GREEN BAY — Some of the most intensely competitive moments of the Bellin Run 10K race don’t involve participants who are runners or walkers.
Last year, Jeff Pagels was one of three racers to cross the finish line before all of the field’s elite runners, including overall winner John Korir, who finished with a time of 28:47. That’s because Brown County residents Pagels, Keith Lenss and David Samsa competed in the Bellin Run’s hand cycle division. The competing trio raced across the finish line with the speedy times of 25:32 (Lenss), 25:36 (Pagels) and 26:50 (Samsa).
Pagels says last year’s race was probably one of the most competitive he’s experienced. There were more than seven lead changes among the three participating hand cyclists.
“The competition in that three-dog race last year was as intense and exciting as any race I’ve ever been in,” he said. “I’ve competed at the Olympic level and have seen some really tight races, so I’m not kidding when I say last year’s race was one to remember.”
In a wheelchair since breaking his back in 1984, Pagels says he expects another tight race during this year’s event on Saturday, June 13. A little publicity might help, he said.
“In most years, usually only one of the disabled racers moves out front at a high rate of speed,” Pagels said. “But in 2008, all three of us carried on a very hotly contested race that for the most part, went unnoticed by race watchers. We want to change that.”
For safety reasons, wheelchair and hand cycle racers start before runners and walkers.
“Although it’s not possible for them to run or walk the Bellin, they’re here each year competing with the same intensity as any of the elite runners on the course,” race director Randy Van Straten said. “Our hand cycle racers add another exciting layer to our annual run event. It’s amazing to watch these athletes battle all along the course.”
That’s the type of enthusiasm and excitement Pagels hopes to generate this year.
“We appreciate when people say to us, ‘it’s inspiring to see you guys do what you do,’” Pagels said. “We understand using the word ‘inspiration’ may be helpful to many, especially new wheelchair users, because some of us need to hear that, but our participation is more than that. We want people to see that we’re athletes first. We just have a disability that requires us to use adaptive equipment to race because we can’t run.”
Pagels wouldn’t make any predictions as to who would win this year’s hand cycle race.
“Who trained the best? Who has the fastest hand cycle? Will there be a newcomer in the hand cycle division? All those questions will be answered on June 13,” he said.
Online registration for the Bellin Run is underway at www.bellinrun.com. Early online registration is $17 through May 31. Mail-in registration is $20. Late online registration June 1-11 is $20. Mail-in registration June 1 through June 11 is $23. On race weekend, participants can register after 4 p.m. June 12 through race day for $25 at the Astor Park registration tent. All participants receive a Bellin Run T-shirt.
