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 this 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? In reviewing the 5K information, it appears stroller division registrants get 1 t-shirt, 2 medallions (I assume because most are children)...would registration for a wheelchair non-racer be the same as for stroller division?

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

 

[twoWDWfools]

Hello and Welcome!

I would suggest emailing them directly at runDisney@disneysports.com.

I would think you would register her as a participant so she'd receive all the benefits versus how the stroller division works but Run Disney will be able to confirm that for you.

Good Luck!

 

[SeattleRedBear]

Thanks very much for the email address. Probably best to contact them directly.

 

[Rose&Mike]

I think it's pretty cool that you want to do this for/with her.

I hope it works out and you are all able to participate. Please let us know what you find out.

 

[SeattleRedBear]

Just an fyi, here's the response I got from the RunDisney folks:

She would not need to register for the stroller division, she can register as an individual and she will receive the full benefits of a registered participant.

The 5K is a fun run. No race results will be posted and awards will not be given out. Every finisher will receive a finisher medallion. Please note there is a 16 minute per mile time limit. Anyone not able to maintain that pace may be picked up and transported to the finish line.


So looks like grandma will be getting her own T-shirt, etc. Now to find a wheelchair we can rent/borrow that will go faster than the clunker she has right now

 

[regul8ter18]

At the 5k during the Wine & Dine there was a family who pushed their grandma in a wheelchair.

 

[SeattleRedBear]

Good to know it's been done before. Thanks much.

 

[twoWDWfools]

Just an fyi, here's the response I got from the RunDisney folks:

She would not need to register for the stroller division, she can register as an individual and she will receive the full benefits of a registered participant.

The 5K is a fun run. No race results will be posted and awards will not be given out. Every finisher will receive a finisher medallion. Please note there is a 16 minute per mile time limit. Anyone not able to maintain that pace may be picked up and transported to the finish line.


So looks like grandma will be getting her own T-shirt, etc. Now to find a wheelchair we can rent/borrow that will go faster than the clunker she has right now

 

[Mary976]

So looks like grandma will be getting her own T-shirt, etc. Now to find a wheelchair we can rent/borrow that will go faster than the clunker she has right now

My daughter uses a wheelchair (she has a fancy high end one) and her big tip is to look for a chair that has pneumatic tires (air filled, like a bike tire). It is mush easier to push a heavy load with good tires than to push a small load on those hard plastic tires that often come on basic wheelchairs.

And I hope you have a blast with the race!!
Mary