RUNNING FOR LIFE

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It is a catastrophe for the runners fraternity with so many deaths in various running event in Malaysia as well as other part of the world. On 28 July 2010, a 10km runner Lim Ji Wei 25 years old died at the Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur International Marathon, the Malay Mail has the story HERE. Last weekend on 17 October 2010, another runner died attempting the Mizuno 10km wave run, Harian Metro has the story HERE. Abroad, on the same date 17 October 2010, a 47 year old Oregon man died during a cross-country race at the Elijah Brostow State park, in Dexter. Washington post has the story HERE. Remus Fuentes died at the 34th MILO race in Manila on 4 July 2010.



24 May 2010, Douglas MacFarlane, a runner died as temperature soars at the Edinburgh marathon, the Telegraph, UK has the story HERE. On 16 March 2010, Mark Austry died at the Dallas half Marathon, NowPublic media has the story HERE. 23 years old Peter Curtin, a Princeton University graduate collapse and died at the Baltimore Marathon, WRAL.com has the story HERE. 20 June 2010, a runner died after crossing the finishing line at Garry Bjorkland half marathon in Minneapolis, read about it HERE. In Madrid, a 31 year old man died after crossing the finishing line at the El Retiro park, Spain news has the story HERE. On 9 September 2010, a 27 years old GW graduate student died after completing a half marathon at the Virginia Beach, the GW Hatchet has the story HERE. 35 years old Chad Scheiber died running the Chicago Marathon, USA Today has the news HERE. 

There are probably other runners that died this year running their 10km and half marathons but there were no known death in full 42.2km marathoners. 

Most of the reports did not specify or state the cause of death but we could summarize the prognosis of death unto 3 categories: (1) heat stroke or dehydration. (2) lack of training and/or lack of sleep/rest. (3) heart/medical problem.

Before any race, it is very important for the runners to be well-hydrated and well-nourished with sufficient loading of carbohydrate. Personally, having run and participated in more than 40 races, I do not find carbo loading the night before a race to make much of a different but a smaller portion of regular carbo intake + water + isotonic (4-6 times a day) a few days before a race does make a huge different. There is only so much energy in food that the body can  store with each meal.

I could not stress enough the importance of training. We have to regularly run a sufficient mileage and train within a specific heart rate before attempting to participate in any race. Training will ensure the muscle and heart are train to cope with the high intensity of a race but I would recommend a visit to the cardiologist to ensure there is no unknown heart condition.

If you read the link above, majority of the death were amongst runners younger than 35 years old 'man'. There were no known death in female runners or in full marathoners. Maybe 10km/21km men are more kiasu, stubborn and naive and marathoners are more experience and season.

Runners, let us not increase the death statistics by ensuring we have sufficient sleep & rest, a balance food & drink, a proper training and a visit to the doctor to ensure a healthy heart. I am inspired to blog on proper nutrition for runners as a healthy food-program before any race and is doing some research on it.

Until then Stay tune......