Deaths In Marathon Races - Part 2

Note:

If you are keen and have queries, please contact Coach Rameshon at 9100 4369 or you can email him at m.rameshon@gmail.com or swift.rameshon@gmail.com. Please refer to website http://flexifitness.com.sg (for more information on him and his programmes)

By Rameshon
Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)

Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)

Death - When in doubt, one should consult a doctor.

In the past, I remember seeing a doctor and he told me that I am fine to run the marathon. Getting clearance from your physician is a way to lessen the risk of death from marathon running.

Studies have shown that most of the deaths come from people having heart problems or complications.  In the past twenty years, comparing the deaths that have been taking place in the London Marathon, it was found that the runners who died were found to have heart problems. There are usually two types of heart problems. 

One is due to an unhealthy diet, and not exercising in the past. The other is due to heart complications and genetic reasons.

Some parents who are shocked about deaths that have been happening recently do not come to terms on how to deal with the situation, and they just inform their child not to exercise, as they have read about deaths in schools, army and from running races. They are in fact doing a great disfavour to their children in this way.

If you compare the statistics, the truth will be found that the reasons for most deaths in Singapore are from cancer and heart diseases. Parents must be open to exercise and should find out more and in actual fact support exercise as a way of life to their child.

Due to not exercising, one goes through having high cholesterol in the blood etc. When running in long-distance races, the heart may cause a problem in not sending enough blood to the exercising muscles in order to keep running. One may collapse or even, worst scenario, die.

If I am not sure of my condition before running a marathon, having doubts about my body condition, that has nothing to do with fitness, I would go for a check-up. 

I have done this twice and the doctors told me to run the race after assessing my conditions. 

Recently, I have been to a doctor and he told me that I am all right. He told me that so long I am conditioned to run, then it is ok. He said that another form of risk that comes in endurance exercising is from not drinking enough water. 

The main thing that a child needs to do is to be taught to assess the risk while running and see for the symptoms of the body. If one feels not good, it would be wise to pull out of the race and not to take any form of risk in running. 

One should tell oneself that there are other races that they can take part in. Parents should infuse this knowledge to their own child from young. 

If parents prevent the child from exercising, then the benefits of exercising will not take place. It is another form of suffering that the growing child is going face in society, not being independent enough to manage things physically. Worse still, the child, in the long run, has a great chance of living a poor quality of life through a weak body and would have to face sicknesses and diseases before death. 

It is better to die fitter rather than we have all the materials but we suffer physically. Knowing this, the government, on its part, has developed park connectors and running trails for many to run. People should not keep asking what the government has done. It is good to put on our shoes and go to areas that we can exercise and keep ourselves strong and fit throughout. Parents should encourage the child to take up an exercise like running. 

Note:

By Narayanan

Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’  by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).

He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.

BK Pradeep does 56min 32sec in 350 NTUC INCOME RUN 2014

Note:


If you are keen and have queries, please contact Coach Rameshon at 9100 4369 or you can email him at m.rameshon@gmail.com or swift.rameshon@gmail.com. Please refer to website http://flexifitness.com.sg (for more information on him and his programmes)

By Miss Rajendran

BK Pradeep's 10km Progressive Improvement in Running.

2012 - 1hr 17min
2013 - 1hr 06min
2014 - 56min 32sec.

BK Pradeep, 32, joined our running programme around mid-December 2013. He was looking forward to running the marathon races but decided to run the 10km and half-marathon for a start. When he joined us, we found him slow as he had a personal best time of 1hr 06min for 10km race. 

Over time, he reduced his time from 59min, a week before the 350 NTUC INCOME RUN 2014, to 56min 32sec, on the day of the race. 

We decided to interview him as he has less time to train and he does what he can with a limitation of 2 to 3 training days per week to train for his races. 

I believe that it would inspire many to take a positive attitude and take a long term approach to run. 

An Interview With Pradeep.

What was your personal best time in the past?

In the past, In 2013 NTUC INCOME RUN, I ran 1hr 06min for 10km race. About a week ago, during my practice run, I did my first sub-1 hr run in 59min 15sec. In the 2014 NTUC INCOME RUN, my personal best was 56min 32sec.

