Special to the Record
The City of Chelsea Department of Recreation & Cultural Affairs has announced it has added a new wheelchair division to this year’s Chelsea 5K Road Race taking place on Saturday, September 5, 2026. The event, which is expected to draw approximately 750 participants, is now open to wheelchair athletes from across Massachusetts and New England.
“We hope to welcome a strong field of competitors for the race’s first wheelchair division,” said Bea Cravatta, Director of Chelsea’s Recreation & Cultural Affairs Department. “This new division reflects the City of Chelsea’s commitment to inclusive recreation and creating opportunities for all athletes. Join us in making history in Chelsea on September 5!”
The new wheelchair division is made possible through the dedication of Chelsea’s 5K Road Race Committee, composed of race co-Directors Eduardo Rodriguez, of Chelsea, and Nikki Santos, of Revere, as well as Race Ambassadors Audrey Jones, of Chelsea, and Eric Diaz, of Boston.
Rodriguez said, “For me, running has always been more than a sport—it is a way to serve Chelsea, bring people together, and build a race where athletes of all abilities feel welcomed, supported, and inspired, and know that they belong at the starting line.”
First-place male and female wheelchair finishers will each receive Chelsea’s prestigious Chelsea Clock, along with a championship trophy.
The City is asking adaptive sports organizations, rehabilitation hospitals, athletic clubs, coaches, and community partners to help spread the word and encourage participation.
The race staging area and start/finish line will be located on Arlington Street alongside the Williams School Building, at 180 Walnut Street in Chelsea. The race begins at 9 a.m. and follows a three-mile course through the city. The course is relatively flat, with one small incline near the finish line.
Registration is now open. To register or for additional information visit chelsearoadrace.racewire.co; or contact the City of Chelsea Department of Recreation & Cultural Affairs at 617-466-5233 or 617-466-4070. More information is also available at recreation.chelseama.gov.