Patt@firstime

I know it was mentioned in the main Great North Run thread but wtf!!!! Am I the only one who is shocked that four people are dead after a charity run

If your that unfit/overweight etc etc then why do it?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/4257630.stm

boxst

Hello

I was more surprised at the

One or two people die each time?!

Steve

ajm

That's many more deaths whilst running than would occur on the same road in the same time period due to RTA's. I think they need to install pedestrian speed cameras!

Drunken Bungle Whore

I think part of the problem is that the media makes these things look easy and call people 'fun' runners. I've competed in 1/2 marathons, marathons and full distance triathlons - 13 miles is a bloody long way to run, especially on a warm day.


People are always warned to talk to their GP before doing something like this if it is new to them - but not enough people take that seriously enough. There are plenty of clubs etc that can support you as you build up to something like this and advise you how to cope and what to do if it's your first time (taking on water etc).

It's really sad that people have died - but perhaps it will encourage some others to take it more seriously.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Statistically, with 50000 people, the odds of an inccident of at least one person dying is to be expected.

It's a bit like the number of UK troops in Iraq that died of natural causes. When you start having huge volumes of people in one place it is likely that one will die - especially in situations of high stress/physical exertion.

On the flip side...how many die at every world cup game or Roack concert? I don't have the statistics, but I'd think it is next to zero, but you can say that is not physically demanding (unless your an avid mosher ).

Four is bit too many to die for a charity run though. Sometimes its the fitter people who drop dead, as they are more likely ignore the warning signs that their body cannot cope...fat and unfit people tend to give up as soon as they "feel the burn"

Patt@firstime

I know, I read it and had to go back to make sure I'd read it properly

davegtt

But running is good for you? maybe we should advertise the fact that if your fat, stay fat cause you might die otherwise

Patt@firstime

Eat Big Macs and don't run for a healthy long life

hedgehog

It is interesting to compare the media approach to this event to the rally accident where a death occurred. The Great North Run is an amazing success in the media, the rally is a disaster. This highlights just how significant anti-motoring and anti-motorsport propaganda is in colouring public and media perceptions that cars are nasty dangerous things that kill people and damage the environment while running is good for you, healthy and positive for the environment. In turn this makes a motorsport death great for the media as they love bad news while the deaths of a few joggers is something you don't need to talk about.

There is probably a thesis in this somewhere.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Funny that...every motorsport event has this somewhere, be it a sign or on the back of a ticket:



Basically meaning: Turn up and compete or spectate and you could be killed.


Perhaps they should produce a similar warning/disclaimer for fun runs?

davegtt

I wouldnt be suprised if there isnt a disclaimer already? I presume you have to apply for a number in the race rather than turn up, whilst applying you'll be signing some sort of we aint responsible if your fat, unfit and kiel over and die.....

Patt@firstime

Doesn't stop people attending motorsport though so would it work with a 'run'?

Matt

unclebuck

Especially in a clown costume or gorilla suit or whatever dumb assed things the 'fun' runners do to get attention.

Patt@firstime

Whats dumb *** about a 6 foot running Banana

ChriSTi

My missus did the run (2 hrs 20)and she said she ran past a couple of people who were being "attended" to by the medics, one of them had that plastic mask thing over his face !!!

Patt@firstime

What was she dressed up as?

ozzy

Every single organised race I've ever entered has always had a disclaimer. That includes official half marathons, 10k's or a local fun run. If it's an "organised" event it should, by law have a disclaimer for every entrant to sign.

At the end of the day it's down to the participant to judge their own health and fitness. Some are just very unlucky and have a dodgy ticker and could've keeled over doing anything physical.

unclebuck

Ah yes, that perenial favourite - the Darth Vader costume.

Patt@firstime

Shouldn't.......but am laughing out loud

lightning101

Wonder what the ratio of riders versus deaths is for the Isle of Man TT ?

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Usually at least 2 or 3 people die during the TT week....and fair few in ITU

Most weren't actually racing

Apparition

Think it was something to do with the fact that it was an unusually warm day for the event. People weren't prepared for the conditions.
Yve

SJ_Skyline

I overtook Darth Vader, along with several Scooby Doos, Batman, Robin, Superman and an astronaut on stilts!

Nutters!

Patt@firstime

PMSL

Funkii Munkii

For a minute I thought Guns n Roses had been in a pile up!!

Apologies to families of those that died, I know it's not a **** taking subject but sometimes i just can't hep myself....

vindaloo

Not unexpected but do they have figures for the numbers of people hostpitalised or treated along the course?

J.

fast bloke

They have had 6 deaths in the first 25 years, followed by 4 deaths this year - any statistician will tell you that if you repeat an experiment 25 times, the likelyhood is that one set of results will look strange. That said, some people are asking for trouble. I once did a half marathon tied three legged to a guy who had been on the rip the night before. We had to stop for a pint 9 times - How did he expect to do well....

Leslie

If you are not fit you will always be pushing your luck with extreme exercise.

Les

Bubba po

****.... when I saw this I thought Guns n'Roses had done the decent thing

Doh... just seen Funkii's post.

scoob_babe

It was only 18C - it wasn't that warm.....Judging by the sizes of some of the entrants, I would have said that it probably wouldn't be a good idea to run 13 miles. I also saw people hobbling 100m past the start line where I was standing and people smoking right before the start