Detroit Marathon deaths show running is a serious business

Posted: October 19th, 2009 | By David Isaacson | Posted in athletics,road running | Tagged as , ,
  • 5 Comments
  
Runners during the Detroit Marathon

Runners during the Detroit Marathon

Three runners died during the Detroit Marathon in the US this weekend. The oldest of the trio was reportedly 65, the second 36 and the youngest just 26 (he collapsed after finishing the half-marathon).

The causes of death have yet to be confirmed, although in the case of the oldest entrant, it was apparently the result of head injuries after he fell.

Either way, three deaths in one race is unacceptable and hopefully we can learn from this to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

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Comments

 

jtm

October 19, 2009 at 7:09 pm

Granted, three deaths in a half marathon is catastrohpic; however, all sports have the risk of traumatic, and sometimes fatal, accidents. I don’t think anyone would be able to one in which a participant has not died.

 

Lynn M. Kuemmel-Brown

October 19, 2009 at 8:52 pm

We train all summer in the heat, and the fall marathons are usually cooler, maybe rain, we always have a stress test before we start training for a marathon. You just never know…Chicago for instance had unseasonably hot weather 2006, and we were told to stop running and walk it in which we did. Condolences, to the families who lost loved ones. Might I add they were doing something they loved.

 

Jerome Savage

October 19, 2009 at 10:41 pm

Tests published in Runner magazine some months ago showed that, yes there is a greater risk of heart attack during a run but this had to be balanced out against the lower levels of heart attack affecting runners while engaging in normal day to day activities. Of the 10 runners who have died during the London marathon virthually all had an underlying condition, eg congenital heart or high arterial blockage (relatively new to running and unconditioned)

 

Michelle

October 20, 2009 at 3:36 am

“…hopefully we can learn from this to prevent similar tragedies in the future.” What are we to learn? Is this a lesson for runners or the community of Detroit or those who put on the race? For a journalist, you are rather vague and offer no support. In any case, it’s called FREE WILL.

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  • About

    At the height of his sporting prowess, David Isaacson could be seen every Saturday afternoon climbing the stairs to the upper gallery of Newlands. An all-round sportsman in his younger days - he was equally awful at cricket, soccer, athletics, swimming, table tennis, tennis, judo, cycling, hockey, basketball, volleyball and touch rugby - David quickly learnt that it was much easier (and far less painful) to be an armchair critic. As a journalist he has covered three Olympic Games, infuriated several sports administrators, reported on numerous other events and irritated Butana Komphela.
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