WDW Marathon 5K with Mom in a Wheelchair?

[SeattleRedBear]

I posted this on general WDW forum, but no replies and quickly got buried. I'm hoping someone on the disAbilities forum might have been involved in WDW 5K.

My partner & I do occasional DLR trips with a friend and her elderly mother (so three of us in our late 50's and Rose is 88). For the last couple years, we've been trying to get a DLR or WDW half-marathon scheduled and it turns out we're all available for January 2013 WDW marathon.

As we were talking, we realized it would be really great if we could Rose involved as well. I noticed that the 5K does allow for non-racing wheelchairs. Rose is a very sociable 88-years young and would really enjoy being at the event with all the families/kids, getting the medal/certificate/T-shirt, etc.

So a couple questions:

* Is there anyone on the boards who has pushed a wheelchair through the 5K? I assume as long as we're able to keep up a 16-min/mile pace with the wheelchair, Rose would be able to participate?

* Since we're pushing Rose (vs. her going on her own power), could she still be a registered racer and receive all the benefits?

Any other thoughts from someone who has done the 5K (esp. in the stroller division) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks much.

 

[crashbb]

It isn't wheelchairs, but I did find this on the WDW 5K site (it seems somewhat applicable):

* The pacing requirement for the Stroller division is the same as the 5K (maintain a pace of 16 minutes per mile or faster). Please make sure that your child is secure in the stroller throughout the race. Please note that participants in the Stroller division will receive two medallions and one t-shirt for the 5K.

Please do not think I'm comparing your mom to a child - I'm just comparing the "pushing someone in a wheeled device". So, they seem to be okay with the idea of pushing some. I'm not sure how registration worked - it is possible that the child was free (and thus no shirt), but that your mom could actually register (i.e. pay the fee) and then get the shirt and other goodies.

ETA - I missed the last line of your post and realise that you already knew about the stroller division. Sorry, for my lack of help. I've only done the marathons/half marathons.

 

[SeattleRedBear]

ETA - I missed the last line of your post and realise that you already knew about the stroller division. Sorry, for my lack of help. I've only done the marathons/half marathons.

No apologies necessary. Just wondering if there's been anyone who has done a wheelchair (rather than a stroller) and what their experience was like. Thanks.

 

[ironz]

OP...I would suggest you post this question on the WISH portion of the DIS boards, under the sub-heading of Events and Competition. That is where the majority of the posts/posters relating to the WDW and DL running events posts, and hopefully someone can address your question.
The WISH board is down further on the main DIS forum page...down by the scrapbooking pages, etc.

 

[SeattleRedBear]

Betsy -- Will do....thanks very much for the suggestion. I think like many people, I regularly frequent only a couple forums on the DISboards and am pretty clueless about the sub-boards.