Steve Traylor clocked in with 6:57.28 minutes to his credit and took the gold for the Hand Cycle Category of the 1-Mile Wheelchair Division.
The Power Wheelchair Category sported three contestants taking the next lead with Kyle Gray, 28, (who missed last year's race due to work), completing the 1-mile road stretch in 8:24.42 minutes and running with the Gold!
Jeffery Shell, 39, who took the Gold last year, clocked in with 8:31.19 minutes and snitched the Silver with no mistakes.
Julia Hollenbeck, 63, seemed to be logging behind with her 5th year on this stretch, clocking in for the Bronze with 12:00.45 minutes in the same Division. (She later admitted it would have been difficult to keep up with Gray and Shell and was more interested in filming all of the participants, but she already knew her wheels typically clocked about ten miles per hour.)
Linda O'Connor, 57, raced her Motorized Scooter for the first time and clocked in with 13:18.57 minutes in the Motorized Scooter Category. As the lone contestant in this category, she ran with the Gold. O'Connor is a long-time member of the organization.
After the first five crossed the Finish Line, excitement grew as Geneva Traylor pointed to the home stretch and yelled "Christy is coming down the Finish Line!"
Christina Earheart, 32, used a Manual Wheelchair last year and had intended to use a Hand Cycle this year, but ended up with an injured shoulder forcing her to enter the competition in the Manual Wheelchair Category. Earheart would have been Traylor's main competition in the Hand Cycle Category had she not injured her shoulder just days before the race.
While coming in last among the six racers, she was actually first in the Manual Wheelchair Category, clocked in at 14:27.35 minutes and then spun off with the Gold for this Category.
The photos above prove there is stamina, determination and perseverance in persons with disabilities plus a strong bond between persons with and without disabilities who can accept differences in lifestyles and changing lifestyles. The most amazing photo in this writer's opinion, captured by Larry Wells, was Steve Traylor rolling out to great Christina Earheart after she crossed the finish line. With a full year behind Traylor using a Hand Cycle, there is no telling who will win next year's Hand Cycle Division, but the odds are that at least two very competitive Hand Cyclists will be there, if all goes as planned.
Five of the six participants are long-time members of the organization. Wheel Me On offers free registration to any person who uses a mobility device and signs up before the cut-off date, which is pre-set with Clarksville's Parks and Recreation. For the past two years, John Daniels, Superior Medical Supply, Clarksville, has sponsored Wheel Me On... members participating in the race and all of us sincerely thank him.
Huber has the Wheelchair Division race start time set to avoid any conflict with runners or the 1-mile fun run. "It does not get more perfect than this", Hollenbeck said. Persons who registered by the cut-off date are guaranteed a tee shirt and this year, the organization gave every "wheeling" participant of their organization a film produced from last year's race. The group meets at a designated area at least an hour before the 5-K Race and starts early registration as soon as Huber gives the "Go"
"One of the most important things learned is the speed a person using a mobility device can obtain during a 1-mile stretch of road. The race is not really about winning, but rather about meeting a challenge and being active in society. We do have a lot of fun; even if it rains!" Hollenbeck said.
The 28th Annual Queen City Road Race
Superior Medical Supply located in nearby Fort Campbell, Kentucky, sponsored the Wheeling Brigade from Wheel Me On... Ten persons registered for the Wheelchair Division of the 28th Annual Queen City Road Race, but only six were able to make it to the "track". Of these six, Wheel Me On members qualified for three separate divisions on April 9th, 2006 and each one of them were "winners"!
5-K Hand Cyclist
Steve Traylor looked mighty threatening as he rolled up in his hand cycle. He was ready to hit the pavement and wheel down the road to the starting line, looking sharp in a great helmet, and waving the American flag. Hand-cyclists are given a ten-minute lead before the shot of the gun for the 5-K Runners on foot, and he was off so fast and unexpected that members almost missed his grand start. His quick start abruptly ended as he climbed the steepest and longest hill on the "track" when the chain on his hand-cycle broke, costing him a crucial 27-minutes to fix, after wheeling his machine backwards into a parking area.
Runners soon began passing him and he relayed later, that a couple of them offered to help, but he declined. After the chain was back in place, he struggled toward the top of the hill until his arms gave out, grabbed one of the rear tires to keep his machine from sliding backwards, and then a police officer stopped next to him in his patrol car. "Think you'll make it?" He asked Traylor.
