Wheelchair Racing: Race for your health and for fun in a wheelchair designed for sports!
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Wheelchair racing can be a lot of fun for participants who don’t mind their arms getting tired!
With all the speed, excitement and competition of a footrace, wheelchair races are incredibly challenging and fun. Participating in wheelchair racing is a great way to stay fit and healthy, something that all of us can find a difficult, though important thing to do!
Wheelchair Racing Equipment
Many serious competitors in wheelchair racing decide it makes sense for them to get a special wheel chair built for speed and hand-turning. No powerchairs allowed!
Many wheelchairs designed for racing feature a three-wheel design for stability and good turning and many racers equip their chairs with special carbon disc or four spoke wheels for their low inertia, light weight, and rigidity and strength.
Another important piece of equipment for wheelchair racers is wheelchair gloves. These gloves will improve your grip on the wheel as your hands start to perspire, their padding will provide shock absorption and they will prevent wear and tear and blistering on your own skin.
A Wheelchair Racing Fitness Program
When embarking in wheelchair racing, as with any exercise program, it makes sense to consult a physician first and start on a methodical training program that incorporates both strength training and aerobic conditioning.
Doctor Kenneth Cooper, the father of aerobic training has many great exercise books available for the beginning athlete. He outlines conditioning programs for many activities including walking, biking, swimming and stair climbing. Reading his books will give any novice athlete a great starting place, and some of his programs could surely be adapted to the sport of wheelchair racing.
The important thing to remember is to start slowly and increase your distance and intensity moderately each week. Start out with 15 minutes of exercise 3-5 times a week and build up from there. You want to see slow, steady improvement – if you push too hard to fast you risk burn-out and injury. A good rule of thumb to remember in your training is that you should be able to carry on a conversation while doing an aerobic conditioning exercise, but you shouldn’t have so much extra breath that you can sing your favorite song.
Related Posts
- Wheelchair Sports: Blood, Sweat and Tears just for fun in a wheelchair designed for athletics!
- Use Wheelchair Gloves for sports and safety
- Wheelchair Cushions Support Your Health!