Rick A. Carr, 910th Airlift Wing base operator 1, participates in the USAF Marathon 5K hand crank category at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base September 14. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rick Lisum
Rick A. Carr, 910th Airlift Wing base operator 1, participates in the USAF Marathon 5K hand crank category at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base September 14. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rick Lisum
Rick A. Carr, 910th Airlift Wing base operator 1, participates in the USAF Marathon 5K hand crank category at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base September 14. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rick Lisum
Rick A. Carr, 910th Airlift Wing base operator 1, finishes first in the USAF Marathon 5K hand crank category at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base September 14. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rick Lisum
Rick A. Carr, 910th Airlift Wing base operator 1, receives his first place trophy at the USAF Marathon, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Sept. 14. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rick Lisum.
YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio – Rick Carr, a switchboard operator and office automation clerk, assigned to the 910th Communications Flight, uses a keypad to direct a telephone call to its intended destination here, Dec. 20, 2011. Carr, one of nearly 200 Department of Defense civilian employees working daily with the Citizen Airmen of the Air Force Reserve’s 910th Airlift Wing, fields calls from a variety of off-base sources to the many work centers located across YARS. The installation switchboard can be reached by dialing 330-609-1000, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Bob Barko Jr.
by Maj. Brent J. Davis
910th airlift Wing Public Affairs
9/20/2012 - YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- Rick A. Carr, 910th Airlift Wing base operator 1, was born with spina bifida, but demonstrated by competing in the USAF Marathon at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base last week that he refuses to be held back by the disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that approximately 1,500 babies are born in the U.S. with spina bifida every year. Spina bifida is a birth defect in which the backbone and spinal canal do not close before birth.
Carr was born in Newton Falls, Ohio in June of 1968 and grew up as a wheelchair user.
"I've been building good upper body strength all my life out of necessity. I don't really have any limitations at home," said Carr.
In order to accomplish simple daily activities, Carr had no choice but to develop a strong upper body to pull himself out of his wheelchair and do things like pull himself onto his kitchen counter to take dishes out of his cupboard.
Carr describes himself as an independent person. He moved out of his parent's home in 1993 and into a home in Vienna, Ohio.
He has enjoyed fishing since he learned as a child. He also hunts, earning the nickname "Killer" many years ago.
Carr accepted a full-time federal civilian job at Youngstown Air Reserve Station's (YARS) 910th Airlift Wing in February 1992 and continues to work there.
In 2005, YARS started its first Bocce league. Carr joined a team and continues to compete.
In the fall of 2011, one of Carr's co-workers suggested he participate in one of the races at the 2012 USAF Marathon. By November, Carr had committed to competing in one of the races.
"I had a lot of challenges in my life. This was one more challenge for me to conquer," he said.
Although he had a few hobbies, life became somewhat monotonous for Carr.
"My routine was... get up, go to work, do my job, come back home and get up the next day, pray for weekend to hurry up and get here," he said with a chuckle.
In order for him to compete in one of the USAF Marathon races having Spina bifida, he needed to get a specially-equipped three-wheeled cycle or settle with using his wheelchair.
Airman 1st Class Cody Deszi, a member of the 910th Communications Squadron and friend of Carr's, headed up a fund-raiser last March to purchase the cycle.
Within a month, Carr was presented with a new cycle, helmet and other accessories.
"I was shocked seeing the trike setting on the conference room table where I work. When I sat in it for the first time, it felt really good," said Carr.
Carr knew he needed to start practicing for the race. He asked Tech. Sgt. Kevin Rufener, a radio transmission craftsman with the 910th Communications Squadron, if he would run with Carr while he cranked the cycle in preparation for the race.
"Helping Carr was something I was excited to do. Seeing him step forward motivated me to support him because not many people do something like this," said Rufener.
The two trained up to five days a week depending on weather conditions.
Although Carr was hoping to compete in a least a 10K race, he learned the only option for disabled competitors at the 2012 USAF Marathon competition is the 5K Hand crank division.
"At first I was not happy since I originally wanted the 10K, but then with the 5k being the only option I was okay with it because I figure I could start at the bottom and work my way to the top," he said.
Carr had to overcome a few medical obstacles during the summer while prepping for the event.
"I still had my mind set to go out and conquer this new found opportunity in my life," he added.
The date for the USAF Marathon 5K event was set for September 14, 2012.
"After arriving at the start line, I was shaking like a leaf with nervousness doing my best to back out, but I couldn't," he said with a laugh.
Carr looked at about 1,800 people waiting to run the event. People of all ages were packed together close to the starting point. Carr said he saw only one other wheelchair user in the back of the crowd.
"I was anxious to get going and get it over with," he added.
He learned that he should have been given a head start to be safely distanced from the runners.
"The gun fired, then people started to pass me. I got the momentum to crank my trike faster. Then I started passing the people who passed me. The nervousness was there a little bit but it was pushed aside by my adrenaline," said Carr.
"I was going at a slow pace then I noticed a road that had a hill causing me to slow down a bit. I was doing my best to get up that hill. I started losing energy but a lady named Kathy ran up behind me and gave me a boost up and over the unforgiving hill," he added.
Carr went over the hill with Kathy and returned to level ground. He regained momentum before hitting an orange boundary cone.
"I yelled to a guy in front of me 'runaway wheelchair coming through.' I had picked up speed , and my front wheel got the back of his leg and almost tripped him. He turned around and apologized and I told him he needed to move, but I was still sorry that I nearly ran him over," he said.
Carr coasted past the finish line after about 30 minutes of trike cranking.
"I was feeling great even though I was a little exhausted. I felt great that I just finished my first ever race."
The announcer called his name and Carr rolled up to receive a 5K medallion and a glass trophy with the inscription "5K First Place Men's Hand Crank."
"I was excited and thrilled and very thankful for the help from a lot of people especially those who engineered and manufactured the hand trike for making this opportunity possible. I also thank those who supported me through the entire race preparation and to God for giving me the strength and endurance to finish the race," said Carr. "To those who were born with Spina bifida: never give up on your dreams and goals because you can do anything you set your mind out to do."
Carr plans on submitting a request to the USAF Marathon planners for a 10K hand crank event for 2013.
