Thunder Road Wheelchair Races

 

Wheelchair Race STARTING TimeS

Thunder Road Marathon and Half Marathon: 7:40AM

Novant Health Thunder Road 5K Run/Walk: 8:10AM

2013 Registration

We are now accepting registration for the 2013 event .  All mail must be post-marked by Friday, November 8, 2013 and ONLINE registration for the 2013 event closes on Sunday, November 10 at midnight.

Click here to search for your registration

Download our official
form to register for any race.

Entry Fees

 
Before 2/28
3/1-5/31
6/1-8/31
9/1-11/10
EXPO
Marathon
$75
$85
$95
$105
$125
Half Marathon
$60
$70
$80
$90
$105
Novant Health Thunder Road 5K
$20
$25
$30
$35
$45

Remember, there will  be NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION OR PACKET PICK-UP for any of the events.  All mail applications must be Postmarked by Friday, November 8, 2013. ONLINE registration for the 2013 event closes on Sunday, November 10 at midnight.

Racing Conduct

  1. Drafting
    1. No athlete may give or accept a draft from another athlete in another race being held concurrently on the same course and that is part of the same event. Also, women may not draft with men; men may not draft with women.
    2. No athlete may accept a draft from an outside source (i.e., bicycle, motorcycle, official vehicle, etc.).

  2. Competitors who suffer a mishap may be assisted in remounting. Mechanical assistance to repair the wheelchair or wheels/tires shall be allowed. Only parts damaged or broken during the race in progress can be repaired or replaced. Assistance must be provided in a manner and location as to not impede the progress of other racers and must be provided in a manner so as to not impart pace or result in forward progress to the competitor.

  3. A racer may be penalized for causing a crash or spill through inadequate maintenance or adjustment to his/her chair components including gluing of tires (subject to disqualification and possible suspension). Race chairs are subject to inspection before the race.

  4. When in the proximity of foot runners, wheelchair racers must have sufficient control of the wheelchairs to yield the right-of-way to the foot runners. In every case, the ultimate right-of-way belongs to the foot runners. If approached and/or passed by an official race vehicle, the wheelchair competitor must move to one side of the road until the vehicle has passed. The failure of a wheelchair racer to yield right-of-way may result in disqualification and/or suspension. Once you have been passed by a lead vehicle, please be cautious in your forward progress during the race.

  5. The use of a hard shell, approved helmet is required. Wheelchair racers not wearing a helmet will not be permitted to start.

  6. All wheelchair athletes are required to display an official race number on either the wheelchair or the person. The entire number must be displayed throughout the race. Race numbers should not be trimmed nor should any part of the number be folded over or covered in any way. Wheelchair athletes covering or altering their numbers are subject to disqualification and/or suspension. Racers must also securely mount the official computer chip to the wheelchair. Computer chips will record official time. The loss of the computer chip will result in disqualification. No chip, no time.

Wheelchair Specs

  1. Wheels
    1. Wheelchairs shall have at least three (3) wheels.
    2. The diameter of the larger wheels, including the inflated tire, shall not exceed 70 centimeters. Other wheels shall not exceed 50 centimeters including the inflated tire.
    3. Only one (1) round push rim shall be attached to each large wheel.
  2. Dimensions
    1. The chair and athlete in race position may be any length the athlete desires. However nothing may protrude past the furthest most point of the rear wheels (i.e., nothing can be used to block or push back athletes drafting behind you).
    2. The widest measurement of the wheelchair shall be a straight line measured from the outside edge of the push rim or the rear tire, whichever greater at the widest point. No part of the wheelchair may protrude beyond the width of this measurement.
  3. Propulsion/Steering
    1. Propulsion and steering of the wheelchair shall be made by the hands and arms only.
    2. No gears, levers, chains, or any other mechanical devices may be used in propelling the wheelchair. No handcycles, handcrank bikes, recumbent cycles or crankchairs shall be permitted to race.
    3. There shall be no device as part of the wheelchair, with the exception of wheel covers, or the athlete that functions for the purpose of reducing air resistance.
  4. Safety
    1.  Athletes must ensure that no part of the lower limbs can fall to the ground during the event.
    2. An athlete’s wheelchair must be structurally sound (i.e., no cracks in the frame or welds, no loose or missing spokes, etc.).
    3. An athlete must be securely seated in the wheelchair and remain so while racing.
    4. It shall be the sole responsibility of the race officials to rule on the safety of the wheelchair and athlete.
  5. Compliance
    1. It will be the sole responsibility of the athlete to conform to all the aforementioned rules and no event shall be delayed while an athlete makes adjustments.

Protest Procedure

A protest of foul racing or other irregularities taking place during the race must be filed in writing within 30 minutes after the results have been announced and officially made available. Protests will be heard by the race director who may choose to consult the disability coordinator and/or other event staff before making a ruling. The race director will make all final rulings.

Awards

Awards will be given to the top three (3) male and female overall in the Marathon and Thunder Road Half Marathon.

Additional Instructions

  1. If requested prior to race day and available, an official bicycle escort will be provided to each wheelchair racer during the race. The escort will accompany the racer throughout the race and serve as a spotter to ensure the safety of the wheelchair racer and all foot runners. The escort will not provide any forward assistance or support to the racer.
  2. It is the sole responsibility of the wheelchair racer to know the race course and take necessary precautions while racing in any/all areas that might result in excess speed or loss of control of the wheelchair. Racers not maintaining control of the wheelchair shall be subject to disqualification and suspension.
  3. If you are unable to finish the race for any reason, you must inform a race volunteer, official or medical personnel stationed along the course. If a ride to the finish line is needed, the racer must wait for the sweep bus which will follow the last runner or make alternate arrangements on his/her own. Please note that the sweep busses may not be wheelchair accessible and your cooperation and understanding is appreciated.

For any additional questions about the Marathon, Thunder Road Half Marathon or the Novant Health Thunder Road 5K Run/Wal, please contact Mike Savicki, 2013 Thunder Road Marathon disability coordinator, at (704) 905-9628 or miksavik@aol.com

Race Photos

Thunder Road Marathon relies on Sport Photo, Inc for the very best in sports photography. Road running to multi-sport, the most prestigious events in the world rely on Sport Photo, Inc. to photograph their participants and provide the highest quality products and services.

Sport Photo, Inc.'s team of professional photographers enables them to cover events of all sizes

Sign up today to receive an e-mail notification when the 2013 race photos are available

 
  
        
If you have questions or need general information;
marathoninfo@runforyourlife.com