Put some speed and excitement into your life by trying out wheelchair racing. Whether you begin by pushing your everyday chair around a local track, or travel to participate in an adaptive sports camp that offers wheelchair racing, you'll be building your muscles and experiencing the freedom and power that come with the sport.

Starting Out
A great way to get into the sport is to attend a wheelchair racing event near you, and make an effort to meet some of the racers. Often, there is a local club that can introduce you to people who race and point you in the right direction. Another alternative is to find an adaptive sports camp that offers wheelchair racing, so you can get the feel of this demanding sport.

Racing Wheelchairs
If you decide that wheelchair racing is for you, it's a good idea to begin practicing with a used chair before you make the investment in a custom model. You may find one that was a trade-in at a company that builds racers, or you can buy a chair from another racer. You'll need to make sure that it suits your seating preference (kneeling or not), and that the frame is a suitable fit and style.

Wheelchair racers are custom-built. Every chair has one of three frame styles that vary according to an athlete's level of expertise and disability. A host of other options, including wheel camber and frame length, are made to suit the individual athlete.

A local high school or college track is a great place to start practicing, since it's flat, wide, and you won't have to worry about traffic. It makes timing simpler, too, since every track is 400 meters (ΒΌ mile) long.

Stroke
The way a racing wheelchair is pushed requires a totally different stroke than that used for your everyday chair. Instead of grabbing the hand rims, you slap the rims with a fist stroke, and special gloves are a necessity. Just as in any cycling event, a helmet is another important piece of equipment.
 
Muscles are the next important element, and, like good steering and stroking, take time to acquire. The important thing is not to get frustrated and give up. Chart your progress against yourself, not your teammates.

Exercise Smart
Also, take warmup and cooldown laps by pushing slower at the beginning and end of your workout. Stretch your muscles to avoid getting hurt. Remember that it's better in the end to slow down your workouts for a week or two than to risk an injury and be out for months. You can also work out to minimize sore shoulders.

Wheelchair Racing History
Bob Hall made wheelchair racing history in 1975 by completing the Boston Marathon, the first person ever to finish the 26.2 mile event in a wheelchair. Amazingly, he managed the feat in his 50 lb. everyday chair. Although the sport had existed since the end of the first World War, competing in the prestigious Boston event hastened racer design innovations and opened the door to a new level of legitimacy.

Today, wheelchair racing is comprised not only of the marathon road race, but also sprint distances of 100 m, 200 m, and 400 m, 4 x 100 m and 4 x 400 m relays, middle distance races of 800 m and 1500 m, and long events covering 5,000 m and 10,000 m.