Running to death

8/3/2019 Running to death

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QMI AGENCY

IN MINUTES News and events — visually 

Running to deathA 27-year-old runner collapsed and died 300 metresfrom the finish line of a Toronto Marathon this past

weekend. He was completing the 21 kilometre half-marathon portion of the course.

Top four major circumstances that lead

to marathon runner deaths.

Heart disease in runners over 35 years

Heart attacks are brought on by the combi-nation of the intense physical stress ofrunning for an extended duration and thepre-existing disease in the runner’s heart or alack of cardiac fitness to handle the race.

1

Genetic heart defects in runners under 35

Presence of a genetic defect in the heartitself that hasn’t previously been detectedor treated.

2

Hyponatremia or low blood sodium levels

Sodium is lost through sweat. (high intensityathletes can lose up to 2 grams of salt per litreof sweat.) Adequate sodium balance is neces-sary for transmitting nerve impulses andproper muscle function. Drinking too muchwater during endurance sports can cause thesodium in your body to become diluted andfurther exacerbate the problems.

3

Heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke

Mostly caused by extreme dehydration. As the body becomesdehydrated, it loses the ability to regulate its temperature and as itstemperature rises, the result can be heat exhaustion, heat stroke, heatinduced coma and then death.

4

What happens during a marathonBody heat and heart rate rises: •Heart rate climbs to about 140 beats per minute in the first half hourof the marathon. (Average resting heart rate is 75 beats per minute).•Body temperature climbs to around 40°C (average is 37°C.Hotter weather can make it even higher.•Extreme sweating to cool the body.

Sweating

Heart beat:135 per min.

Burning fat

Stomachcramps

Musclecramps

Jointaches

Burning fat •Store of glycogen will be running low an dyour body will now start to burn fat to powerthe muscles.•Feeling more thirsty. Need to get regulardrinks to stop dehydration.

Lactic acid build up •Point where runners may "hit the wall.”•The body’s glycogen stores are now exhausted. Muscles must rely on thebreakdown of fat.•May suer stomach cramps due to the fact that oxygen-rich blood hasbeen diverted away from the digestive system to the muscles.•Runners who have not trained properly can start to experience diculty

breathing and there is too little oxygen reaching the muscles.•By the end of this period, glycogen levels have bottomed out so bloodsugar levels are very low. Blood sugar is needed as fuel for the brain, so youcan feel fainty and cloudy. Some runners get mentally exhausted.•You also start to go into anaerobic respiration. One of the by product ofanaerobic respiration is lactic acid, which causes pain and muscularcramps.•Joints, (knee caps, ankles) may become sore from the pressure ofpounding on hard pavement.

Exhaustion point: •If you have survived the last stage, then you might j ustmake it to the finish line.•This is the point where people at risk may suer fromheart attacks, because the heart is under maximum stress.•Dehydration is also more likely, which thickens the blood

and slows down the circulatory system. This means theheart needs to work harder than normal to pump the thi ckheavy blood.• Pace has slowed.

Comfort zone •Running is easy.•Heart rate steady at 135 beats per minute.•The body is relying on carbohydrate fuel, inthe form of glycogen manufactured by the liver.

•Start feeling thirsty.

0 – 30 mins(3.25 miles)

1 to 2 hrs(13 miles)

2 to 3 hrs(20 miles)

30 mins to 1hr(6.5 miles)

3+ hrs