"No I don't", Traylor responded.
"Here, maybe this will help." The Clarksville Police Officer offered as he handed Traylor a bottle of Gatorade. Traylor drink the Gator and struggled on up the hill, coming in at the finish line at 55:01 Minutes according to the clock.
Asked if he would do it again, Traylor agreed, after sharing the funny story and laughing in spite of his experience. Traylor was the only participant in the Hand-Cycle Division and received a Gold Medal well deserved.
Wheelchair Division
Kate Cervantes was 23-years old and pretty proud of her hot Quickie w/extender wheels. She was convinced she would place high among the five Wheelers she had to contend with but it didn't quite work out that way. Her husband, Rudy, ran off to get charged-up batteries to even help assure she had the extra power she might need - but not even that helped. Manual Wheelchairs using extender wheels to allow lighter pull simply do not go any faster up a hill or on a downhill glide because of a speed governor on the "boost" controlling pace. Cervantes came through the Finish Line last, but still a winner and ready to roll this race again!
Christina Earheart, age 31, from Adams, Tennessee, was the proud mother of two children and wasn't real sure how she would do in her Quickie Timeline Manual Wheelchair on this slightly tough course. She sat quietly watching the antics of several members and supporters, while "Beaver" jogged around everyone from his radio station. Earheart came in fourth, but took the Gold for her Division!
Julia Hollenbeck, age 62, claimed she was tired of getting the Gold every year and switched back to her "antique" Quickie P-200 with a tripod and camera strapped on to film the event, with her canine on a four foot lease attached to the side of the wheelchair. Between interviewing members gathered, Hollenbeck focused on capturing the event, and got in trouble as soon as she hit the toggle and Shell lead off fast and steady. Hollenbeck lost it on the first turn while attempting to pass on the outside when Shell goosed his toggle.
Jeffery Shell, age 37, was determined to whip her and take the Gold away. Shell was pretty awesome on the road, despite slowing down a couple of times and having to listen to Hollenbeck yell out orders to him during the entire stretch. With Hollenbeck on his bumper a couple of times, Shell goosed his toggle and zipped away taking the Gold. You can pretty much bet Hollenbeck and Shell will be back in competition next year.
Grayson Young, age 29, from Big Rock, Tennessee, was riding a wicked machine and wanting the Gold so bad, he could taste it. With five family members rooting for him and one jogging alongside, he was close behind Hollenbeck, coming in for a 3rd place win.
Unbeknown to the Wheelers in this race, the Clarksville Parks and Recreation coordinators for the Queen City Road Race made the decision to create groups this year with two different divisions supporting both manual wheelchair users and power wheelchairs. In many cases, the Wheelers were just curious to know exactly how fast they could wheel, but this track had a couple of obstacles a couple of members were not expecting to affect them. Everyone agreed is was not about "winning", but rather an opportunity to participate in society with a sporting event. The six Wheelers were sponsored by:
28th Annual Queen City Road Race Results
5-K Hand-Cyclist
Steve Traylor - 55:01
(Despite Chain Breaking)
1-Mile Power Wheelchair Division
Jeffery Shell - 9:22 - 1st Place
Julia Hollenbeck - 9:26 - 2nd Place
Grayson Young - 11:03 - 3rd Place
1-Mile Manual Wheelchair Division
Christy Earheart - 13:13 - 1st Place
Kate Cervantes - 13:54 - 2nd Place
The bottom line is the Queen City Road Race is a great experience! Visibility helps create unity in society and the grandstand was full of cheering fans. You can experience the thrill of the 28th Annual Queen City Road Race on a (rather funny) 48-minute DVD film including live interviews, race footage, and music by Bett Padgett from Ceilidhe's Music. All proceeds from the purchase of this film are used for education. Available now for $14.95 each including handling and shipping in the USA. Please include full name and mailing address for each DVD ordered with check or money order payable to Wheel Me On and send full information to:
Wheel Me On...
2006 Road Race
35 Covington Street
Clarksville, TN 37040
27th Annual Queen City Road Race in Clarksville ~ Tennessee
April 10th, 2005
All photography by SFC Dennis Musgraves
On a beautiful spring afternoon, three enthusiastic wheelers joined hundreds of walkers for the 27th Annual Queen City Road Race, 1-Mile Fun Walk and Wheelchair Division (Race). Throngs of people gathered in back and alongside of the wheelchairs, as Jo Huber, Race Director of the Annual Race, announced remaining minutes before the start gun would fire to begin the wheelchair race and 1-mile walk presented by the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department.
