Volunteer racing with a partner with a disability

Triathlon Forum
1

One of the coolest moments for me at IM VA last weekend for me was watching an athlete in a wheelchair being pushed by another athlete cross the finish line. It was an incredible scene! I’m a little burnt out on racing and I think this would be an amazing new way to experience the sport and help someone else experience it.

The organization behind the athletes I saw is Ainsley’s Angels. I have already contacted them to volunteer. They seem to be fairly run-oriented, which is fine. Anyone have other suggestions or organizations? This is completely new to me.

2

Where are you located?

Some great organizations:

Dare2Tri (Chicago area): http://www.dare2tri.org/

Team Catapult (Texas): https://www.teamcatapult.org/

Achilles International (Mostly NYC for Tri, but Boston, DC, Philly, Charlotte etc.): https://www.achillesinternational.org/

Paraguide (Charlotte): http://www.paraguide.org/landing/para-guide-racing-team/

Team With a Vision (Boston): https://www.mabvi.org/get-involved/team-with-a-vision/

United in Stride (matches VI athletes and guides): http://www.unitedinstride.com/

Team Hoyt (Duo racing team, Boston area based): http://www.teamhoyt.com/

I’m sure there are more- I’m a guide based out of Boston

3

Great idea!

Achilles International is worth checking out. They have chapters across the US and in a few other international locations pairing able-bodied volunteers and disabled runners to train and race. Their Freedom Team works with disabled U.S. military veterans and they have a program for disabled kiddos

Another option is becoming a pacer/guide for a blind runner/triathlete – check out United in Stride for details.

4

Thanks for the info! I’ll check those out. I’d heard about guiding blind athletes. That would be cool too.

I’m in Raleigh, NC.

5

+1 on Team Catapult.

6

Special Compass in South Florida
https://www.specialcompass.org/

Where are you located?
Some great organizations:

Dare2Tri (Chicago area): http://www.dare2tri.org/

Team Catapult (Texas): https://www.teamcatapult.org/

Achilles International (Mostly NYC for Tri, but Boston, DC, Philly, Charlotte etc.): https://www.achillesinternational.org/

Paraguide (Charlotte): http://www.paraguide.org/...a-guide-racing-team/

Team With a Vision (Boston): https://www.mabvi.org/.../team-with-a-vision/

United in Stride (matches VI athletes and guides): http://www.unitedinstride.com/

Team Hoyt (Duo racing team, Boston area based): http://www.teamhoyt.com/

I’m sure there are more- I’m a guide based out of Boston

7

Speedforneed (f3speedforneed) is a Carolinas based group similar to ainsleys angels. You should also follow team Hoyt/Hoyt running chairs

Are you specifically wanting to push those who cannot complete a race under their own power? Are you specifically wanting to race and open pushing/participating alongside/etc. an athlete? Or are you open to JUST volunteering to provide support to an athlete who can’t race without some form of assistance?

I’d highly highly highly recommend attending a camp (Dare2tri has 4 coming up) to get involved and understand the varying needs across adaptive sports.

8

Speedforneed (f3speedforneed) is a Carolinas based group similar to ainsleys angels. You should also follow team Hoyt/Hoyt running chairs

Are you specifically wanting to push those who cannot complete a race under their own power? Are you specifically wanting to race and open pushing/participating alongside/etc. an athlete? Or are you open to JUST volunteering to provide support to an athlete who can’t race without some form of assistance?

I’d highly highly highly recommend attending a camp (Dare2tri has 4 coming up) to get involved and understand the varying needs across adaptive sports.

I don’t really have specific expectations at this point. I suppose I would want to race in some fashion (pushing or participating alongside) but I’m open to whatever.

Do you have to be in F3 to participate in Speed for Need? I have a number of friends in it but I’ve never managed to fit it into my workout schedule.

Good advice on the camp.

9

Sounds awesome and certainly something that would be worthwhile for both partners. One level of semantics as you enter this world, the partners/athletes/people are people first, they may also have a disability but it does not define them. So, you would be racing with a partner with a disability, not a “disabled partner”.

10

Sounds awesome and certainly something that would be worthwhile for both partners. One level of semantics as you enter this world, the partners/athletes/people are people first, they may also have a disability but it does not define them. So, you would be racing with a partner with a disability, not a “disabled partner”.

That’s very helpful. I was actually a little tentative in writing the post because I wanted to be sensitive. So thanks for the feedback.