Amputee Shatters Records at Chicago Marathon

On a chilly, windy day at the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 22, Amy Palmerio-Winters of Meadville, Pennsylvania, shattered another marathon record for female amputee runners.

Despite running on two broken toes, not yet completely healed, on her sound leg, and spending Thursday and Friday in the hospital due to anaphylactic shock, Palmerio-Winters finished the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in a time of three hours, four minutes, and 16 seconds. Her time broke her best marathon time of 3:16 at the Boston Marathon, which she achieved before her limb loss.

She placed 34th in her age group and 148th in the entire field of able-bodied female marathoners.

Palmerio-Winters' previous best marathon time with her new running prosthesis was 3:26 at the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon this past May. Before that, the best marathon time for a female amputee was 3:52.

Palmerio-Winters, a 34-year-old welder and mother of two, suffered a motorcycle accident in 1994.Three years and twenty-five surgeries later, her left leg was amputated below the knee. Following the amputation, it took three years before Palmerio- Winters could even try to run again. "I was told in 1994 I wouldn't run again," Palmerio- Winters said. "That lit a spark in me; I got a second chance in life with this special prosthesis."

After receiving her customized running prosthesis in February from Erik Schaffer CP, president of A Step Ahead Prosthetics & Orthotics, Hicksville, New York, Palmerio- Winters was provided extensive professional coaching and training as a member of Team A Step Ahead, sponsored by the company. This multidisciplinary approach to her training regimen involves a team of prosthetists and physical therapists Phil Kreuter and Dave Balsley, who have expertise in training elite athletes with disabilities, plus support from many accomplished amputee athletes who also are Team A Step Ahead members.

Having qualified for the 2007 Boston Marathon where she set her pre-amputation best time, Palmerio-Winters plans on breaking the three-hour mark in the Marathon and hopes to achieve the fastest time for all amputees, male and female. "I eventually plan to also do the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii," said Palmerio-Winters, who lists being the first female amputee to run a 100-mile ultra marathon as another future goal. Palmerio-Winters is also an accomplished triathlete, where she is highly competitive against able-bodied triathletes. She has won the last two Olympic distance triathlon world championships, the company said.

A Step Ahead Prosthetics & Orthotics sponsors Team A Step Ahead, a group of elite amputee athletes from around the world who compete in events, including the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon, multiple marathons, road races around the world, and the Paralympic Games. Team A Step Ahead's members have been very competitive against able-bodied athletes, placing and winning age group awards, the company noted. These elite athletes hold or have held world records in the 100m, 200m, 400m, track and field events, marathons, and triathlons. Members receive training from coaches, prosthetists, and physical therapists that are experts in working with amputee athletes, including world record-holding Paralympians.

Amputee Shatters Records at Chicago Marathon

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Amputee Shatters Records at Chicago Marathon

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Reinertsen and Harsch Eliminated from The Amazing Race

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O&P JOBS

HH Manager, Orthotics & Prosthetics

Orthotics and Prosthetics Assistant

Certified Orthotist — Full-Time or Part-Time, Pediatric Practice

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