Over the weekend, many of us woke to find that runner Claire Squires collapsed and died just a mile from the end of the Virgin London Marathon. It was her second London marathon and, by all accounts, the thirty year old was in fantastic shape.
How can you stay safe in a marathon?
Medical Advisor to Atlanta Olympics, Dr. Tom Crisp's advice:
‘Chest pains are an obvious sign that things are not right. Physical exertion obviously means you will have a rapid pulse, but danger signs are if this starts dropping, becoming more rapid or irregular. You may notice this as palpitations, shortness of breath or dizziness.
‘These are all signs that things are not right with your heart. Older runners should also look out for headache, numbness and tingling, which could be indications of stroke. These feelings could spread upwards from your feet. If your upper limbs and hands start to be affected then you should certainly take notice. Nausea and double vision are also bad signs.’
If things start to feel bad during your run, with these symptoms in particular, Dr Crisp’s advice is to stop: ‘Sit down, lie down, and if you are suffering the heart symptoms listed above, raise your legs.
‘Ask for help and don’t be afraid to quit. It’s better to stop and recover than push yourself too far. You may even be able to start running again after a short break and medical advice. Remember, it’s only a race.’
I review this advice and several others, and broached the subject with my gf, who is always a bit afraid for me on my longer runs. Forewarned is forearmed. But in the end, if it's a congenital defect or some other pre existing problem, there's little you or I can do about it.
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