A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.
Marathons are footraces — only runners should participate in them. Except in the Missoula Marthon. There, a quadriplegic who was allowed to compete in the 2014 race but didn’t like the rules complained to the Montana Human Rights Bureau that the rules were discriminatory.
And the MHRB agreed, reports the Missoulian:
In findings submitted to the bureau last week, investigator Josh Manning sided with Joe Stone, a quadriplegic athlete who has worked with Run Wild Missoula since 2012 so hand-cycle racers can compete in the marathon without prohibitive restrictions.
Stone alleged that Run Wild discriminated against him when it eventually allowed hand cycles in 2014, but imposed speed limits, limited the number of hand cyclists to eight and required them to yield to foot traffic on certain parts of the Missoula Marathon course.
Further, he alleged the hand cyclists couldn’t pass others at certain intervals and had to check in at the race 15 minutes earlier than other athletes.
“Discrimination can take many forms, and even people who believe they are trying to be inclusive and accepting of people with disabilities can create practices or policies that discriminate,” Manning wrote in his investigative report.
Stupidity can take many forms, and the notion that bicycles and wheelchairs should be allowed to compete with runners in a footrace is one of them. The MHRB needs to butt out of this event. Mr. Stone needs to organized a wheeled marathon for disabled athletes.