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Francesco Magisano is my Ultraman Florida athlete in profile.  At ten months old Francesco was diagnosed with eye cancer and by age 16 things went completely dark with blindness for him.  He found his way to sport through Achilles International, a global adaptive sports and advocacy organization serving people with disabilities.  That has led to him working for Achilles as the director of the New York metro region where he also leads a Saturday run group in Central Park.  

He will be the first blind athlete to attempt Ultraman Florida, but the third blind athlete to compete at a 515 distance race.   Raphael Jamie has previously completed UltraMX 515 and John Domandl was the first, in 2015 at Ultraman Australia.

Brian Hammond, Francesco's coach, also joins the conversation to speak about his role as his guide for the race.   Brian is an alumni of UMFL from 2016 and an experienced crew member who has a long ultra resume to back up his advice.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Ultraman Florida 
• Achilles International 
• IM Arizona
• 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Cycling Trials 
• Trufit Solutions
• Telluride Adaptive Sports Program
• The Count of Monte Cristo (Book)  by Alexandre Dumas
• Mighty Man Montauk Sprint Triathlon
• USA Paratriathlon National Championships
• Boston Half Marathon
• NYC Marathon
• Boston Marathon
• Marine Core 10K
• Dallas 50K
• Leadville 100
• SBT Grvl - Black Course
• Vermont 100 

Shout outs and mentions in this episode:

• Jen McVeay (S2E8) (S2E10) (S2E11)
• Steve King (S1E1) (S1E2) (S1E3)
• Amy Jo Jenkins (S4E2) 
• Sarah Hammond
• Avery Hammond
• Sophia Hammond
• Thomas Chapman

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Show Contributors:
Host : Larry Ryan
Contributing Raconteur : Steve King
Announcer : Mary Jo Dionne
Production : 5Five Enterprises
Music  :  Run by 331

___________________________________________________________

For show notes and past guests, please visit the Podcast Website: https://515theultrapodcast.buzzsprout.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/515TheUltraPodcast

Insta :

Support the show

Show Contributors:
Host : Larry Ryan
Contributing Raconteur : Steve King
Announcer : Mary Jo Dionne
Production : 5Five Enterprises
Music  :  Run by 331

For show notes and past guests, please visit the Podcast Website: https://515theultrapodcast.buzzsprout.com
Facebook: @515TheUltraPodcast
Insta : @515theultrapodcast
Youtube : @515TheUltraPodcast
Email : [email protected]