Zanardi to use handcycle in NYC marathon

[Jeni]

Zanardi aims to cross finish line in NYC Marathon
Associated Press

Updated: October 10, 2007, 5:39 PM ET

NEW YORK -- Alex Zanardi, the race car driver who had both legs amputated after a horrific 2001 crash, will compete in the New York City Marathon in the handcycle category.

It will be the 40-year-old Italian's first marathon.

Zanardi will be a speaker at the Barilla Marathon Eve Dinner the day before the Nov. 4 event, talking about his rehabilitation and return to racing. More than 15,000 runners are expected to attend the dinner.

"I have done a lot of crazy things before and always eat and train like an athlete," Zanardi said. "Therefore I feel like saying that I won't only cross the start line, but the finish line too. And I hope I can make it to the end in good condition and in a good time -- my goal is to finish in less than two hours. I have one month for training and I will take it very seriously."

The winning time in the handcycle category last year was 1 hour, 25 minutes. Twenty-one entrants finished in under two hours.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

From espn.com