Tragic Running Events

Within the last few days or so some sad news of runners at some events/races of late:

First one was a week ago, and something close to home. It was during a Ragnar Relay event right here, only a few miles from our house. In fact, my wife works closely with a runner in this event. She is fine. A very drunk driver hit another runner and killed him while he was finishing his leg in the relay. It was a midnight run on a stretch of road that is typically very safe. I guess I am not understanding how anyone was able to drive on this road while this event took place? Just very sad the whole situation. The Vegas running community has really been shaken by this. Especially, all the participants and teams in the Relay. The victim I believe was from Reno. Our best thoughts to his family. Sadly, enough, the drunk driver tried to flee the scene.

Latest one, last night I heard about the three deaths during the Detroit Half and Full Marathon. I have not heard the full details of each individual runner. It appears from what I have read they were heart related, cardiac arrests. RW has today, online, a posting on it with an interview of a Cardiologist. Not the attending physician, yet, he does provide some insight important to all runners.

My thoughts and prayers to all. Especially to family and friends who lost someone they dearly loved. Certainly in each cases, not what anyone was expecting to be the outcome of their training or running efforts.

I was thinking of each event while running my AM run today. Oh, my foot did well. It was stiff feeling during the run. Post run it felt a little achy, however, it seems to be fine. It was a 6 miler. Anyway, while I was worried about my silly foot issue with each step and stride - my thoughts turned to the above mentioned events. I was quickly not concerned anymore with my wimpy foot. Instead, very concerned with how each tragedy happened, and how, if anything more could have been done to prevent them.

The first one, the drunk driver, sorry not much sympathy for the person who committed this one. I am not a drinker, so you have that out there as my personal bias. Yet, with that saying, if you do drink - how and why does anyone still drive under the influence or how does anyone let someone drive drunk! So many programs, education has been spent on this issue. A selfish tragic act that could be easily prevented.

The second one, at this point more knowledge would need to be known on the health and training of each before the race. The RW posting was helpful and offers some insight and information all of us runners should know. Still sometimes I wonder for myself, after 13 years of not regularly running - am I pushing myself too much, too far, too fast. I did have Doc visit back in Feb. of this year. Stress test, and many other tests done - including my Kidneys. I found that one interesting, but my Doc insisted on it. Now after my hydration problem during, or after the Disney Half, I see why my Doc wanted it. I am thinking at this point, (outside of my silly foot thing), maybe I need to have another Doc visit before my next race, just to make sure all is well.

I feel fine basically. Yet my Dad passed away from Heart Disease. So, there is a family history there. Maybe none of us should take things for granted. I remember growing up hearing all of us should have yearly check ups from our Doc no matter how we feel. Might be good advice, even for us supposedly overly healthy/fit runners?

Take care today.