UTICA, N.Y. (July 10, 2024)- Face Wallace, the 2024 Wheelchair Challenger, is all smiles as he prepares for the Boilermaker 15K. “How excited am I? I roll daily on my wheelchair trainer, and I’m out on the roads whenever the weather is good. To prepare for the Boilermaker, I travel to hilly streets and roll up and down, up and down, up and down, until I can’t do anymore.” he explained.
Wallace first got into running when his wife challenged him to complete a 5-mile race with her. They were motivated by each other to do better with each run and each stride. After a few years of training, they were running marathons!
While he was training to qualify for some of the larger marathons four years ago, Face began to experience numbness in his legs and mysterious cramps. He awoke one day to find he couldn’t feel his feet, which spread to a point where he couldn’t feel anything below his ribs. After 24 hours of intensive testing, Face was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and his doctors declared that his racing days were behind him.
“But I kept getting the itch to race,” he explained, “I bought a jogging baby stroller and put 80 lbs of weights in it so I could run and lean on it for stability. It worked, but when I contacted race directors, they all told me that they don’t allow strollers. I bought braces that would help me lift my toes, but they only let me jog about 2 miles before I start stumbling dangerously.”
Finally, when he bought a wheelchair, he saw another opportunity to begin competing. “The first lap around the block was a challenge, just like that first run years earlier,” he explained, “Within a week, I had surgical tape wrapped strategically around my fingers and work gloves on top of that. I was rolling up that hill, coasting down, then going back up, just for the challenge.”
Since then, he has participated in two half marathons and hopes that by competing in the Sitrin Wheelchair Challenge, he can fulfill his dream of qualifying for marathons like Boston & Tokyo. “Regular manual wheelchairs aren’t made for racing, of course, and I knew it. For example, whenever I roll downhill, the front casters wobble wildly like those on an old supermarket cart. It feels a lot like the whole thing will just flip over at any moment.” he says.
The Sitrin Wheelchair Challenge awards a racing wheelchair to the program participant who can complete the Boilermaker 15K in 2 hours and 15 minutes or less using a traditional chair. Program participants who meet the time requirements are fitted for specially made chairs, which typically cost upwards of $5,000, according to Marc DePerno, STARS adaptive sports program director for Sitrin. Since 1997, 32 racing wheelchairs have been awarded to challengers. Program participants are chosen through an application process.
“These chairs are designed for speed and stability,” DePerno said. “We are proud to be in a position to sponsor the challenge and truly make a difference in the lives of these athletes.”
Unlike traditional wheelchairs, racing chairs are ergonomically designed to allow athletes to propel themselves safely and efficiently at speeds that are impossible to reach in a traditional chair. Riders sit closer to the ground for stability, especially on uneven or rough terrain, and are positioned securely, with their legs fastened safely beneath the seat.
“Completing the Boilermaker’s difficult course will be a feat to celebrate, but the Sitrin Wheelchair Challenge opens the door to speed,” explained Face. “A racing wheelchair would be a safer way to compete, but it will also give me a chance to finally qualify for the famous marathons on my bucket list.”
Spectators will be sure to see Face grinning as he crosses the finish line on Boilermaker Sunday, and he’s often smiling ear to ear in most of his race photos.
The Sitrin Wheelchair Challenge is part of the Boilermaker 15K Road Race presented by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield on Sunday, July 14, 2024. For more information about the challenge, visit: https://www.boilermaker.com/wheelchair-15K
