The Race Director for the Eastern States 20 Mile run has agreed to accommodate me for the run, but I, " must abide by all race rules." Really? What's up with that. Does he think I'm trying to get one over on him for asking for accommodation? Does he send everyone that registers an e-mail requiring them to "abide by all race rules"?
He asked all kinds of questions during the weeks of e-mail exchanges - questions it was inappropriate for him to ask, and ones I wasn't required to answer. Did he ask ALL the registrants why they wanted to enter the race; did he ask them to list their previous races and results ... TWICE; did he .... I seriously doubt it.
This man has been racing for YEARS - and been a race director since 1998 (or earlier). I'm sure he has been in races that accommodated other Special Needs people. He probably had others ask for accommodations and instead of fighting his negativity, they just gave up on it. I hope that by pushing this now, that it will make it easier for others in the future. Who knows - he doesn't seem to be very accommodating (pun intended).
March 30 isn't far off. Be prepared for my final say about this race. It isn't very encouraging so far.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Shamrock Scurry 5K
Up at 5:45 this morning; on the road by 6:30. Yuck!
Packet Pick-up was quick and easy. They had a 1Mile run that started at 8:00 and was over before they started the 5K. Wheelchair Start: 8:28 - the other 677 started at 8:30.
This course has a LOT of hills! You may think that Florida is flat ... it isn't! They aren't HUGE hills, but any incline seems that way in a racing chair. They are still pretty significant inclines along the route they chose.
A hint to Race Directors - do NOT put a turn 3/4 of the way down the only real decent on the course. I had worked my way UP the other side; I was probably going over 40 mph when the turn came into view; I didn't appreciate having to burn off that speed with my brakes; I REALLY didn't appreciate overshooting the turn and having to come back UP HILL to make the turn! 5 minutes lost there!
Even with the little hick-up, I still had a PR on the course!
Packet Pick-up was quick and easy. They had a 1Mile run that started at 8:00 and was over before they started the 5K. Wheelchair Start: 8:28 - the other 677 started at 8:30.
This course has a LOT of hills! You may think that Florida is flat ... it isn't! They aren't HUGE hills, but any incline seems that way in a racing chair. They are still pretty significant inclines along the route they chose.
A hint to Race Directors - do NOT put a turn 3/4 of the way down the only real decent on the course. I had worked my way UP the other side; I was probably going over 40 mph when the turn came into view; I didn't appreciate having to burn off that speed with my brakes; I REALLY didn't appreciate overshooting the turn and having to come back UP HILL to make the turn! 5 minutes lost there!
Even with the little hick-up, I still had a PR on the course!
Wheelchair Division
Place First Name Last Name Sex Age Gun Time Net Time 1 Edward Russell M 60 27:32.01 27:32.01
No photos yet, but they should be out soon.
Friday, March 7, 2014
Protect your gourd!
As previously noted, I was in a crash and cracked my helmet ... so I had to order another one to use for an upcoming race (The Shamrock Scurry 5K on 3/8/14 in Tallahassee, FL). It is now in - a Limar 757.
I'm very impressed with the fit. The short run tomorrow will give me a good idea how it's going to work out for the long haul.
I can't say enough about how important it is to use a helmet (and other protective gear) while racing in a chair - even if it's not required. This is what the old helmet looked like:
That could have been my skull!
Even if you aren't concerned, I'm sure you have others that DO care about you. Play it safe!
Thursday, March 6, 2014
The Mulligrubs
The weather today is sort of depressing, and it's getting to me. At least I don't have snow, ice ... or earthquakes.
On the brighter side of things, I received my replacement helmet yesterday. A definite upgrade over my old one. I also got a new pair of gloves, since the palms of the old ones were almost gone. They are rated for a higher level of impact than the old ones, also.
The bad news - my headlight won't mount on my new helmet like it did on the old one. Time to figure out where to mount it. I liked being able to move my head and have the light directed in that direction. I may need to get an additional light - or two - to have the same area of coverage.
I also heard back from the VA - they have the modified quote in for my new handcycle ... now it is just a matter of time. Time at the VA is NOT the same time we live by. You are NEVER in a hurry when it's the VA. I would like to say that they will act on it this week or next ... but that's just wishful thinking. Realistically, I expect them to approve the funding close to the end of next month. Then I have to wait on Top End to build it - another 2 to 4 weeks, probably. That puts me into May or June without any runs ... BOO! At least I have a few more runs this month to tide me over.