The three wheelers, (left to right), Margarette Auld, Julia Hollenbeck, and AJ Weston, all members of Wheel Me On, discussed their own advantages with three different wheelchairs and the odds of what their time would be. Margarette Auld was using a one-year old Jazzy; but forgot to make certain the connection was plugged in all the way the night before and was running with only one bar of power. Julia Hollenbeck decided to use her 1996 Quickie P200 in order to have a low profile closer to the pavement rather than a wheelchair sitting higher off the ground; her power wheelchair was fully charged. AJ Weston was comfortable in the new Invacare presented to her by the KISS Free DME program a couple of months ago, and obviously felt confident with the wheelie wheels placed upside down.
The debate concluded with the three of them believing no one had any advantages except for Weston. Hollenbeck was convinced Auld had an advantage over her with her newer wheelchair, but Auld was worried her power would not last for the full mile. Weston was entering the race for the first time and listened intently to the two women. Hollenbeck stated the person with the real advantage was AJ Weston, because the manual wheelchair had no governor on it with the downhill slopes, despite the fact the power wheelchairs had an uphill climb advantage. The truth of the matter was no one really knew how this race was going to go, and it was the first time walkers would be in back.
Accompanying the Wheelchair Division as attendants were Meghan Musgraves for Margarette Auld, Kelly Musgraves for Julia Hollenbeck, and Hannah Seideman for AJ Weston. All three attendants were told they could either walk or run behind the wheelchairs, but if a wheeler needed assistance, they would be responsible to help push the wheelchairs manually if needed, once catching up with a "stalled" wheeler. The rules were pretty simple.
With a 10-second countdown from Race Director Jo Huber, the start gun was fired and Hollenbeck leaped out yelling a command at Fox, the Shiba Inu canine and Wheel Me On Mascot, while Auld jammed her toggle full forward, and AJ Weston gave the manual wheels the first spin. Within split seconds, walkers turned into runners, despite the warning from Jo Huber before the shot of the gun, "This is a 1-mile walk; not a run! Except for the three wheelchairs in front and their attendants."
"Walkers" turned "Runners" leaped in front of the wheelers, passing them quickly before the first turn, then obstructing wheels from turning. Auld swerved to avoid hitting a pothole and barely missed clipping a "walker". Hollenbeck took the edge on Auld, whose Jazzy was obviously having a few problems obtaining the speed expected, and then slowed down just enough to irritate her by staying about one wheel ahead. Attempting to look behind for AJ Weston, she yelled at Auld, "AJ has the advantage on us - Give it more power!" Both Auld and Hollenbeck knew the course; and knew there was a good up-hill climb, but also a longer downhill where the safety governors on the power wheelchairs would hold the speed no faster than on a straight a-way.
Auld yelled at Hollenbeck, "I'm giving it all it has; it won't go any faster." At the second turn, Fox leaped out like he knew he was running for a purpose while a patrol car cruised alongside on the major up-hill climb. A "Runner" near them was now a "Walker" and wanted to know if Fox was pulling the wheelchair with the five-foot leash attached to Hollenbeck's wheelchair stretched almost to full length.
The downhill was around the next turn, but Auld was now several yards behind Hollenbeck. Hollenbeck paused to let Auld catch up. Unbeknown to the two women, AJ Weston was doing the same thing: pausing to let attendant, Hannah Seideman, catch up! Hollenbeck and Auld took the last stretch slow to the final turn for the stadium and finish line. Debating on who was going to go for the Gold, they goofed off for a few seconds along the striped course of the field inside the stadium. "You earned it, Julia, so go for it! I forgot to make sure my chair was plugged in!" Technically, Fox won the race - he was running ahead of Hollenbeck!
As Hollenbeck and Auld waited for Weston, Hollenbeck attempted to give Fox a squirt of water, but he would have nothing to do with a squirt in the snooze or a dip from her hand, and demanded it be poured on the outdoor carpet. He lapped the water up quickly, then patiently waited for another squirt.
