[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/04\/ashli-molinero-marathon\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/04\/ashli-molinero-marathon\/","headline":"UPMC Handcyclist to Again Conquer 26.2 Miles","name":"UPMC Handcyclist to Again Conquer 26.2 Miles","description":"Learn more about Ashli Molinero, an experienced handcyclist competing in the upcoming Pittsburgh Marathon.","datePublished":"2017-04-27","dateModified":"2018-08-29","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/sports-medicine-regions","name":"Sports Medicine","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/sports-medicine-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/sports-medicine\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/handcycling-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/handcycling-1.jpg","height":527,"width":791},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/04\/ashli-molinero-marathon\/","about":["Fitness"],"wordCount":430,"keywords":["handcycle","marathon","Pittsburgh"],"articleBody":"More than 20,000 athletes will take their marks on Liberty Avenue for the Dick\u2019s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon. But not all of them are running.Ashli Molinero, director, UPMC Disabilities Resource Center is a seasoned handcyclist. She will tackle the 26.2-mile course on wheels for the sixth time.Encouraged by Rory Cooper, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and UPMC’s Michael Boninger, MD, Ashli started handcycling. She ventured into the world of recreational handcycling as a way to increase her activity level.Born with spina bifida, Ashli said handcycling allows her to stay active and leave her mark on an up-and-coming sport.\u201cI love the speed, love the challenge, love the network of other handcyclists across the country,\u201d she said.The Grueling World of Elite HandcyclingAfter a decade of handcycling in her spare time, Ashli started to compete in races.A handcycle is a three-wheel vehicle powered by the rider\u2019s arms. Racing wheels \u2014 designed for speed \u2014 come in all types of shapes and sizes.Few women compete in handcycling at the national level \u2014 a fact that didn\u2019t deter Ashli.\u201cI recognized that I had competitive speeds,\u201d Ashli said. \u201cAnd there weren\u2019t many other women who were doing this nationally.\u201dAfter wrapping up her first race, she took on marathons in:New YorkBostonLos AngelesMiamiHer greatest challenge awaited off the mainland \u2014 the Alaska Challenge.The Alaska Challenge is the longest handcycle race in the world. It stretches more than 250 miles \u2014 from Fairbanks to Anchorage \u2014 over the course of five days.The race ends in a 17-mile, 4,000-foot ascent to the finish line.Handcycling in the Pittsburgh MarathonA native of Pittsburgh\u2019s South Hills, Ashli said the Pittsburgh Marathon has special meaning to her. She said the view of Pittsburgh\u2019s distinct neighborhoods and cityscapes are what makes the marathon one of the city\u2019s greatest events.Handcyclists from across the country gather for the race, forming a sense of community within the sport.\u201cIt\u2019s amazing watching the Pittsburgh handcycle field continue to grow,\u201d Ashli said.Encouraging a Healthy LifestyleAs an employee of UPMC, Ashli makes it her mission to urge others to live a healthy, active life.To prep for the marathon, she rides many times each week, honing her sport on the city\u2019s steep hills. She also works with a personal trainer.Ashli wants to raise awareness for the health and wellness of people with disabilities. She hopes others will follow her lead by finding ways to \u201cget out there and get active.\u201d"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2017","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"04","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/\/04\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"UPMC Handcyclist to Again Conquer 26.2 Miles","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/04\/ashli-molinero-marathon\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]