Thought of the Week: A Marathon Dale

Thought of the Week: A Marathon Tale

New York, November 15, 1999 -- Every November, New York City becomes one small town, engaging a civic boosterism and genuine celebration watching the sight of 30,000 plus runners taking to the streets. The New York Marathon, probably the nation's best-known 26.2 mile road race, takes runners through the five boroughs of the city, passing four bridges and a mosaic of neighborhoods in America's largest city.

Like other marathons (and just about every city has one), New York accommodates disabled and wheelchair runners. However, unlike many others, it does not give prizes to winners of the wheelchair competition. Additionally, because of the course, past races resulted in delayed access to the Queensboro Bridge (located in the 15th mile) to wheelchair competitors so that the lead runners can cross.

Because of these policies, nine wheelchair athletes filed suit against the New York Road Runners Club in July, alleging that the marathon has discriminated against them and violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Although the suit is pending, in this year's race, the wheelchair racers will not held up at the bridge. as part of a court-ordered stipulation not to "unreasonably or unlawfully obstruct" the wheelchair athletes. However, the issue of prizes has not been addressed.

Safety Concerns

Some marathon runners say their safety is sometimes at stake, too. In a hilly course like New York, especially on the downward slope of the bridges, wheelchairs can be a hazard; the wheelchair racers reach speeds of up to 40 miles an hour going downhill. On a flat course, like Chicago or Rotterdam, the specter of steep downhills is not nearly as prevalent.

Also, the sheer numbers of racers could present logistical problems unique to New York's marathon, according to the Road Runners Club. "New York is unlike any other marathon with regard to the bridges and the number of streets it crosses," a representative was quoted in the New York Times.

The Times also notes that the feud between the wheelchair athletes and the Road Runners Club goes back to 1978, when Bob Hall, a pioneer of wheelchair racing, sued the club after it
denied him a spot in the race because he was disabled. The New York State Human Rights Commission agreed with Hall, and he was allowed to compete in the 1978 and 1979 marathons. But the Road Runners appealed through the state courts, until the New York Court of Appeals ruled for the club in 1982; the state's highest court defined the wheelchairs as vehicles and said
they could be banned from a footrace. In the end, though, Mayor Edward Koch intervened, declaring that unless wheelchair racers were allowed to compete, the city would not allow the marathon on public streets. The Road Runners relented.

Indeed, the goal of the ADA is accommodation and hopefully the day will come when disabled runners will be granted prizemoney for top performances. I ran the marathon for the first time this year and can attest to how crowded and jagged the course can be. The race takes endurance and every runner -- abled or disabled has to fight off fatigue and pain. The safety issues are not insignificant and the process of accommodation is not an easy one.

[Additional note: I am a member of the New York Road Runners Club and have participated in a number of races over the last several years. However, I am not an official with the organization.]