While we encourage all athletes to find the joy of trail running regardless of any disability, at this time Beast Coast Trail Races is only able to support visually impaired and mobility impaired athletes at our races, and these athletes must be fully ambulatory.
We are open to conversations about how to extend the allowable categories we can support at our races, and encourage athletes to reach out and chat with us!
Criteria for entry into Beast Coast Trail Running Athletes with Disabilities (AWD) category is as follows:
- AWDs must be able to run the course.
- Tethers may be used for athletes with a visually impairment.
- Leg prosthetics may be used for amputees.
- Crutches, braces, or poles may be used if indicated/necessary.
- AWDs must be able to finish within the published cut-offs for the event, however they can reach out to the RD if an early start is possible.
-AWDs may use guides as necessary to complete the course.
Unfortunately,. since there are plenty of mucky trails on-course, it is not suitable for athletes in wheelchairs (see more on this below – AWD Division Breakdown).
Based on International Paralympic Committee impairment descriptions, Beast Coast Trail Running will recognize two types of AWDs based on clearly defined eligible impairments: Visually impaired and mobility impaired.
1. VISUAL IMPAIRED DIVISION
Individuals with vision impacted by an impairment of the eye structure, optical nerves or optical pathways, or the visual cortex, may be granted registration as an AWD but will not be allowed extended time on the course unless pre-approved by the RD.
A couple things to note about our course for visually impaired athletes:
Course Markings
Beast Coast Trail Running uses pink survey tape and pink pin flags to mark the course during the day and pink survey tape with reflective tape at night. AWDs, with assistance from their guide as needed, must be able to follow the course as marked. Unfortunately, Beast Coast Trail Running is not able make accommodations for athletes with visual impairments by altering the standard course markings. We do recognize that pink markings may be challenging for those with color blindness to follow.
For most of our events, a gpx file of the course is published on the race's website. All athletes are encouraged to download this file to use as an aid in navigating the route.
Canines
In general, dogs are allowed at the start/finish area and aid stations at most of our races, however are not allowed on the race course without permission. If an athlete with a visual impairment requires a guide dog to guide while running, please reach out to the RD.
2. MOBILITY IMPRAIRED DIVISION
Individuals with permanent physical disabilities that affect their ability to walk/run, may be granted registration as an AWD but will not be allowed extended time on the course unless pre-approved by the RD.
This includes:
- Limb deficiency
- Total or partial absence of bones or joints as a consequence of trauma (e.g. car accident), illness (e.g. bone cancer) or congenital limb deficiency (e.g. dysmelia).
- Leg length difference
- Bone shortening in one leg due to congenital deficiency or trauma.
- Short stature
- Reduced standing height due to abnormal dimensions of bones of upper and lower limbs or trunk, for example due to achondroplasia (dwarfism) or growth hormone dysfunction.
Unfortunately, due to course restrictions and safety concerns related to the trails of Beast Coast Trail Running, this does not include: Athletes in wheelchairs and duo teams in hand cycles, push-rim cycles, or racing wheelchairs. All AWDs must be fully ambulatory, the use of any mechanical device will not be allowed.
AWDs and their guide(s) will follow the same rules as all participants:
Start times, Course, and Time Limits: AWDs will start with the rest of the athletes for their race unless an early start can be accommodated (can be for some Beast Coast Trail Races). AWDs will run the same course as the rest of the athletes. The course time limit is the same for AWDs as for all participants for their race, however early starts can often be accommodated upon request.
Guide Rules
Guides are expected to follow the same rules as all other pacers.
- AWDs may be accompanied by one guide at a time to complete the race. Accommodations may be made if an AWD requires more than one guide at a time.
- Guide exchanges will take place at crew-accessible aid stations. Accommodations may be made for exchanges at other manned aid stations upon request.
- Athletes are responsible for bringing their own guides to the race.
- Guides are not official entrants in the event and are not timed, scored, or listed in the official results. If a guide wants to be officially timed, scored and listed in results, they need to register as a participant including paying entry fees and qualifying for the event.
- Guides may use any aid station for their personal support (i.e. they can fill bottles, enjoy food, etc.)
- Guides participate free of charge, but must sign a waiver prior to participation.
- Athlete and guide are regarded as a team and must be together at all times along the course.
- Guides must wear a GUIDE bib on the front and back of their outermost layer, kept visible at all times.
- Guides may not use a bicycle or other mechanical means of transport.
- Guides cannot pull the athlete, or propel the athlete forward by pushing.
- Guides cannot mule for the athlete, or run ahead to aid stations to fill water bottles or otherwise unfairly advantage their athlete.
- Guides must adhere to the same standards as Pacers (see Runner Handbook for full rules)
- Guide may have a drop bag, separate from their athletes drop bag, at aid stations that allow drop bags.
Guide Responsibilities
- Assure that drop bags (the guide’s’ and AWD’s) are placed in the correct corral in the staging area.
- Work with AWDs to ensure safety of the AWD. This includes communication between the AWD and guide to stay out of the way (typically running on the side of the trail/road) when being approached from behind by faster runners, vehicles, or officials on the course in order to avoid collisions.