Running and Sudden Death

[Bill Hartman]

This past weekend was the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon with over 30,000 runners participating.

3 runners suffered heart attacks during the race. One of them died on the scene.

He was only 32 years old.

Bill

[ODB]

Any word on what caused the heart-attacks, lifestyle, family history, heat,...?

[Kaiser]

That's 1/100 of one percent. Given society's proclivities to saturated fat and obesity, I'm surprised there weren't more, even among 'runners'. The founder of Powerbar just died at age 51 of a heart attack. He was once an elite marathoner.

[Q.]

Originally posted by Kaiser:
The founder of Powerbar just died at age 51 of a heart attack. He was once an elite marathoner.

Man, that running stuff sounds pretty dangerous!!!

[LiannLu]

Thats scary, I have just gotten interested in running and am planning on participating in marathons in the future. This is not the kind of news I want to hear.

[Kaiser]

Liannlu,

Although Hartman and Lou Schuler may argue that running and sudden death are connected , there is no evidence to show that distance runners keel over more frequently than non-runners. I would wager the evidence is exactly the opposite.

The point being made with the sad demise of these runners is that you cannot neglect the importance of diet. Diet is probably as important a part of overall health (and certainly of coronary heart disease) as is exercise. Also, you can't overlook genetic risk factors and family history. Just the fact that you run a lot won't necessarily trump those factors.

In the end, the wise man (or woman) pursues an exercise program afte consulting with his doctor, and also tries to eat healthy.

[Bill Hartman]

From the story of the first Marathon...

The Role of Phidippides

Phidippides (or Philippides)was called upon to run to Athens (26 miles away) to carry the news of the victory and the warning about the approaching Persian ships. Despite his fatigue after his recent run to Sparta and back (280 miles round trip) and having fought all morning in heavy armor, Phidippides rose to the challenge. Pushing himself past normal limits of human endurance, the reached Athens in perhaps 3 hours, deliverd his message and then died shortly thereafter from exhaustion.

Long distance running = death Then again perhaps had Phidippides had access to some gatorade and some sensible shoes perhaps he'd have lived.

One thing strikes me...a man runs himself to death and someone else somewhere had to say..."Cool, let's try it...I'll race ya!"

BTW, a co-worker ran in the race as well (she didn't die of course) and said it was extremely hot that morning.

Most of these incidents are caused by poor preparation and genes. I think you're safe if you'd like to run ridiculous distances for fun (just make sure they give out good t-shirts at the race!).

Bill

[Kaiser]

The story of Philipiddes is oft quoted by Lou Schuler. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Q.]

Along those lines, last summer I started doing an interval training thing out on the track at midday. I just did it a couple of times a week but I started doing it again recently.

Here's the kicker... it's just now getting up in the mid-90's here with the heat index over 100 already at least once. There's water available and I do a combination of walk, jog and sprint so the real exertion is short-lived on each lap. It saps me pretty quickly and I know a lot of this has to do with the heat but my question is...

AM I CRAZY OR WHAT?

I asked the girls at the front desk of the gym if they knew how to use the new defibrillator paddles they just got just as a backup.

It must be a great workout because it produces a good sweat in no time and I'm sore afterward (partially because I'm just now resuming this) but I could also do it indoors on a nice airconditioned track. I just talked to this guy in the locker room yesterday and I asked him why he was using the machine he was working out on because I knew he's a soccer player. He said that it's just too hot to run outside... and we ARE over 40 you know! I said, well some of us are more over 40 than others! ... but maybe we're also just plain hard-headed and stupid...?

[DANZIG]

Heart disease, arrythmias, etc. cause heart attacks not exercise.

[Q.]

Originally posted by DANZIG:
Heart disease, arrythmias, etc. cause heart attacks not exercise.

So I can push it as hard as I can muster? Can I get an address for my family to have the lawyer contact later...

Hell, I'd rather go doing something I enjoy rather than sitting in freakin' recliner stuffin' Cheetos down the old pie-hole!

[BRITISHBULLDOG]

i once read that if you are a marathan runner or a serious running competitor and you do it for say you start when you are 20 and give it up when you are 35 or something anyway the point is that your body cannot ajust to the change and makes your body deteriote and you die younger than you should so the best thing is just keep doing it if you can however it is unlikly as when you get older it is impossible to do!anyway hope that made sense!its like in the military in the uk you are likly to die in your 50s or early 60s cos your body cannot ajust to the change!