OUC Orlando launches new ‘intellectual impairment division’ for 2026 race
SEVEN AT THE KIA CENTER. WE ARE LESS THAN 24 HOURS FROM THE ORLANDO HALF MARATHON. WESH TWO IS YOUR HOME FOR THE HALF THAT TRAVELS 13.1 MILES THROUGH BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN ORLANDO. RIGHT NOW, THOUGH, RUNNERS ARE GETTING READY FOR RACE DAY WITH A TRIP TO THE PLAZA LIVE. IT’S WHERE TRACK SHAQ IS ACTUALLY HOSTING THE RACE EXPO. KRISTEN LAGO IS THERE TO GET HER GEAR BECAUSE KRISTEN, YOU’RE ON TOMORROW. ARE YOU READY? GIRL? I AM READY. I’VE PICKED UP MY BIB SO I DON’T THINK THERE’S ANY TURNING BACK NOW. NO, I’M EXCITED FOR TOMORROW’S RACE. AND YOU’RE RIGHT, THAT’S WHAT THIS EXPO IS REALLY ALL ABOUT. GETTING RUNNERS READY FOR RACE DAY. WHETHER THAT’S FOR THE HALF MARATHON OR THE FIVE K ON SUNDAY. PICKING UP YOUR BIB PICK, PICKING UP YOUR SHIRT AND VISITING A NUMBER OF VENDORS, EVERYTHING FROM APPAREL TO SHOES, HAIR BRAIDING, MAKING THOSE SIGNS, EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. AND THERE’S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT IN THE BUILDING RIGHT NOW. A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE JUST HEARD FROM TRACK SHAQ JUST ABOUT AN HOUR AGO, TRACK SHAQ ANNOUNCING THE LAUNCH OF A NEW DIVISION FOR THE 2026 RACE, THE LAUNCH OF AN INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENTS DIVISION THAT’S ALL ABOUT MAKING YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE INCLUSIVE. IT’S GOING TO MEAN THE WORLD TO A LOT OF ATHLETES, BECAUSE THAT THAT ALREADY SHOWS THEM THERE’S GOING TO BE A SPACE FOR ME. THERE’S GOING TO BE PROBABLY ACCOMMODATIONS FOR ME, AND IT’S GOING TO SHOW COMMUNITY BEING PART OF THEMSELVES. I’M OPENING UP A WORLD. TO ATHLETES AND RECRUITS TO COME OUT. BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. BEING PART OF GROUP. AND AS YOU HEARD, TRACK SHAQ IS ADDING THIS DIVISION TO EXPAND INCLUSIVE RACING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADAPTIVE ATHLETES AND INCREASED VISIBILITY AND RECOGNITION FOR ATHLETES WITH INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENTS. I GOT TO TALK TO ONE MORE OF THESE ATHLETES, AND SHE GAVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF ADVICE. SHE’S DONE TWO HALF MARATHONS. I’M JUST GETTING READY FOR MY FIRST. MANY SNACKS. DO I HAVE TO EAT DURING THE RACE? 1313 SNACKS. WHAT KIND OF SNACKS? NO. AMAYA A SNACK, SO I SHOULD EAT A SNACK EVERY MILE? YEAH, OKAY. AND YOU SAID, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE ME IF I’M GETTING TIRED ON THE RACE? SHOULD I GO FASTER OR SHOULD I SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT? SLOW DOWN? AND DO I ALWAYS HAVE TO RUN WITH A SMILE ON MY FACE? YEAH. AS SHE SAID, YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO RUN WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE. ALL RIGHT, THE UC ORLANDO HALF MARATHON RACE EXPO RUNS UNTIL 6 P.M. THIS IS FOR EVERYONE RUNNING THE HALF MARATHON SATURDAY IN THE FIVE K ON SUNDAY. AND THEN WE CANNOT WAIT TO SEE EVERYBODY IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO SATURDAY. THAT’S BECAUSE WESH IS YOUR HOME FOR THE OC ORLANDO HALF MARATHON. OUR LIVE RACE DAY COVERAGE BEGINS AT 5 A.M. SATURDAY WITH WESH TWO SUNRISE AND THEN THE RACE BROADCAST KICKS IN AT 7 A.M. AND IF YOU’RE COMING BY THE EXPO, MAKE SURE YOU COME BY OUR WESH TWO BOOTH. YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN SIGN. THIS IS FOR ALL MY FRIENDS OUT THERE WHO ARE COMING TO SUPPORT ME. MAKE SURE YOU COME AND YOU MAKE ME A SIGN. I ONLY HAVE ONE RIGHT NOW. THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. I NEED THE ENCOURAGEMENT. SO GET ON OVER TO THE RACE EXPO. WE WILL BE HERE
OUC Orlando launches new ‘intellectual impairment division’ for 2026 race
Updated: 2:39 PM EST Dec 5, 2025
OUC Orlando announced the launch of a new division for runners with intellectual disabilities coming in 2026.The new “intellectual impairments division” is all about being more inclusive. During a news conference on Friday, Track Shack emphasized its commitment to expanding inclusive racing opportunities for adaptive athletes. They also highlighted the importance of increasing visibility and recognition for athletes with intellectual impairments. RELATED
ORLANDO, Fla. —
OUC Orlando announced the launch of a new division for runners with intellectual disabilities coming in 2026.
The new “intellectual impairments division” is all about being more inclusive.
During a news conference on Friday, Track Shack emphasized its commitment to expanding inclusive racing opportunities for adaptive athletes.
They also highlighted the importance of increasing visibility and recognition for athletes with intellectual impairments.
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