big events, new distances, or simply staying active and connected.
This is also a good time to remind everyone that Sunday training sessions resume from Sunday 25 January, so please mark that in your calendars as well.
If you have any questions, concerns, or want to talk through your training or events for the year ahead, please don’t hesitate to email me directly. I’m very happy to help however I can.
Looking forward to seeing you back out there and starting the year strong together!
Ngā mihi nui,
The Achillies Waikato Crew


Achilles International New Zealand
Parafed Waikato
Waikato Blind Sports and Recreation Club
Special Olympics Waikato

16/12/2025

Kia ora team,
Tonight is our final training session for the year, so let’s finish on a high! 🎉
Please remember to bring $5 cash to put towards pizza after training.
🍕 Big shout-out to Jenni for organising the pizzas — thank you, Jenni!!!
Weather update:
We may see a bit of rain on and off today, but it’s expected to clear before training and might even turn sunny. 🌤️
That said, be prepared for both just in case — and don’t worry, it’s not expected to be over 19°C, so fairly comfortable conditions.
📅 Looking Ahead – 2026 First Sessions Back
➡️ First Wednesday training:
14th January @ 5:30pm
📍 Parana Park – Corner of Memorial Drive & Anzac Parade
➡️ First Sunday training:
25th January
📍 The Verandah Cafe & Function Centre (Hamilton Lake)
On behalf of the whole crew, thank you all for an incredible year. We’ve seen so many PBs, firsts, a few challenges overcome, and a whole lot of support for one another. It’s been an amazing year to be part of Achilles Waikato, and I’m really looking forward to catching up with you all again in 2026. 💛
PS: I’m sorry I can’t be there tonight — please savour the pizza for me! 😉
— James
See you tonight for one last run or walk of the year!

Ngā mihi mou te whakaaro.
With sincere appreciation,
Achilles Waikato

Achilles International New Zealand
Parafed Waikato
Special Olympics Waikato
Waikato Blind Sports and Recreation Club

10/12/2025

Kia ora team,
As we head into the final weeks of 2025, here are the important training dates to pop into your calendar:
📅 2025 – Final Training Sessions
➡️ Last Sunday training:
14th December
📍 The Verandah Cafe & Function Centre (Hamilton Lake)
➡️ Last Wednesday training:
17th December @ 5:30pm
📍 Parana Park – Corner of Memorial Drive & Anzac Parade
🍕 Pizza Night!
Please bring $5 for pizzas — and a big thank you to Jenni for organising this for the team!
📅 2026 – First Sessions Back
➡️ First Wednesday training:
14th January @ 5:30pm
📍 Parana Park – Corner of Memorial Drive & Anzac Parade
➡️ First Sunday training:
25th January
📍 The Verandah Cafe & Function Centre (Hamilton Lake)
We look forward to celebrating the end of another amazing year, and we can’t wait to kick off 2026 with the same Achilles energy and enthusiasm!
Ngā mihi nui,
Yoke & James
Achilles Waikato Co-Chapter Lead


Waikato Blind Sports and Recreation Club
Parafed Waikato
Special Olympics Waikato