{"id":9724,"date":"2026-05-15T12:28:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T12:28:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=9724"},"modified":"2026-05-15T12:28:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T12:28:25","slug":"road-runners-rule-leaves-disabled-runners-behind-ahead-of-brooklyn-half","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=9724","title":{"rendered":"Road Runners rule leaves disabled runners behind ahead of Brooklyn Half"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876674\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 90px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876676\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u7ad6\u6392 -->\r\n  <div style=\"height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876672\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"height: 500px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876680\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u6469\u5929\u697c\uff08\u548c\u5de6\u4fa7\u5b8c\u5168\u5bf9\u9f50\uff09 -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row: 3\/5; height: 750px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876678\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e6\" data-zoneid=\"5876682\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Disabled runners looking forward to running in this weekend\u2019s iconic Brooklyn Half say the fast-and-loose organizers are leaving them in the dust before they could even pick up their racers\u2019 bibs.<\/p>\n<p>Road Runners implemented a new rule that requires blind, paralyzed and other special needs athletes to plead their case to be granted a \u201ccritical\u201d second guide for the annual race, The Post has learned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy ever do you need these people with blatant disabilities to now appeal for more than one guide? It\u2019s absolutely discouraging,\u201d said Sonya Choudhury, who has been volunteering as an Achilles International guide for 12 years.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Road Runners asked disabled athletes to apply for a second guide for this year\u2019s Brooklyn Half Marathon. <span class=\"credit\">Michael Nigro for NY Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Road Runners unleashed chaos in March when it announced that it would no longer allow any disabled runners to have two guides \u2014 a blanket rule it reversed nine days later after advocates following severe backlash.<\/p>\n<p>The group told The Post the email was a flub, and that the real new rules would require disabled athletes to apply for, and possibly be denied, their second guide.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cNew York Road Runners\u2019 goal is to minimize barriers and ensure that as many participants, regardless of their ability, can experience our events. We recognize that new processes can be challenging, change often is,\u201d a spokesperson told The Post in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe law requires our interactive process and to provide individualized interactions with each participant asking for a reasonable accommodation. That means that each request is analyzed on a case-by-case basis \u2014 there is no one-size-fits-all solution.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Michael Ring says he was initially denied his second guide until he implied he might sue the race organizers. <span class=\"credit\">Brian Zak\/NY Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Only three of the 16 requests for a second guide at the Brooklyn Half were denied, Road Runners said, saying those racers\u2019 disabilities only required one guide.<\/p>\n<p>The group said it approved all 26 athletes who requested one guide, but at least one runner reported to Achilles that they were denied just two days before they were set to hit the pavement. <\/p>\n<p>Michael Ring, a partially paralyzed athlete and disability advocate, said he initially denied a second guide for the Brooklyn Half \u2014 until he \u201cimplied [he] was threatening to sue them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was frustrating. It really appeared to me that they came up with a cookie-cutter policy without talking to people with disabilities,\u201d said Ring, whose journey racing with acute motor axonal neuropathy \u2014 alongside his two guides \u2014 was highlighted in Road Runner\u2019s 2025 documentary \u201cFinal Finishers.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Achilles guide Sonya Choudhury, here with athlete Raymond Murphy, called the rule change \u201cabsolutely discouraging.\u201d <span class=\"credit\">Courtesy of Sonya Choudhury<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Ring, of Park Slope, described his two guides, one of whom is his son, as his \u201coffensive line\u201d and his \u201cSecret Service agents\u201d who keep other races from \u201cjostling\u201d Ring as they speed by.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI need someone to protect me. If someone runs by and they tap me, I can go down. I can\u2019t get up unless someone helps me. They might even interlock their arms so that no one\u2019s going to run between them,\u201d said Ring, who is calling on Road Runners to establish a standing committee of athletes who can represent a range of various disabilities.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWithout two guides, I would withdraw from the race.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Susan P. counted herself as one of the lucky ones when she was approved for a second guide \u2014 just one week before race day and more than a month after she applied through the arduous process.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Only three athletes were denied requests for two guides, Road Runners said. <span class=\"credit\">Courtesy of NYRR<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>\u201cThe path to the start line is already steeper for people with disabilities. The goal should be removing barriers, not adding more,\u201d says Emily Glasser, Road Runners president and CEO. <span class=\"credit\">Michael Nigro for NY Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s just stressful not knowing, and it\u2019s not fair to my guides who have been training for a race they don\u2019t know if they\u2019re going to get to run. It just seems really unfair and confusing because New York Road Runners haven\u2019t explained why they changed their policy,\u201d said Susan, 60.<\/p>\n<p>The Manhattanite \u2014 who is completely blind in one eye and has pinhole vision in the other \u2014 described the second guide as \u201ccritical\u201d for all her races, but especially the Brooklyn Half.