Three die in Detroit Marathon
The marathon is a difficult event, but deaths during the event are rare. Three deaths in the space of a quarter hour at the Detroit Marathon, Sunday, Oct. 18, are bizarre. All three men received immediate medical attention. Twenty-six year old Jon Fenlon had just completed the half marathon. Sixty-five year old Rick Brown reportedly collapsed and hit his head between the 11 and 12 mile markers, near where thirty-six year old Daniel Langdon had collapsed 15 minutes earlier. Autopsies will determine the causes of death. All three were reportedly competing in the half marathon rather than the full marathon.
Heat is usually the cause of illness and death at distance races, but the temperatures in Detroit began around the freezing mark and were only at 41F with a light breeze at the time of the incidents. Slower runners and walkers are at risk of hyponatremia from drinking too much fluids, but all three men were on a good running pace for the half marathon or marathon.
Earlier this month, I attended the Race Directors College in Portland, Oregon and the panel on medical concerns noted that deaths during the marathon are very rare. The legend has it that the first marathoner, Phidippides, died after running from Marathon to Athens. But the legend usually omits the fact that this was just the last leg of an extreme ultramarathon that included over 300 miles before the fatal run.
As a certified marathon coach, I encourage walkers and runners to get a regular physical check-up before starting training, and those with underlying medical conditions should consult with their doctors specifically about the training requirements. I also encourage those finishing a marathon event to ensure they are not alone for the next several hours. At the Race Directors College I heard tales of people dying alone in their hotel rooms after the race.
Over the course of 25 years of hosting and attending walking events, we have lost walkers during the event. I have been at events where walkers had a heart attack or stroke and died at the start/finish or along the course. It is always tragic, but most often due to an underlying condition that would have produced the fatal event anyway.
Over 19,000 registered for the Detroit Marathon. The deaths are tragic. The autopsies may reveal clues as to whether they were preventable or a simple tragic coincidence.
Detroit Free Press: Autopsies Expected Today
Three die in Detroit Marathon originally appeared on About.com Walking on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 10:03:02.
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