Athletes with Disabilities Field

Duo Teams & Competitive Push Rim, Hand Cycle, Hand Crank

Duo Teams

A Duo Team is comprised of an able-bodied runner or walker pushing a person with a permanent physical impairment, intellectual impairment, or coordination impairment in a customized racing wheelchair. The Rider must remain securely seated throughout the duration of the race.

A Duo Team may have up to two Pushers. Each Pusher is expected to walk or run the full respective Miler Series distance (3, 6, 10 miles), the full Mini-Marathon distance (13.1 miles), and/or the full 5K distance (3.1 miles) and cannot enter the course mid-race to “tag-out” the other Pusher.

When participating in the Miler Series or 5K, Duo Teams will line up at the front of participants and will remain to the left of the course so that others can pass if necessary. When participating in the Mini-Marathon, Duo Teams will be given a starting position in the Athletes with Disabilities corral at the front of Wave 1. Duo Teams will line up behind the Competitive Push Rim participants and will remain to the left of the course so that others can pass if necessary.

Applicable to all running events, if the Rider is able and wishes to cross the finish line on foot, please move the wheelchair off the course entirely so that others may pass.

Duo Teams are considered an exhibition event and will not receive awards or prize money.

Competitive Push Rim

The Competitive Push Rim Division is open to athletes with permanent impairment intending to utilize a push rim wheelchair, hand crank, or hand cycle chair.

The 500 Festival will provide all Competitive Push Rim participants with helmet stickers that correlate with their assigned bib number. The stickers will be placed on either side of the Athlete’s helmet for easy identification. Athletes will receive their stickers upon retrieving their participant bib at the Expo.

When participating in the Miler Series or 5K, Competitive Push Rim participants will line up at the front of participants and will remain to the left of the course so that others can pass if necessary. When participating in the Mini-Marathon, Competitive Push Rim participants will be given a starting position in the Athletes with Disabilities corral at the front of Wave 1. Competitive Push Rim participants will line up in front of the Duo Teams and will remain to the left of the course so that others can pass if necessary.

The Competitive Push Rim Division is open to the following awards and prize money for the Mini-Marathon only. The 500 Festival will contact those athletes who receive an award and prize money once all results have been verified at the conclusion of the event.

Registration Information

All athletes participating in the Athletes with Disabilities Field are required to complete registration for the Miler Series, Mini-Marathon, and/or 5K. For Push Rim, Hand Cycle/Hand Crank, and Duo Teams in particular, please be sure to answer the following questions accurately during the registration process so that we may place you in the correct corral:

• When asked “Do you plan to…” please select “Wheelchair” for your entry(ies)
• When asked “How do you plan to participate?” please select one of the following options:
  • Push Rim
  • Hand Cycle/Hand Crank
  • Pusher
  • Rider

Due to legal and medical reasons, we need both the Pusher and Rider of a Duo Team to register.

The 500 Festival will provide complimentary entry to those Riders who participate as part of a Duo Team. Please contact raceinfo@500festival.com for more information.

Guide & Support Runners

A Guide Runner is a person who provides verbal cues and navigation support to an athlete with a vision impairment.

A Support Runner is a person who provides verbal instructions, directions, and/or cues that support orientation and/or decision making for an ambulatory athlete who has a physical, intellectual, visual, or hearing impairment and participates “on foot” including athletes who use prosthesis or running blades.

It is the responsibility of the athlete to select a Guide/Support Runner if one is needed. The athlete is responsible for selecting a Guide/Support Runner who can perform all guide/support responsibilities and can run comfortably at the athlete’s pace. It is strongly recommended that the athlete selects a Guide/Support Runner with whom the athlete regularly trains.

Guide/Support Runner will receive all participant issued gear as well as an official 500 Festival issued Guide Vest or Support Vest that must be worn on the outermost layer throughout the duration of the running event. The Guide/Support Vest will be received upon retrieval of the participant’s race bib at the Expo and must be returned to the 500 Festival prior to the conclusion of the event. Further details will be provided closer to the event itself.

Registration Information

All athletes participating in the Athletes with Disabilities Field are required to complete registration for the Miler Series, Mini-Marathon, and/or 5K. There is no registration fee for a Guide/Support Runner; however, it is required that the selected Guide/Support Runner register for the equivalent event as the athlete they are guiding/supporting. Please contact the 500 Festival at raceinfo@500festival.com to receive specific registration information for the Guide/Support Runner and athlete.

Accessible Parking Information

The 500 Festival provides parking for athletes requiring accessible parking. All athletes participating in the Athletes with Disabilities Field will be contacted closer to the race itself to determine whether a parking pass is needed.

In regard to the Expo, please click here for more information regarding the Convention Center’s ADA Accessibility.

If you have any further questions, please contact the 500 Festival at raceinfo@500festival.com.