Amputee Wins Heartland 100

[ampgk]

Amputee Wins Heartland 100

Cassoday, Kansas, October 11. Amy Palmiero-Winters, a below-the-knee amputee, was the women's winner at the 10th Annual Heartland "Spirit of the Prairie" 100 Mile Endurance Run. Palmiero-Winters, a 37-year-old mother of two, posted the second fastest time in race history and became the first woman amputee to finish a 100-mile run. Running on a customized running prosthesis specifically designed by A Step Ahead Prosthetics in Hicksville, N.Y. to handle the demands of trail running, she finished 23 minutes ahead of runner-up Susan Lance of Whitesburg, Georgia.



ref: www.ultrarunning.com/ultra/features/news/amputee-wins-heartland-10.shtml

[snowyh]

That's pretty impressive! It brings to mind the all the fuss when DBK runner Oscar Pistorus was trying to be allowed to compete in the regular Olympics (vs. the Paralymics). The issue was that some believe his prostheses gave him an unfair advantage over flesh-and-bone legs, and therefore he was not allowed to compete against able-bodied athletes. Not everyone agrees, of course, so the debate continues.

Helen

[stonecutter]

Thanks for posting that. I wasn't aware of this. I googled her name and found quite a lot of more information about her. What an inspiration.

[cherylm]

A really impressive achievement! I'm wondering just how much skill it must take to run on one "real" leg and one running blade........ that must have been a challenge for both Ms Palmiero-Winters and her prosthetist!

[ampgk]

This is the first foot race of which I'm aware in which an amp won over a field of able-bodied competitors.

Amy's goal is to make the able-bodied US Olympic marathon team. She missed out on qualifying for a shot at the Beijing team by something like less than ten minutes.

I met her a couple years ago. She may be the most focused person I know.

[tedatrowercpo]

Nov 6, 2009 9:00:34 GMT -7 cherylm said:

A really impressive achievement! I'm wondering just how much skill it must take to run on one "real" leg and one running blade........ that must have been a challenge for both Ms Palmiero-Winters and her prosthetist!

I can assure you, her prosthetist has the easier role to play.