PARA ATHLETES

The Hartford Marathon Foundation strives to provide accessibility and recognition to athletes with a permanent physical, intellectual, or vision impairment. Participants are able to indicate their participation as a Para Athlete by responding ‘yes’ to the corresponding questions during the registration process.

CLASSIFICATIONS

Assisted Wheelchair/Duos: Defined as a participant pushing a person with permanent disabilities in a customized racing wheelchair. MORE DETAILS

Intellectually Impaired: Defined as an athlete that has a restriction in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior which affects conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills required for everyday life. This impairment must be present before the age of 18.

Physically Impaired: 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 impairments 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.

Wheelchairs (Push-Rim & Hand Cranks): Defined as any person with a significant and permanent physical or motor deficiency requiring the use of a Wheelchair (Push-Rim or Hand Crank/Handcycle) to compete. MORE DETAILS

Visually Impaired: Defined as an athlete that meets the classifications of IBSA Visual Classifications Class B1, B2, B3 and B4. For more information on IBSA Visual Classifications, click here.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT EVENTS

  • Awards will be given to the top three in each of the following Divisions (with more than 2 entrants):
    • Intellectually Impaired
    • Physically Impaired
    • Push Rim Wheelchair
    • Hand-Crank/Hand-Cycle (excluding the Eversource Hartford Marathon events)
    • Visually Impaired
  • Participants must follow and stay on the course.
  • In most cases the entire road surface is at the athlete’s disposal. Where cones are used, shortening the course by not following the cone line is against the rules and will expose the racers to unsafe conditions.
  • All participants must complete the entire course unaided, except for the aid that is provided at the official aid stations on the course. No personal aid from a spectator is permitted.
  • Participant cannot intentionally interfere or touch other athletes during the race.
  • Bib Numbers are non-transferable and MUST be worn only by the participant to whom it is assigned.
  • Guides. MORE DETAILS

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.

  • 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.

WHEELCHAIRS (PUSH-RIM & HAND CRANK/HANDCYCLE)

RACE DAY DETAILS

  • Race start prior to abled body start time. Start time will be determined based on specific event.
  • Distinguished wheelchair division (includes both hand cranks and push rim where applicable).
  • HMF provided lead cyclists (athletes are responsible for knowing the race route).
  • Wheelchair athletes must use appropriate caution and share the course when other athletes or official vehicles approach to pass. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
  • 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 must not exceed the maximum speed of 4:30 minutes per mile (13 MPH) as they approach the finish area.

EVERSOURCE HARTFORD MARATHON, HALF MARATHON, & CHARITY 5K:

  • Opening at 7:00 AM and located on Clinton Street, the Wheelchair Athlete Zone supported by OAHStrides Fund at the HFPG is a secure transition space to transfer into racing wheelchairs and store gear throughout the race. Handicap accessible bathrooms included, all gear must be claimed by 2:00 PM.
  • Wheelchair Start: 7:55 a.m. (Marathon and Half Marathon), 8:00 a.m. (5K)
  • Athletes are required to check in at the Seeded Corral at the starting line no later than 7:45 am.
  • 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 a zip tie.

PUSH-RIM RACING WHEELCHAIRS

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.

HAND-CRANK/HAND CYCLE WHEELCHAIRS

Defined as a wheelchair powered by arms and is mechanically or gear assisted. 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.

EVERSOURCE HARTFORD MARATHON, HALF MARATHON, & CHARITY 5K:
Athletes are invited to participate in the Marathon, Half Marathon or the 5K. For the safety of the athlete and all participants at the Eversource Hartford Marathon, the athlete’s 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 2025 event and ban them from the 2026 Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon.

SUGGESTED EVENTS FOR WHEELCHAIRS

If you are a wheelchair athlete, before you register, we encourage you to contact the Race Director, Matt Anderson, either by phone at 860-652-8866, or by email at: Matt@hartfordmarathon.com to answer any questions regarding course suitability.

GUIDES

  • Athletes bring their own guides to the competition.
  • Athletes must register and pay an entry fee.
  • HMF will provide one complimentary guide entry per athlete. Contact registration@hartfordmarathon.com prior to registering for a code.
  • Only 1 guide per athlete.
  • The guide must wear the official GUIDE bib number supplied by HMF. The guide must also wear the RACE bib number provided by HMF on the front of his/her shirt singlet. All bibs may be picked up at Registration.
  • As the impaired athlete crosses the finish line, the guide must be behind the athlete.
  • Guides MAY NOT use a bicycle or other mechanical means of transport.
    • The Hartford Marathon Foundation will provide all bicycle course marshals for wheelchair athletes. No outside bicycles are allowed along the course at any Hartford Marathon Foundation events.
  • 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 athlete may receive verbal instruction from the guide.
  • 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.