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The rule change came after Road Runners mistakenly said it would no longer allow second guides to any runner. <span class=\"credit\">Courtesy of NYRR<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One spends the 13.1 miles tethered and offering verbal clues for navigating the course, while the second communicates with other runners to clear the path.<\/p>\n<p>The pair also look out for cheering family that Susan might otherwise miss, as well as read the funny signs that bystanders wave along the course. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cHaving a second guide can do something that is making the emotional experience more equitable than it is necessarily keeping me safe. It\u2019s why so many people are into running. The achievement feels so good!\u201d said Susan, saying her guides give her the \u201cexperience that sighted runners can have.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Road Runners told The Post it offers disabled runners additional help with completing the new application process and had not received any complaints, but Achilles International told The Post it had received reports \u201calmost daily\u201d of issues \u2014 which they would need to re-complete for every race they participate in.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe path to the start line is already steeper for people with disabilities. The goal should be removing barriers, not adding more,\u201d says Emily Glasser, the group\u2019s president and CEO.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAthletes with disabilities should not be left wondering whether they will have support or required to repeatedly justify the accommodations they need to participate safely and equitably on race day.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- \u603b\u5bb9\u5668\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u5bbd908px Grid\u7d27\u51d1\u5e03\u5c40 -->\r\n<div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 728px 160px; gap:2px; width:908px; background:#eee; padding:2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u901a\u680f\u9876\u90e8\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u6a2a\u5e45 908x258 \u8de8\u6574\u884c -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column:1\/-1; height:258px; background:#ff6b6b; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114307\" data-width=\"908\" data-height=\"258\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114307});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u7b2c\u4e8c\u901a\u680f\uff1a728\u00d790 \u901a\u680f -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column:1\/-1; height:90px; background:#4ecdc4; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114300\" data-width=\"728\" data-height=\"90\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114300});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u4e3b\u680f\uff1a\u591a\u5e7f\u544a\u5806\u53e0 -->\r\n  <div style=\"display:grid; gap:2px;\">\r\n    <div style=\"height:60px; background:#45b7d1; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114308\" data-width=\"468\" data-height=\"60\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114308});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n    <div style=\"height:250px; background:#ffe066; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114299\" data-width=\"300\" data-height=\"250\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114299});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n    <div style=\"height:250px; background:#ff9ecd; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114305\" data-width=\"250\" data-height=\"250\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114305});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n    <div style=\"height:139px; background:#c792ea; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114302\" data-width=\"133\" data-height=\"139\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114302});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n    <div style=\"height:125px; background:#91e7ac; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t\r\n<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114303\" data-width=\"125\" data-height=\"125\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114303});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u7ad6\u680f\uff1a160\u00d7600 \u6574\u5217\u9ad8\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row:3\/8; height:600px;  display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114301\" data-width=\"160\" data-height=\"600\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114301});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/05\/15\/us-news\/road-runners-rule-leaves-disabled-runners-behind-ahead-of-brooklyn-half\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Disabled runners looking forward to running in this weekend\u2019s iconic Brooklyn Half say the fast-and-loose&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9725,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[349],"tags":[490,2378,9324,3134,1148,1941,4892],"class_list":["post-9724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-ahead","tag-brooklyn","tag-disabled","tag-leaves","tag-road","tag-rule","tag-runners"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/127769931.jpg",1200,799,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/127769931-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/127769931-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/127769931-768x511.jpg",640,426,true],"large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/127769931-1024x682.jpg",640,426,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/127769931.jpg",1200,799,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/127769931.jpg",1200,799,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/127769931-1115x715.jpg",1115,715,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/127769931-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/127769931-1024x682.jpg",1024,682,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/127769931-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/127769931-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?cat=349\" rel=\"category\">Blog<\/a>","tag_info":"Blog","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9724"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9724\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9725"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}