A few moments later, AJ Weston approached the final stretch, with Seideman behind her. Two enthusiastic children eagerally tried to out-do one another as Megan Buche appears to take the lead over her sister, Shelby Buche, who is trying VERY hard to beat her sister to the finish line. On the outside, Kelly Musgraves looks exhausted and exhasperated, but willing to meet the challenge.
This is not over yet... Meghan Musgraves shyly smiles as she spots her Dad with the camera and an unknown walker walks behind her. Meghan walked the entire course without skipping, jumping, or running. "I just followed the rules", she said.
While the three wheelers gathered, Kelly Musgraves explained to her dad that she thought she was supposed to keep up with the wheelchair as an attendant. "I couldn't do it. Grandmama was going too fast!" She said as she clutched the bottle of water Hollenbeck had held in her wheelchair for her.
Kelly selected the medal she wanted to present to a wheeler, then Meghan selected the second, unbeknown to each of them how each individual placed. Seideman received the final medal to present. As it worked out, it was rather interesting.
According to the results in the newspaper the following morning, the One-Mile Wheelchair Race Results were:
1st Place - Julia Hollenbeck - 9.49 Minutes
2nd Place - Margarette Auld - 10:40 Minutes
3rd Place - AJ Weston - 11:24 Minutes
In comparison from an earlier year's wheelchair race, which by pure accident turned out to be two-miles, it was rather obvious these times were a rather poor attempt of "racing". Not one of the wheelers really knew the correct time their wheelchair would make in a one-mile race. The end result is next year, the wheelers intend to all "Go For the Gold!" With high hopes of having many more "wheelers" meeting the challange.
Left to right: Kelly Musgraves placed the 1st place Gold Medal on Julia Hollenbeck; Meghan Musgraves places the 2nd Place Silver Medal on Margarette Auld; Hannah Seideman placed the 3rd Place Bronze Medal on AJ Weston. Each attendant unknowingly had the opportunity to place medals on their respective "Wheelers".
The sport of wheelchair racing is often about winning, but in many cases it is about learning how fast you can spin your wheels, not the idea of sport competition, but rather education for personal knowledge. This is not to say wheelchair racing is not encouraged as competition, because all competition is healthy. Wheel Me On sponsored the wheelers in this event and the organization hopes more individuals will enter the race next year to meet the challenge of visiability in society, whether they race to win or learn how fast they can spin their wheels.
~ 2003 Queen City Road Race Wheelchair Division ~
Out of over five-hundred people in Montgomery County using wheelchairs as a daily means of mobility, only three were gutsy enough to brave the rain, wind, and cold, to enter the 25th Annual Queen City Road Race on April 6th, 2003 in Clarksville, Tennessee. Unusually cold, wet weather swept the area at high noon causing a delay in the main 5K-Race, and newly created Wheelchair Division 1-Mile course the Parks and Recreation Department of Montgomery County set in place. School children were obviously anxious over when their turn would come. Indeed, it did, and so did three sets of wheels!
Wheel Me On... Members arrived early, picnicking in vehicles while waiting for the storm to lighten up, and hoping it would leave the area. As soon as it lightened up, two doors on two separate vans swung open, and the racers emerged from the vehicles to dart into Austin Peay's Governors Stadium across the street. Packets were already prepared with their entry numbers, free tee shirts, and certificates of participation. One of the ladies from the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department eagerly pulled out tee shirts and made sure everyone was checked in.
A member of the Queen City Road Race holds up Julia Hollenbeck's (Ms. Wheelchair Tennessee 2003) tee shirt, while Margarette Auld proudly wears hers, and Steve Traylor holds his up next to his chest (left). Steve Traylor's "good-luck" Number 24 (Jeff Gordon) Racing Cap (middle photo) vividly stands out as flames provide the impression of speed, and Margarette Auld gets her number pinned to her tee shirt (right).
Six-year old Lacoda watches her Uncle Steve get his number situated on his right leg while Julia looks on.
Once everyone is in their tee shirt and bundled up, the Queen City Race Officials pose behind Margarette Auld (middle) for a photo session.
Thunder, lightening, and heavy rain prevented the race from starting on time. To the wheelers, it seemed like an eternity, but it did not dampen their spirits. Finally, Gary Tuttle, from the City of Clarksville Parks & Recreation Department told them to head for the starting line, but while the three of them sat anxiously waiting, the rain still held up the race. After approximately ten or fifteen minutes, an official raced his arm and shot a starter's pistol for the race to begin.