When did you take up running?
My wife introduced me to Marathon, first I took part in the 10Km and ran in 2012 took 1hr 17min. I was not under any guidance and trained by myself and did 1hr 06min in 2013 and decided to train under Coach Rameshon. So, I started training from the beginning of Jan'14.

Are you happy with your time?
Yes, it has, in fact, boosted my confidence, and I am aiming to do a sub-55min in the next few weeks from now.

How was the organisation of the race?
NTUC was the organisers, I do rate them as a well-planned event. The key highlight of the race was the pacers. They allowed me to follow and I did well because of them. There were also planned water breaks, 

Any suggestions that you would like to give to the runners to improve the race timing?
Practice to reach your target, keep cool and be relaxed while running. Check the race route the previous day and make your strategy and then execute it.

What is your next goal and long term goal?

My goal to run sub-2hr15min in half - marathon races of the future, like in the Army - Half Marathon 2014.  

Note:

By Narayanan
Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’  by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).

He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.

Deaths In Marathon Races

Note:

If you are keen and have queries, please contact Coach Rameshon at 9100 4369 or you can email him at m.rameshon@gmail.com or swift.rameshon@gmail.com. Please refer to website http://flexifitness.com.sg (for more information on him and his programmes)

By Rameshon
Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)

Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)

Death - Many deaths come from cancer and heart disease and least from running.

My own perception and experience - Heat Stress - One of the reasons for death

A study done in Singapore shows that people generally die of cancer, which has the highest rate, and from coronary heart disease, the second-highest, overall.   

In a press statement on 15th April 2014, by Health Promotion Board, it stated that the National Health Survey showed that 1.7million Singaporeans are having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 23 and above. It was also stated that these people are vulnerable in getting obesity-related diseases like diabetes and heart diseases.  

That means many will die through cancer and heart disease and the chances of dying from running a race is much less. The important thing to do is to do some prevention strategies to avoid the situation of risk of athletes dying from taking place.

In my experience, from the past, I have heard of people dying from a marathon. A few years back, when I ran the London Marathon, the weather went to 23 degrees centigrade. It was also tough for me and Daniel Ling, an athlete whom I was training at that time (local first in Standard Chartered Marathon 2007), who was also my working colleague. We found that an athlete actually died while crossing the finishing line of the London Marathon. It was a sad incident for us.

In 2014, just recently, another man also died while crossing the finish line of London Marathon. The weather was at 11 degrees when the race started and became slightly warmer over time. 

Somewhere in the early 1980s, I myself have been hospitalised by running in the race which was hot and humid and I collapsed when it was towards the finish. My whole body was going through a cramp situation. I was unconscious at first and then conscious when I was in the ambulance. 

In the hospital, I was not able to move my body for 2 days. I was given sodium through an intravenous (IV) so that I do not suffer from hyponatremia. I believe that I had a low level of sodium in my body. I was told to go home on the third day. 

From then on, I was very particular of not getting myself dehydrated running in a hot and humid climatic condition.  The athletes whom I have trained from past to present also did not face this type of problem as I would always advise them on hydration a day before the race and on the day of the race. I would advise the public to do likewise to avoid any form of heat stress and the chance of dying.

For race organizers, it is important to put races in cooler conditions so that the athletes reduce the risk of dying greatly and it also enables one to enhance performance in their timing. This needs 'the extra mile’ effort by the race organizers. 

Anyway, there may be other reasons for death that can take place and I would like to discuss this on my future blog post. 

Nevertheless, my message to one looking to be healthy is to not worry too much about death and to be informed on risk of cancer, heart disease and inactivity could do and make a wise decision on keeping oneself fit and strong by exercising to lessen the chance of death. 

As for the marathon runner, it is wise to take precautionary measures so that one could avoid death to the best of one's ability. I hope that the future blog post will suggest one make informed choices on their health before they embark on exercise programmes or to run any distance which is of endurance in nature.

Note:

By Narayanan

Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’  by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).

He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.