Still no response from the #jackwagon Race Director for the Eastern States 20 Mile run. What is WRONG with him? Seriously, the only accommodation I need is to be able to compete. Most races start you ahead of the pack just to avoid any accidents due to the crush. Does he REALLY realize how much fire he is playing with. If he denies me accommodation, then the Department of Justice can get involved with an Americans With Disabilities Act complaint - that would be VERY costly for him and the race organizers. If he waits until the day of the race, it would be after the fact and there would be little that could be done at that time ... other than compensate me for entry fees, travel (almost 1500 miles) and hotel stays (at least 7 nights). Without any penalties, that's about $1000 dollars. There would also be a lot of bad publicity associated with it - which could hurt them a lot more than having to pay $1000. I wonder if Don has told the rest of the Race Committee what he's doing.
Maybe if I heard back something positive from him - or the VA (ha ha) - I wouldn't feel so blah!
On the brighter side of things, I received my replacement helmet yesterday. A definite upgrade over my old one. I also got a new pair of gloves, since the palms of the old ones were almost gone. They are rated for a higher level of impact than the old ones, also.
The bad news - my headlight won't mount on my new helmet like it did on the old one. Time to figure out where to mount it. I liked being able to move my head and have the light directed in that direction. I may need to get an additional light - or two - to have the same area of coverage.
I also heard back from the VA - they have the modified quote in for my new handcycle ... now it is just a matter of time. Time at the VA is NOT the same time we live by. You are NEVER in a hurry when it's the VA. I would like to say that they will act on it this week or next ... but that's just wishful thinking. Realistically, I expect them to approve the funding close to the end of next month. Then I have to wait on Top End to build it - another 2 to 4 weeks, probably. That puts me into May or June without any runs ... BOO! At least I have a few more runs this month to tide me over.
Still no response from the #jackwagon Race Director for the Eastern States 20 Mile run. What is WRONG with him? Seriously, the only accommodation I need is to be able to compete. Most races start you ahead of the pack just to avoid any accidents due to the crush. Does he REALLY realize how much fire he is playing with. If he denies me accommodation, then the Department of Justice can get involved with an Americans With Disabilities Act complaint - that would be VERY costly for him and the race organizers. If he waits until the day of the race, it would be after the fact and there would be little that could be done at that time ... other than compensate me for entry fees, travel (almost 1500 miles) and hotel stays (at least 7 nights). Without any penalties, that's about $1000 dollars. There would also be a lot of bad publicity associated with it - which could hurt them a lot more than having to pay $1000. I wonder if Don has told the rest of the Race Committee what he's doing.
Maybe if I heard back something positive from him - or the VA (ha ha) - I wouldn't feel so blah!
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Head banging frustration ... mixed with some good
Last month, I registered for the Eastern States 20 Mile run. I sent an e-mail to the Race Director notifying him I was competing in a racing chair ... and was met by a HUGH amount of negativity. He immediately started making excuses about why HE thought I would not be able to compete in a chair. This is one of his typical replies: " I am not sure my insurance or town
regulations will allow wheelchairs/handcycles". We all know that is total BS. After a few e-mails back and forth (with him mostly saying he was waiting for information about his insurance - 3 weeks, REALLY?), he stopped responding at all. Until I get a definite answer from him, there is little I can do from the legal standpoint. ADA doesn't apply until I have been denied accommodation; I can't force him to answer; all I can do is show up (a 1500 mile drive, BTW) and see what happens. If you want to jerk this #jackwagon up a notch, you can contact him at Don Allison, Race Director.
The crazy part of all this - this is the ONLY time I have had a problem like this. I have registered for two other races since then - The Shamrock Scurry 5K in Tallahassee, FL and the Bainbridge 1/2 Marathon in Bainbridge, GA. Neither has EVER had a racing chair entry; both Race Directors responded within an hour and THANKED me for entering. One even gave me a 50% discount on the entry fee!
Oops - THREE races - I also registered for the Wine & Dine 1/2 Marathon at Walt Disney World.
MEANWHILE ... I met some of Team Achilles during the Dopey at Walt Disney World in January, and they encouraged me to apply. I am now going to be racing as part of Team Achilles!
The crazy part of all this - this is the ONLY time I have had a problem like this. I have registered for two other races since then - The Shamrock Scurry 5K in Tallahassee, FL and the Bainbridge 1/2 Marathon in Bainbridge, GA. Neither has EVER had a racing chair entry; both Race Directors responded within an hour and THANKED me for entering. One even gave me a 50% discount on the entry fee!
Oops - THREE races - I also registered for the Wine & Dine 1/2 Marathon at Walt Disney World.
MEANWHILE ... I met some of Team Achilles during the Dopey at Walt Disney World in January, and they encouraged me to apply. I am now going to be racing as part of Team Achilles!
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Ouch!
