A dedicated race category for wheelchair users has been introduced for the upcoming Run the Greenway event on May 4th at Loudoun Station. The Roll 5K category allows wheelchair participants to compete for medals, recognition, and prizes.
This step towards inclusivity and equal opportunity offers awards to the top three finishers, including medals and a gift card to PR Run & Walk. The initiative has received positive feedback from the Ability Fitness Center team at The Arc of Loudoun, who collaborated with the Dulles Greenway to improve wheelchair accessibility for the event. Members of the center, like Anthony Ringenberg, have utilized assistive technology such as wheelchairs in past races, with Ringenberg being the first wheelchair finisher in previous events. He described crossing the finish line as the most fulfilling moment of the race.
“It’s like working through the suck, and getting to the end and feeling the burn, and knowing that hey, I did it,” he said. “And also being number one. That’s a nice thing.”
This year, for the first time, Ringenberg might take home a gold medal for his accomplishment.
“If we had more people, there might be someone out there who can beat me,” Ringenberg said. “Might be.”
The Run the Greenway event is important to the Ability Fitness Center team, especially M.J. Weier, who sees it as a return to their passion of cycling after a spinal injury.
“One of the reasons I like competition and this particular event is that it gives me something to train for,” she said. “Rather than just going and doing it just to get exercise, it gives me a reason to do it, it gives me a goal to try and improve my time.”
Measured in kilometers, the Greenway has become a significant achievement for participants like Lindsay Roberts. During the inaugural Run, Walk or Roll event two years ago, she navigated the entire route in her wheelchair. The following year, she made a triumphant return, receiving a round of applause as she crossed the finish line on foot.
“My goal for this year is to walk more than just the finish line,” she said. “Assisted—I still use a cane—but one day, I’m going to be able to drop it and just walk it, no problem.”
“We’re thrilled to partner with The Arc of Loudoun to make Run The Greenway race accessible for individuals with disabilities,” Dulles Greenway Public & Customer Relations Manager Terry Hoffman said. “Our annual race is inclusive for all Northern Virginia athletes, and we look forward to providing a welcoming and accessible venue for all our participates to display their skills.”
The new category is thanks in part to a new partner in the race: Potomac River Races, the race management company that added a wheelchair category to its timekeeping.
“We’re excited to work on Run the Greenway,” Potomac River Races Director of Operations Terri Marlin said. “It’s a race in our backyard. We’re really happy to be part of this and to help raise money for all the local community organizations that means so much to so many people.”
Each year, Run the Greenway helps raise funds for local nonprofit organizations. Last year, the race drew around 2,000 runners and raised nearly $270,000 for local nonprofits.
“Since we partnered to create Run, Walk or Roll the Greenway two years ago, the race has been more than just a fundraiser for our clients, staff and families,” The Arc of Loudoun CEO Lisa Kimball said. “It brings out that same indomitable spirit that our staff and clients bring to work and school every day. That’s part of building a lifetime of opportunities and a just, equitable world for people with disabilities.”
Registration is open now for Run the Greenway’s 5K, 5K Roll, 10K, and Kids Fun Run races, along with virtual options to donate or create your own fundraising site without running. For more information, visit dullesgreenway.com/run-the-greenway. To register, visit thearcofloudoun.org/greenway.
About TRIP II/Dulles Greenway
Toll Road Investors Partnership II, L.P. (TRIP II), headquartered in Sterling, Virginia, operates the Dulles Greenway. The Dulles Greenway is a privately owned 14-mile toll road that provides a non-stop connection between Washington Dulles International Airport and Leesburg, Virginia. Dedicated to providing a safe, efficient, and reliable transportation solution for communities in Northern Virginia since 1995, the Dulles Greenway has stood as an innovative model for advancing infrastructure through public and private cooperation.
About The Arc of Loudoun
The Arc of Loudoun, founded in 1967, is a 501(c)(3) with a rich history of supporting individuals with disabilities and their families throughout the Washington, DC Region. An affiliate of The Arc of the United States, The Arc of Loudoun is home to multiple direct-service programs that serve the most vulnerable and underserved in our community — children and adults with disabilities, their families and caretakers, and the professionals who work to help them achieve their greatest potential. The Arc of Loudoun’s primary programs, Ability Fitness Center, ALLY Advocacy Center, Aurora Behavior Clinic, Aurora School, and Open Door Learning Center Preschool, continue to thrive in Leesburg, VA, providing a lifetime of opportunities for people with disabilities.
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