Exclusive | 'Discouraging' new rules leave disabled runners in the dust ahead of annual Brooklyn Half

"Road Runners implemented a new rule that requires blind, paralyzed and other special needs athletes to plead their case to be granted a "critical" second guide for the annual race, The Post has learned. "Why ever do you need these people with blatant disabilities to now appeal for more than one guide? It's absolutely discouraging," said Sonya Choudhury, who has been volunteering as an Achilles International guide for 12 years."

"Road Runners unleashed chaos in March when it announced that it would no longer allow any disabled runners to have two guides - a blanket rule it reversed nine days later after advocates following severe backlash. 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."

""New York Road Runners' 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," a spokesperson told The Post in a statement. "The 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 - there is no one-size-fits-all solution."

"Only three of the 16 requests for a second guide at the Brooklyn Half were denied, Road Runners said, saying those racers' disabilities only required one guide. 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."

Road Runners introduced a new rule for the Brooklyn Half requiring blind, paralyzed, and other special needs athletes to request a “critical” second guide. Volunteers and athletes criticized the change as discouraging, especially after earlier chaos in March when a blanket ban on two guides was announced and then reversed after backlash. Road Runners said an email about the change was a flub and that the real process involves applying for a second guide and potentially being denied. The organization stated its goal is to minimize barriers and that requests are evaluated case by case under an interactive process required by law. It reported only three of sixteen second-guide requests were denied, while it approved all requests for one guide, though at least one runner reported denial shortly before race day.

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