March 1st, I completed the Albany, GA Marathon ... with a brief intermission. Not far from the finish, there is a big downhill ... and a VERY sharp (more than 90°) turn onto a relatively narrow path. Handcycles do NOT turn sharply - especially when you are doing 25+ mph. I grabbed the brakes, shifted my weight and turned the least I could and still make the turn - all to no avail. In less than a second, the handcycle and I were our left sides, and slid into a metal retaining fence. Initial impressions ... OUCH! Banged my left knee; scraped my left elbow (through a compression sleeve) and had a nose bleed.
After getting help getting the handcycle upright and me back in the seat (great effort by the Race Officials and bystanders!), I completed the last section of the race. Not my best time, but I DID finish. Then I was escorted to the Medical Tent. NOT real impressed - the staff seemed to be Basic First Aid only. Every other race I've been at had EMTs at the minimum. Ice packed my knee; bandaid (a small one that didn't begin to cover the scrape) on my elbow and a kleenex for my bloody nose.
By now, my head was beginning to ache a little - what's up with that? Maybe my helmet will give you a clue ...
Big chunk of the shell missing; several deep creases where I hit the metal retaining fence; and a lump on the side of my head where I think the helmet bottom dug in.
Later that afternoon, I began to find (mainly because they started to make themselves know) other little bruises and scrapes. My gloves saved my hands - but they are both worn almost all the way through the leather. My left shoe is worn almost all the way through the side, and my compression sock has a hole worn through it corresponding to a small scrape on my left ankle. My biker pants have a hole in the left hip area, and there is a bruise there. My right thigh has a large bruise where I probably hit the hand crank on that side. I am generally sore all over even after hot and cold soaks.
Albany Marathon (like many other races I have been to) does not require protective gear. I wore mine anyway. If I hadn't, I would probably be in the hospital with a cracked skull - if not worse. I will be blunt - you are a FOOL if you are in a racing chair and NOT using at least a helmet!
My time suffered because the "flat" course they advertize is anything but. It is almost all rolling hills with a couple that are long climbs. About the 5 mile point, my upper derailleur decided not to shift to granny low, making it a lot of grunt work to get up those hills. I started manually shifting the chain over for the worst climbs.
High points - VERY friendly people cheering all the way. Uncle Sam's Misguided Children (USMC) out in force - 2 or 3 at every intersection. Ooh-Rah! I had my personal escort (I was running 3rd place racing chair) - an Albany PD officer on an ATV. We had a great conversation during the race, and he encouraged me on the hills when he saw my derailleur had stopped working. At the 24 Mile point, there was a tailgate party set up in a yard with people watching the race ... I was offered a Fat Tire Amber to go, and an invitation to come back and join the party after I finished!
Will I 'run' Albany again - YES (and I will be wearing a helmet)!
After getting help getting the handcycle upright and me back in the seat (great effort by the Race Officials and bystanders!), I completed the last section of the race. Not my best time, but I DID finish. Then I was escorted to the Medical Tent. NOT real impressed - the staff seemed to be Basic First Aid only. Every other race I've been at had EMTs at the minimum. Ice packed my knee; bandaid (a small one that didn't begin to cover the scrape) on my elbow and a kleenex for my bloody nose.
By now, my head was beginning to ache a little - what's up with that? Maybe my helmet will give you a clue ...
Big chunk of the shell missing; several deep creases where I hit the metal retaining fence; and a lump on the side of my head where I think the helmet bottom dug in.
Later that afternoon, I began to find (mainly because they started to make themselves know) other little bruises and scrapes. My gloves saved my hands - but they are both worn almost all the way through the leather. My left shoe is worn almost all the way through the side, and my compression sock has a hole worn through it corresponding to a small scrape on my left ankle. My biker pants have a hole in the left hip area, and there is a bruise there. My right thigh has a large bruise where I probably hit the hand crank on that side. I am generally sore all over even after hot and cold soaks.
Albany Marathon (like many other races I have been to) does not require protective gear. I wore mine anyway. If I hadn't, I would probably be in the hospital with a cracked skull - if not worse. I will be blunt - you are a FOOL if you are in a racing chair and NOT using at least a helmet!
My time suffered because the "flat" course they advertize is anything but. It is almost all rolling hills with a couple that are long climbs. About the 5 mile point, my upper derailleur decided not to shift to granny low, making it a lot of grunt work to get up those hills. I started manually shifting the chain over for the worst climbs.
High points - VERY friendly people cheering all the way. Uncle Sam's Misguided Children (USMC) out in force - 2 or 3 at every intersection. Ooh-Rah! I had my personal escort (I was running 3rd place racing chair) - an Albany PD officer on an ATV. We had a great conversation during the race, and he encouraged me on the hills when he saw my derailleur had stopped working. At the 24 Mile point, there was a tailgate party set up in a yard with people watching the race ... I was offered a Fat Tire Amber to go, and an invitation to come back and join the party after I finished!
Will I 'run' Albany again - YES (and I will be wearing a helmet)!
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