How to Apply as an Athlete with Disability (AWD)

These Programs are available to runners who possess a permanent physical, intellectual or vision impairment (as defined by World Para Athletics) that impacts their ability to participate in the sport of running. Runners with acute injuries or temporary conditions are not eligible for these Programs. 

To be eligible for participation in these Programs, runners must:

• Possess a permanent physical, intellectual or vision impairment that aligns with the eligible impairment types as defined by World Para Athletics. (Please note: a para athletics classification is not required)
• Be able to self-propel themselves the entire marathon distance by their own volition within the course time limit of 8 hours and 30 minutes.

There are 10 eligible impairment types recognized by World Para Athletics:

10 Physical Impairment Types:

1. Impaired Muscle Power: The muscles in the limbs or trunk are completely or partially paralyzed as a consequence of conditions such as spinal cord injury, polio, or spina bifida.
2. Impaired Passive Range of Movement: Range of movement in one or more joints is permanently reduced due to trauma, illness or congenital deficiency (e.g. conditions such as arthrogryposis or joint contracture resulting from trauma).
3. Limb Deficiency: A total or partial absence of bones or joints from birth, as a consequence of trauma (e.g. traumatic amputation) or illness (e.g. amputation due to cancer).
4. Ataxia: Lack of muscle coordination due to problems with the parts of the central nervous system that control movement and balance, typical of conditions such as traumatic brain injury and cerebral palsy.
5. Athetosis: Repetitive and more or less continual involuntary movements caused by fluctuating muscle tone arising from problems in the central nervous system, typical of conditions such as cerebral palsy.
6. Hypertonia: Abnormal increase in muscle tension with reduced ability of muscles to stretch, and joint stiffness, slowness of movement and poor postural adaptation and balance, due to problems in the central nervous system, typical of conditions such as cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and stroke.
7. Short Stature: Standing height and limb length are reduced due to conditions such as achondroplasia and osteogenesis imperfecta.
8. Leg Length Difference: Minimum of 7 cm length difference due to trauma, illness, or congenital conditions.
9. Vision Impairment: Vision is impacted by either an impairment of the eye structure, optical nerve/pathways or the part of the brain controlling vision (visual cortex).
10. Intellectual Impairment: Limited intellectual functions and adaptive behavior which must be diagnosed before the age of 18 (e.g. autism).

*If a runner believes participation in these Programs would be appropriate, though the runner does not possess an eligible impairment type listed above, please email nyrrawdteam@nyrr.org.

Runners
This program is for runners (ambulatory) who have a physical, intellectual or vision impairment and participate “on foot,” including runners who use prosthesis or running blades.

If you are a runner who has a physical or intellectual impairment and require a support runner in order to participate, please click here for further information.

If you are a runner who has a vision impairment and require a guide in order to participate, please click here for further information.

Wheelchair Program: Runners Who Participate Using a Pushrim Wheelchair or Day Chair with a FreeWheelTM Attachment
This program is for runners who have a physical impairment and who use a pushrim wheelchair or a daychair with a FreeWheelTM attachment to participate.

Runners who intend to use a pushrim wheelchair or wheelchair with a FreeWheelTM attachment must select “wheelchair” on the application. 

A racing wheelchair or wheelchair with a FreewheelTM attachment must be used; no other type of wheelchair will be permitted on the event course. A runner may participate using a day chair, if a FreeWheelTM is attached to lift the front small casters of the day chair off the ground and replace them with one large wheel that may be set in a fixed position. For safety reasons, runners may not participate using a day chair without a FreeWheelTM or other non-racing wheelchair.

Any participant in the wheelchair program must wear a helmet at all times while in the wheelchair. Runners not wearing helmets will not be allowed to start the TCS New York City Marathon and are subject to removal from the course.

The rules applicable to the TCS New York City Marathon prohibit entry by a person who will be pushed or pulled in a wheelchair or stroller by another person unless the person was invited to participate in the Duo Team Exhibition (details below). To participate using a wheelchair, runners must be able to propel themselves through the course, unassisted and unaccompanied.

