NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #27/NN_1992_27.iso/spool/rec/running/3232

Text File | 1992-11-19 | 1.8 KB | 47 lines

Newsgroups: rec.running
Path: sparky!uunet!wupost!cs.uiuc.edu!sparc0b!epstein
From: [e-mail] (Milt Epstein)
Subject: Re: Racing wheelchairs
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 04:37:56 GMT
Lines: 34


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (cs631112) writes:

>Which brings up a point I had been wondering about:
>
>Are those who race in the wheelchair divisions always handicapped?
>Or are there some who, while able to walk, would rather race on
>their arms than their legs?
>
>(I am never near enough to the front to even see the wheelchair
>racers either before or after the race.)
>
>I see no reason why walk-able atheletes should be banned from
>the wheelchair division, although I imagine that those who have to
>spend their lives in wheelchairs have a decided advantage of practice.
>But is there anybody who tries?
>
>Personally, I don't have the upper body strength to push myself
>even a mile, much less the 26.2 I try to run.

On a similar note, I've sometimes wondered if when one has some type
of not too serious leg injury (i.e. one that would prohibit one from
running and cycling, but not other activities), would it be feasible
to do some training in wheelchairs.  I realize it might take a while
to get used to the different muscles involved, but otherwise it seems
like it would be a decent way to maintain aerobic conditioning (and
also provide some variety in training, and a way to build up your
upper body at the same time).  Anyone ever heard of people doing this?

--
Milt Epstein
Department of Computer Science
University of Illinois
[e-mail]