Marathon deaths

In my last column, I wrote on the hazards and deaths in a marathon. I also promised to write a list of marathon deaths in United States and some from other countries, remember this is only the full marathon (42.2km) and does not include deaths in the half-marathons, triathlons and ultramarathons.  But before that, here are some reasons why even  the physically fit runner dies in a race.  Age also doesn’t even matter, the first casualty in the modern Olympics was Francisco Lazaro of Portugal, only 21 years old when he died in the 1912 Stockhom Olympics.  So what are the causes of sudden cardiac deaths?. Here are some, congenital or acquired heart disorder, electrolyte imbalance, heart stroke, severe hyperthermia above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius), and hyponatremia (sodium deficiency and over hydration). Runners die because of increased levels of proteins linked to heart damage, building of lactic acid in the blood that triggers abnormal heart rhythms and also exhaustion, emotional stress, dehydration and heat stroke.  But here’s good news, the death rate in 10.9 million runners is one per 259,000 participants compared to one death per 52,630 participants in the triathlon. 

Prevention of injuries

Before you run your first marathon, here are some tips:

1. Get a checkup before a race.

2. Train from three to five times a week and build your weekly mileage

3. Get enough rest to prevent injury.

4. Develop a race plan on how much you eat or drink.

5. Eat plenty of carbohydrates as it will be your fuel

6. Avoid carbonated drinks, too much liquid lead to water into intoxication, drink little often.

7. If you are overweight or unfit, try to reduce first.

Must importantly, listen to your body and avoid competing too much too soon.

Casualties

Here’s a list of several runners from all over the world who died while running a marathon.  I’m just mentioning one runner or two who died while the exact number is much higher. 

In 1984 Jacques Busser (48) of France died of heart attack in the New York Marathon.

1986-Martin Wurst (32) of USA, Marine Corps Marathon-coronary artery disease

1986-Edwin  Brown(47)  Dallas Marathon-heart attack

1990-Lisa Cristensen (19) USA, Marine Corps Marathon-coronary artery abnormality

 1993-Julins Becza (58) USA-Marine Corps Marathon- heart attack.

1994 Pierre Marquet (27) Switzerland-New York Marathon- heart attack

1988-Kelly Barrett (43) USA -Chicago Marathon -hyponatremia, 2000 Danny Towns (45)USA-Chicago Marathon heart attack,

2001 Luke Roach (22) USA-Chicago Marathon-heart attack,

2002 Cynthia Lucero (28) USA-Boston Marathon heart attack

2003 Rachel Townsend (29) Chicago Marathon-mitral valve prolapse

2006 James Leone (60) Los Angeles Marathon-heart attack

2006 William Giggins (43) San Francisco Marathon-hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

2007-David Rogers (22) London Marathon-hyponatremia

2008-Carlos  Jose Gomes (58)New York Marathon-heart attack

2009-Colin Dunne (27) Ireland Barcelona Marathon-heart attack

2011 Claire Squires (30) London Marathon-heart attack

2013 Xavier Jimenez (45) Barcelona, Barcelona Marathon-heart attack

2014-Robert Berry (42) London Marathon-heat stroke

2015-Alfon Manases (38) Philippines-Condura Skyway Marathon-heart attack,

Arnold Lubang (40) Philippines- Condura Skyway Marathon-cardiac arrest

2017-Bob Bremer (51) Santiago Marathon Chile-aortic dissection

2019-Taylor Ceepo (22) USA Cleveland Marathon-cardiac arrest

2020-Harvey Vroulis (74) Houston Marathon-heart attack

2021 Gregory Mc Sween (41) Marine Corpse Marathon- heart attack

2022-Bruno Meunier (41) France- Marathon De La Liberte-heart attack

Notes:

1. Hyponatremia- Sodium level in the blood below normal and over-hydration.

2. Hypothermia-prolonged exposures to very cold temperatures.

3. Hyperthermia- is an abnormally high body temperature.  Human normal temperature is 98.6 degrees Farenhiet.  Any body temperature above 99 or 100 degrees Farenhiet is too warm.