Wheels & Runners Hermanus

Wheels & Runners Disability Event Hermanus

The 7th Annual Wheels & Runners race took place in Hermanus on the 11th May and this amazing event proved to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that no matter your disability you can still lead a very active life.

Mike & I travelled to Hermanus to take part in this event with a couple of very good friends who, although disabled and both in wheelchairs, don’t allow anything to hold them back from enjoying life to its fullest.

We didn’t go as Mobility Solutions but rather as private individuals who were there to assist our good friends on their hand cycles.  We were the pushers on our cycles, to give them both a helping hand up the hills.

This wonderful event touched my soul and I feel it’s only right to share it with you in my monthly column and encourage you all to take part in some sort of activity or sport.

Hand cycling is growing rapidly in South Africa and is a fun, outdoors sport which guarantees levels of fitness.  We take part in all the races with many hand cyclists, Amashova, Tour Durban, Toti 69er, Midmar Notts, Hermanus Wheels & Runners & the George Wheelchair race & I’m sure there will be other local ones in each province.

Anyway, back to beautiful Hermanus.  The weather was perfect, albeit quite chilly at the start but the sky was azure blue with not a cloud in sight and the sun shone all day long.

The events were varied and catered to all levels of fitness from the 5km fun run for runners to the 1.3km wheelchair athletes run, to the 5km scooter & motorised chairs (this one was amazing, seeing older people in their scooters up against those motorised chairs,

Wheels & Runners

Then we had the 10km race for wheelchair users with lower limb disabilities – wow, they went for it!!  Nothing was stopping them from reaching the finish line in record time.

With our friends we chose the longest race, 21km for hand cyclists & assistants and so we set off at 8.30 am sharp, a perfect day, wonderful scenery, surrounded by gorgeous mountains with the salty sea air all around us.

The atmosphere was the best I have ever experienced in any of the events we’ve been to.  Every one of the Marshalls along the route were happy, smiling & encouraging & there were many volunteers who cheered us and offered drinks.  We had the Sea Rescue ambulance behind us half the way & joked with the crew that they better stay close by us in case we needed them & need them we did when we encountered one hill that was so steep we called for all hands on deck & pushed & pedalled for all we were worth!

We cycled right by the sea, the views were so incredible, the air so clean and the sky so blue, what an amazing experience.

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From the very young, to teenage, to middle age & old, fit, unfit, it didn’t matter, we all had a blast.  Checkers were the main sponsors of this event and I have to say a HUGE thank you to them as they cooked thousands of boerewors & sold them cheap enough that everyone could afford to eat a couple.

This year’s event saw a record 757 entrants & the organiser Karen Coetzee was delighted at the record turnout but was left red faced as she ran out of medals but promised this will definitely not happen next year.  Karen, you did a wonderful job, you are truly dedicated to integrating the wheelers with the cyclists & runners and this is what it should always be about.  Thanks for a wonderful day.

Email me on info@mobilitysolutions.co.za and I will be happy to respond to any of your queries.

Until next time, take care, stay safe and smile lots as it feels great and makes us happy.  Lorraine Petterson, Mobility Solutions

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