Written by Brian Cruise
(published previously in AbleNews)
The New York Road Runners Club, the organizers for the ING New York City Marathon, has some wheelchair racers feeling left out in the cold after a policy change that has excluded them from being eligible for prize money.
The New York Road Runners Club, the organizers for the ING New York City Marathon, has some wheelchair racers feeling left out in the cold after a policy change that has excluded them from being eligible for prize money. Starting with this year’s marathon, hand cycle wheelchair users were no longer awarded prize money in the men and women’s hand cycle category.
Dick Traum, President and founder of the Achilles Track Club, thinks it’s unfair to cut hand cycle racers out of the money because he believes they are no different than racers who participate in racing chairs or conventional wheelchairs. “Many wheelchair racers have decided to use these chairs because of the constant strain conventional pushing chairs leave on their shoulders, arms and hands,” stated Traum. Using hand cycles, in Traum’s opinion, takes away the stress to the shoulders and elite racers in each category finish the course extremely close to each other. In this year’s Marathon, less than a minute separated the two category winners.
According to Bob Laufer, Coordinator for the Disabled, for all Road Runner events, including the Marathon, said that there was a two year experiment awarding prize money for both wheelchair racers and hand cycle racers and it was decided that their emphasis would now focus on wheelchair rim racers, only. “After the two year experiment, we decided to award prizes to wheelchair racers only because we believe that wheelchair racers are to runners as hand cycle racers are to bicycle racers,” exclaimed Laufer.
Laufer explained that hand cycle chairs are mechanically similar to a bicycle and offer an enhancement that racers in wheelchairs do not have due to the inclusion of gears. When it was explained that Traum’s position on athletes preferring hand-operated chairs was often due to the injury factor, Laufer countered that runners develop physical problems, but their choice is to run or not run at all.
Essentially, there is a philosophical difference between the two factions and each show significant reasons why their constituencies should and should not be recognized monetarily.
“We are not trying to attract hand cycle racers,” exclaimed Laufer. He noted that the NYRRC provide a course for them and tabulate their times, but cycle chairs do not correspond to their philosophy of how road racing in a wheelchair corresponds to runners running. “These hand cycles are very prevalent in Europe and disabled people are not the only ones using them. Many able-bodied people have called me and asked if you must be disabled to use a hand cycle. We do not want to get into the business of dealing with medical issues,” noted Laufer.
“Wheelchairs are used for individuals who can not otherwise run in the race. It’s a mobility issue,” explained Laufer. The organization has decided to focus on those individuals who use everyday chairs or racing chairs propelled by their arms. “We had a spectacular field this year and we will continue to try to make the ‘ING New York City Marathon’ the best race in the world for everyone who enters it,” said Laufer.
Traum reiterated that there is no competitive edge in using a hand cycle. However, he also pointed out that it’s a matter of apples and oranges because “We’re not competing against each other, we race in separate categories,” stated the Achilles President.
Mayor Bloomberg recognized the winners of every category by presenting them with keys to the city in a ceremony following the Marathon. Asked why the Mayor regarded the hand cycle champions as equals to every other racing category winners, when the Road Runners did not, Public Relations Director Richard Finn of the NY Road Runners Club chided, “Maybe he was looking for two extra votes.”
The controversy will continue because disabled hand cyclists are growing in New York exponentially, according to Traum. Laufer indeed revealed that most wheelchair racers in Road Runner monthly races use hand cycles now. An anonymous gift of $50,000 was donated to the Achilles club two years ago and was earmarked specifically for hand cycle chairs. Thirty-five chairs were purchased and given to members of the Achilles Track Club who compete in at least six racers per year. Last year, during the prize awarding experiment, twice the amount of wheelchair racers competed in hand cycle chairs.
This year, 65 wheelchair racers finished the race compared to 54 hand cyclists. The top three men and women wheelchair finishers earn $3000, $2000 and $1000. Krige Schabort, 40, of South Africa, broke the course record in 2002 finishing 1:38:27. This year Schabort broke his own record finishing 1:32:19 as the top male finisher. Schabort lost his legs in the South African army in 1987 in Angola. He now lives in Georgia with his wife and one year-old son, giving inspirational speeches at hospitals, schools and businesses.
Cheri Blauwet of Menlo Park, California finished first again this year and beat her 2002 mark of 2:14:39, crossing the finish line at 1:59:30, knocking nearly 14 minutes off last years pace. She set a personal record of 1:50:06 in winning the City of Los Angeles Marathon this year. Blauwet, 23, recently graduated with honors from the University of Arizona, where she earned degrees in molecular biology, cellular biology, and music. She is now attending medical school at Stanford University and hopes to become a developmental pediatrician.
The top mens hand cycle winner was Bogdan Krol, 47, of Poland, who crossed the finish line at 1:33:07. The women’s champion, who came in seventh overall in the category, was defending champion Helene Hines, 47, of New York, at 1:49:13.
Rather than discuss this controversy, both Road Runner executives preferred discussing what they consider to be one of the finest wheelchair fields ever in the Marathon and the spectacular finishes and broken records of Schabort and Blauwet. Traum, though, insists that besides the hand cycle issue, everything isn’t what it should be. He cited incidents of wheelchair and cycle users being injured on the course because proper signage warning racers of abrupt curves were not in place. “When a wheelchair is moving quickly it’s hard to turn quickly when there is no warning.” He indicated that racers experienced injuries to the face from tumbling forward out of their chairs. He also charged that these areas on the course have had similar problems before and have not been changed. Laufer and Finn exclaimed that they had no knowledge of any injuries in the hand cycle category, but didn’t deny their existence. Laufer, however, said that there were no injuries in the wheelchair category. “If there were any, I’d know about it,” stated Laufer.
It seems there has been acrimony between these two groups, who are affiliated with each other, for many years. In 1995, Traum revealed that the board of directors of the New York Road Runners Club unanimously voted to give full control of the disabled division of the Marathon to Traum and the Achilles Track Club. Traum continued to explain that after the vote, the powers that be simply ignored the board’s vote and took control of the disabled racers away from Achilles. Laufer would not comment on the issue, but said the two organization’s work closely coordinating events.
Traum established the Achilles Track Club in 1983 to encourage people with disabilities to participate in long distance running. Over the past 20 years, the international, nonprofit organization has provided support, training and technical expertise to runners at every level of competition. With support from many organizations and businesses, The Achilles Track Club has returned sight to blind runners with corneal transplants, provided below the knee prostheses, and wheelchairs to members around the world.
The two year old Achilles Marathon was moved from Prospect Park to Central Park last year. However, the New York City Department of Parks reduced the event from a 26.2 Marathon to a five mile race. The organization is waiting for word regarding the ability to return the event to Marathon status this year at Central Park. According to Traum, the New York City Parks Department said that a decision is still pending
2Comments:
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