Sad news from Philly Marathon

It's always sad when this happens.

Unfortunately, much of the public doesn't have a clue about what causes these things.  The majority of the comments on the article are ridiculous.  A lot of people believe that the marathon actually killed them, and don't realize that statistically, the event was probably only the trigger that caused the ticking time bomb in their chest to go off.  I know it's little consolation, but at least it happened while doing something they enjoyed like a marathon, rather than when they were shoveling snow in their driveway.

Sad indeed.  And just the week before a fit (apparently) 32yo was lost in San Antonio-

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Death-at-finish-mars-Rock-n-Roll-Marathon-2267681.php

Very sad indeed.

I was at the finish line of this year's R&R Half in Los Angeles where a 37 yo man collapsed and died. I watched as EMT's and fire department paramedics gave him cpr for several minutes before they were able to transport him.....It was very traumatic to say the least.

It's a terrible tragedy anytime something like this happens.

I know the feeling.  Two died during another big city marathon just the day before I ran my 1st.  I think if my DW had seen that story she would have refused to let me run. 

But statistical risk of marathon (or tri's ) is small. In recent years we've lost a few members of my local cycling club to car crashes but I still ride my thousands of road miles annually.  I refuse to live my life sitting on couch in front of the TV (which has its own long-term health risks). 

And that is what separates us from the masses. Embrace life!

http://results.active.com/pages/oneResult.jsp?pID=117161196&rsID=121446

It looks like something bad happened on the last half of the marathon. My thoughts really go out to his family.

Here's the ST thread as well:

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=3645137;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread

I hate to hear about this on many levels.  It makes me feel for a wife who's now without her husband and little kids who now have no dad.  Selfishly, it makes me think about my own family and my participation in these events. 

Thoughts and prayers with the families of these people and may the deceased rest in peace.

This is what scares me. I was going to get a stress test to alleviate my mom's fears, but as you've stated, a physical and stress test can only show so much.

Most important takeaway for me is to tell everyone I love them as often as possible...

That being said, I love you BT!

Many of my friends and family members think I'm crazy for being involved with endurance events.  Yes, there's a chance something like this could happen to any of us.  There's also a much greater chance (I believe) of very positive things resulting from doing the things we do.

Not to trivialize what happened, but the very occasional bad things are what get the attention.  There are also hundreds and thousands of great things that happen before, during and after endurance events that don't get into the news.