DISABLED ATHLETES

DIVISIONS

Assisted Wheelchair/Duos: Defined as a participant pushing a person with permanent disabilities in a customized racing wheelchair. Both parties will need to register for the event and sign appropriate waivers.

Physically Challenged (PC): A physically challenged (PC) athlete for the purposes of USATF LDR Road Racing is defined as any person with a significant and permanent physical or motor deficiency but still allows them to be ambulatory for road racing. Examples of appropriate permanent physical challenges include: Partial or complete loss of a lower extremity, such as a Symes or leg amputation. Some have significant loss of motor function due to stroke or a serious degenerative neurological condition affecting the extremities such as Multiple Sclerosis. Awards will be given to the top three males/females in the PC Division.

Push-Rim Wheelchair: A wheelchair athlete for the purposes of USATF LDR Road Racing is defined as any person with a significant and permanent physical or motor deficiency requiring the use of a push-rim wheelchair (not hand cranks) to compete. Able-bodied individuals may not participate in the Wheelchair Division. Rules and regulations for wheelchairs will be based on the International Paralympic Committee’s regulations. See below for wheelchair specifications. Awards will be given to the top three males/females in the Push-rim Division.

Hand-Crank/Handcycle Wheelchair: Athletes are invited to participate in the Marathon, Half Marathon or the 5K. No awards will be given for the Hand Crank division in any event. Athletes must wear helmets at all times while on the event course and have an orange visibility flag on a 5’-6’ flexible pole attached to the handcycle at all times while on the event course.

For the safety of the athlete and all participants, athlete finish time must not be faster than 1 hour and 38 minutes in the marathon. Finishing faster than this time will disqualify the athlete from the 2023 event and ban them from the 2024 Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon.

Visually Impaired: A visually impaired runner must meet the classifications of IBSA Visual Classifications Class B1, B2, B3 and B4. For more information on IBSA Visual Classifications, click here. See below for Rules for Visually Impaired. Awards will be given to the top three males/females in the Visually Impaired Division.

COURSE ESSENTIALS FOR WHEELCHAIR ATHLETES

  • Wheelchair Start: 7:55 a.m. (Marathon and Half Marathon)
  • Start Line will be at the start of the Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon (which starts 5 minutes after wheelchairs).
  • Athletes are required to check in at the Seeded Corral at the starting line no later than 7:45 am.
  • All wheelchair athletes are required to wear certified helmets at all times. Helmets cannot be modified. Participants who do not have a certified helmet will not be permitted to start.
  • Participants are timed with both the ChronoTrack Systems B-Tag (on the race bib) and the D-Tag (on the chair). Participants must wear the bib number supplied by the organizers in its entirety and original condition on the back of their racing jersey. Bib number must be in plain sight at all times. Participant must affix the D-Tag timing chip to their chair using zip tie provided.
  • Bib Numbers are non-transferable and MUST be worn only by the participant to whom it is assigned.
  • Wheelchair athletes must use appropriate caution and share the course when other athletes or Official Vehicles approach to pass.
  • All participants must complete the entire course unaided, except for aid that is provided at the aid stations on the course. No personal aid from a spectator is permitted.
  • Participants must not exceed the maximum speed of 4:30 minutes per mile (13 MPH) as they approach the finish area.

PUSH-RIM RACING WHEELCHAIR SPECIFICATIONS

Racing wheelchairs must conform to specifications as established by the International Paralympic Committee:

  • The wheelchair shall have at least two large wheels and one small wheel.
  • Any device or design element that exists for the purpose of reducing air resistance will be permitted provided that said device or design is limited to the area between the rear wheels and must not extend beyond the lateral edges of the large wheels or extend in front or behind the edges of the tires except that fenders may protrude two inches (2″) past the circumference of the inflated tire.
  • The maximum diameter of the large wheel including the inflated tire shall not exceed 70cm. The maximum diameter of the small wheel including the inflated tire shall not exceed 50cm.
  • Only one round hand rim is allowed for each large wheel.
  • No mechanical gears or levers shall be allowed that may be used to propel the chair. Hand crank cycles or chairs are NOT permitted in this division.
  • Only hand operated mechanical steering devices will be allowed.
  • No part of the chair may protrude behind the vertical plane of the back edge of the rear wheels.
  • Athletes must ensure that no part of their lower limbs can fall to the ground or road during an event.
  • It will be the responsibility of the competitor that the wheelchair conforms to all the above rules and no event shall be delayed while the competitor makes adjustments to the chair.
  • Chairs may be measured prior to the start of the event. Chairs which have been examined may be liable to re-examination before or after the event by the official in charge of the event.

RULES FOR ASSISTED WHEELCHAIR/DUO RUNNERS

(a runner pushing a person with permanent disabilities in a customized racing wheelchair)

  • Both parties must register for the event and sign appropriate waivers.
  • One person must push the person with a permanent disability the entire race distance within the official course limit time.
  • The abled-bodied participant must maintain contact and control with the wheelchair at all times throughout the race.
  • Only the registered able-bodied participant is allowed to propel the wheelchair forward; no outside assistance is permitted.
  • The person pushing the wheelchair must be tethered to the chair.
    • The person being pushed will be scored in the “Assisted Wheelchair” division. The person pushing will be scored in their age division.
      (Contact registration@hartfordmarathon.com for online registration instructions)

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR GUIDES

  • The Hartford Marathon Foundation will provide all bicycle course marshals for wheelchair athletes. No outside bicycles are allowed along the Eversource Hartford Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K courses.
  • Athlete must register and pay entry fee.
  • HMF will provide one complimentary guide entry per athlete. Contact registration@hartfordmarathon.com prior to registering for a code.
  • Guide MUST communicate with HMF and wear approved guide BIB number.
  • Guide must finish behind the athlete.
  • Guide may not use a bicycle or other mechanical means of transport.
  • Method of guidance is choice of athlete: elbow lead, tether, or run free are permitted. Strapping or tying the hands of an athlete is not permitted.
  • Guides cannot propel athletes forward.

RULES FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED

  • Athletes bring their own guides to the competition.
  • Athlete must register and pay entry fee.
  • HMF will provide one complimentary guide entry per athlete. Contact registration@hartfordmarathon.com prior to registering for a code.
  • The guide must wear the official GUIDE bib number supplied by HMF. The bib number can be picked up at the Solutions Desk at the HMF Packet Pick-up Expo on Thursday and Friday at the XL Center.
  • Guide also wears a race bib number provided by HMF on the front of his/her shirt singlet.
  • As the blind or visually impaired runner crosses the finish line, the guide must be behind the athlete.
  • The method of guidance is the choice of the athlete. He or she may choose to use an elbow lead, or a tether, or run free. Strapping or tying the hands of athlete and guide to one another is not permitted. The tether used must provide at least 5 cm (2 inches) length between the respective hands of guide and athlete. In addition, the runner may receive verbal instruction from the guide.
  • Guides may not use a bicycle or other mechanical means of transport.
  • The guide cannot pull the athlete, or propel the athlete forward by pushing.

For more information on the United States Association of Blind Athletes and information regarding guide running go to usaba.org.