Handcycle Exhibition: Runners Who Participate Using a Handcycle
A Handcycle Exhibition will take place as part of the TCS New York City Marathon. Participation using a handcycle provides an alternate means of participation for runners who, due to the nature of their physical impairment, are not able to use a racing wheelchair or run with prosthesis. The Handcycle Exhibition is a non-competitive participatory event, with no awards or prize money. For the safety of all runners, a pace vehicle will be provided for the Handcycle Exhibition. The pace vehicle will move at a pace of approximately 3 minutes and 40 seconds per mile. The pace vehicle will complete the course in approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes. All participants are required to stay a minimum of 25 meters behind the pace vehicle at all times.

Runners who intend to use a handcycle may register through a charity or an International Tour Operator. Upon contacting the charity or International Tour Operator manager, please indicate that you are an athlete with impairment, and they will assist with the proper protocol and seek approval with NYRR. We will require a result from a half-marathon or marathon completed on a certified course within two (2) years from the date of the email, and the runner’s anticipated finish time for the TCS New York City Marathon Handcycle Exhibition (should the runner be approved). In addition, a photo of the handcycle to be used will also be required, if approved. Therefore, runners who intend to use a handcycle should not make travel, hotel, or other arrangements for the event until they have been notified that they have been approved to register. If approved to register, runners must select “handcycle” on the application at the time of registration. 

The rules applicable to the TCS New York City Marathon prohibit entry by a person who will be pushed or pulled in a handcycle by another person. To participate using a handcycle, runners must be able to propel themselves through the course unassisted and unaccompanied. In addition,

• Any participant using a handcycle must wear a helmet at all times while in the handcycle.
• Any participant using a handcycle must have an orange visibility flag on a 5’-6’ flexible pole/stick attached to the handcycle by a bracket at all times while in the handcycle.
• Handcycles with motors or pedals are not permitted. No additional gear-, crank-, or chain-powered cycling equipment may be used by participants, including foot-powered recumbent bikes, tricycles or bicycles.

Duo Team Exhibition: Runners Who Participate as a Duo Team
New York Road Runners is happy to offer a Duo Team Exhibition at the TCS New York City Marathon. A drawing took place to determine those duo teams that are invited to participate in the TCS New York City Marathon Duo Team Exhibition.

NYRR will have a Duo Team exhibition for the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon. This exhibition will be offered to interested participants and with a limited number of teams. Due to demand, we will be utilizing a drawing to identify the teams that will be invited to participate.

A Duo Team is comprised of an individual with no physical, intellectual, or visual impairment that impacts the individual’s ability to ambulate or participate in the sport of running (the Pusher) who “pushes” a non-ambulatory individual with a permanent physical impairment (the Pushee) in a customized wheelchair, specific for outdoor road racing. Both team members must meet the event registration and pairing requirements.

Duo Teams interested in participating in the marathon must contact the Duo Team Exhibition Manager at DuoTeams@nyrr.org. Limited entries are available, and a drawing will be conducted to identify participant teams from those that have submitted initial required information. This information deadline will be Friday, July 12, 2024 by 4:00 pm (ET).

Following is the link to the application and additional information for the Duo Team Exhibition.

For further information, please email duoteams@nyrr.org.

All applicants for the TCS New York City Marathon must register themselves, including applicants to the AWD Programs. Should an applicant experience any difficulty with the online registration form, please contact NYRR Runner Services for assistance at 855-5MY-NYRR (855-569-6977). Runners who are interested in being a part of one of these Programs may apply through a Charity or an International Tour Operator. To participate in one of these Programs, upon contacting the charity or International Tour Operator manager, please indicate that you are an athlete with impairment, and they will assist with the proper protocol and seek approval with NYRR. Runners must select on the application for the event the eligible impairment type and method of participation.