The Coast Guard Marathon proudly welcomes athletes of all abilities to participate in the Marathon, Half Marathon & 5k.
We offer registration to adaptive athletes in competitive divisions that follow the USA Track & Field (USATF) and Adaptive Track & Field USA (ATFUSA) guidelines.
All athletes must meet the age, participation, safety, and equipment requirements of the specific race and must be registered for the event they wish to take part in.
The Coast Guard Marathon will comply with applicable USATF and ATFUSA regulations for participant performance records and event liability. The information below is adapted from the AFTUSA rules and regulations.
- AWD participants, using permitted reasonable accommodations, must be capable of completing the full race distance within the event time limit requirements.
- AWD participants must notify the Race Director a minimum of 30 days prior to the event to participate. Please provide your name, race(s) registered for, email, address, phone number, and race category. A Coast Guard Marathon representative will then respond to assist you.
- On race morning, plan to check in at the Coast Guard Marathon Tent in the Pre-Race area at the pre-determined time provided to you by the CGM representative.
If you have any more questions about the guidelines for AWD, please see the detailed USATF guidelines here: https://www.usatf.org/events/event-resource-pages/ada-event-accommodations. We will abide by these guidelines and any other decisions from USATF as the governing body for the Coast Guard Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K.
All Wheelchair User Participation Requirements
This event also follows ATFUSA guidelines for racing wheelchair requirements.
For more information, refer to the detailed ATFUSA Guidelines.
- Clock time or “gun time” is the official time for all wheelchair athletes. The official times will be recorded from the start of the race as indicated by the announcer, to the point where the athlete crosses the finish line. Times will be rounded to the next highest second. Net times (“chip” times) will not be used for any purpose for athletes using wheelchairs.
- Athletes starting position will be determined by Event Management and Race Director and communicated to the participant.
- Lights must be worn on the front and back of the wheelchair.
- All athletes must wear a protective helmet, undamaged and unaltered, which meets or exceeds the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and which is clearly labeled by the manufacturer as satisfying such standards.
- The helmet must be properly placed on the head and fastened before the participant enters the Start corral or area and at all times when the participant is on the racecourse.
- Any violation of these helmet requirements will result in disqualification. A participant will not be disqualified if his/her helmet strap unintentionally and temporarily becomes unattached, and the participant immediately comes to a full stop and reattaches the strap and replaces the helmet while fully stopped.
Push-Rim Division Rules
- The wheelchair can have 2 large wheels and up to 2 small wheels. The small wheels must be at the front of the chair.
- No part of the main body of the wheelchair may extend forward beyond the hub of the front wheel and be wider than the inside of the hubs of the two rear wheels. The maximum height from the ground of the main body of the wheelchair shall be 50 cm. No part of the wheelchair may protrude behind the vertical plane of the back edge of the rear tires.
- The maximum diameter of the large wheel including the inflated tire shall not exceed 70 cm. The maximum diameter of the small wheel including the inflated tire shall not exceed 50 cm.
- Only one plain, round push-rim is allowed for each large wheel. No mechanical gears or levers can propel the wheelchair. Only hand-operated, mechanical steering devices are allowed. The participant must be able to turn the front wheels manually both to the left and to the right.
- The use of fairings or similar devices specifically designed to improve the aerodynamic performance of the participant in the wheelchair are not permitted.
Handcycle Division Rules
- A Hand Cycle is either an arm powered (AP), arm-trunk powered (ATP), or kneeling position (HK) three-wheel device with an open frame of tubular construction.
- The hand-cycle participant must maintain the pace of the lead cyclist. At no given time can the hand-cycle get in front of the lead cyclist on the racecourse. If this does happen, the hand cycle participant will be disqualified.
Visually Impaired, Adaptive Athletes, Blade Runners, and Push or Duo Athletes- Exhibition Only
- Athletes must be harnessed in a lap belt at a minimum while sitting in a wheelchair.
- Athletes are responsible for providing their own guides. An athlete may have no more than 3 guides.
- Guides* are to stay to the right and advise others when passing.
- Guides* are to announce when approaching other athletes.
- Guides* for Adaptive Athletes are not required but encouraged.
- Guide* is permitted to be tethered to the participant.
- Athletes starting position will be determined by the Event Management and Race Director and communicated to the participant.
- Pets and non-working service animals are NOT permitted.
*Please note that all Guides must register for our race due to a required background check. If you have any questions, please contact the Race Director Director@CoastGuardMarathon.com
If you have questions regarding these guidelines or general questions about the event, please email us at info@coastguardmarathon.com.
***Please note that the Coast Guard Marathon has the right to prevent athletes from starting or to remove them from the course if they do not meet the standards listed in these Event Rules. ***
