Three die in Free Press marathon

[mustangj17]

http://www.freep.com/article/20091018/SPORTS23/91018016/1318/3-runners-die-in-Detroit-marathon

Three males, one fell and hit his head, the other two had heart attacks.

 

[Trey Beamon]

That's terrible.

Is nothing safe in Detroit?

 

[Moderator1]

The SJ commer is finished and safe - unless you are thinking of another one.

 

[mustangj17]

That's terrible.

Is nothing safe in Detroit?

Crazy, I was reading that only three people have died in the Chicago Marathon since 1998, then Detroit gets three deaths in one day.

One would be a big deal.

 

[Smallpotatoes]

What was the weather like there?

 

[mustangj17]

What was the weather like there?

Chilly.

Many runners were wearing hats, gloves and pants.

 

[Smallpotatoes]

What was the weather like there?

Chilly.

Many runners were wearing hats, gloves and pants.

I asked because if I remember correctly in that Chicago Marathon a few years ago, heat was a factor in one of the deaths.

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

One of the deaths was because the runner hit his head. The other two were heart attacks.

Not sure on the ages of the participants.

 

[Smallpotatoes]

They haven't said anything about the runners' backgrounds or medical history yet and there have been experienced, high-level runners who have died because of genetic conditions.
That said, there are some old-school runners who think that the sudden growth in the sport, especially with the back-of-the-pack runners, is not a good thing.
There was a time when the marathon was only for hardcore, experienced runners. Nobody even thought about running one until they've been running seriously for a few years and had several shorter races under their belts.
Within the last decade, a lot of people who have never even run a mile without stopping have gone through training programs that claim to allow them to complete a marathon with just a few months' training. In other words, a lot of people who have no business running marathons are running marathons.
Granted there have only been a few deaths in marathons, but I wonder if there might be more in the future because so many people are doing marathons as beginning runners.

 

[luckyducky]

Within the last decade, a lot of people who have never even run a mile without stopping have gone through training programs that claim to allow them to complete a marathon with just a few months' training. In other words, a lot of people who have no business running marathons are running marathons.
Granted there have only been a few deaths in marathons, but I wonder if there might be more in the future because so many people are doing marathons as beginning runners.

I don't want to start a pissing match here, but if they've been "training," especially with a coach/following a plan, do they really have "no business" running a marathon?

That's not to say there aren't some folks who go about it completely the wrong way (i.e. not training at all, not following a full plan, not listening to their coach, etc.), but not everyone who has just decided to do a training plan and complete a marathon has no business doing so.

 

[luckyducky]

From CNN's blog:

All three deaths occurred between 9 and 9:20 a.m. ET, Second Deputy Chief John Roach said.

A man in his 60s fell and hit his head, Roach said. The cause of the fall was unknown. The man was transported to Detroit Receiving Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Two other men, aged 36 and 26, also collapsed during the race and were pronounced dead at the hospital, Roach said.

All three collapsed near the end of the race, he said.

The weather at the time was overcast, Roach said, with temperatures in the low 40s.

 

[Clerk Typist]

Low 40s is a little cooler than experienced runners would like, but still close to ideal for marathon runners. The weather probably won't have been a factor.

And yes, with proper training - at least six months, according to veteran marathoners I've written about - someone can go from jogging around the block to running a marathon in that amount of time.

Sad day in Detroit, regardless. And now the organizers will have to deal with the uninformed who'll say the race shouldn't be run again.

 

[old_tony]

The ages of the two that collapsed -- 26 and 36 -- would indicate to me that we've got to be talking about genetic conditions.

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

Could swine flu have anything to do with it? I know flu generally knocks you on your ass, but what if their symptoms took hold as the race was being run?

 

[Bubbler]

Marathons are stupid. So are all of the other endurance events. Carry on.

 

[Sleeper]

Marathons are stupid. So are all of the other endurance events. Carry on.

I'm convinced many people train and compete in these events in order to spend hours and hours of time away from their significant other.

 

[old_tony]

While two died from apparent heart attacks, one fell and hit his head. How long before the nanny state's professional whiners tell us that all runners should wear helmets?

 

[BYH]

While two died from apparent heart attacks, one fell and hit his head. How long before the nanny state's professional whiners tell us that all runners should wear helmets?

Don't tell me you've got a problem with bikers being forced to wear helmets.

 

[old_tony]

While two died from apparent heart attacks, one fell and hit his head. How long before the nanny state's professional whiners tell us that all runners should wear helmets?

Don't tell me you've got a problem with bikers being forced to wear helmets.

I don't have a problem with bikers choosing to wear a helmet. I do have a problem with them being forced.

 

[BYH]

Seat belts an issue too?

C'mon. It's safer, plain and simple, with helmets on.