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Jakarta Post

Misconceptions cause deaths in marathons

Safety first: Runners go across Pasopati Bridge during a marathon in Bandung, West Java, on July 28

Dyaning Pangestika (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Fri, August 23, 2019

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Misconceptions cause deaths in marathons

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afety first: Runners go across Pasopati Bridge during a marathon in Bandung, West Java, on July 28. As running events have become a trend, runners and doctors urged all related parties to pay extra attention to participants’ safety following the deaths of five Indonesian runners during marathons in the past year.(Antara/M Agung Rajasa)

Misconceptions regarding marathons are the primary cause of a rising number of sudden deaths among Indonesian runners, doctors and athletes have warned.

According to the secretary-general of running community Jakarta Berlari (Jakarta Running), Muhammad Nur Kamaluddin, five Indonesian runners have died in marathons since 2018. He revealed the community’s findings in a media briefing on Wednesday for the University of Indonesia’s (UI) School of Medicine annual marathon, KedokteRAN 2019.

The most recent deaths occurred in the 2019 Surabaya Marathon, where two participants collapsed and died before reaching the finish line. They were identified as Chusnun N. Djuraid, 60, and Dan Oentung P. Setiono, 55. Chusnun had reportedly been struggling with heart disease prior to his death.

Kamal said he was concerned about the recent spike in sudden deaths as Indonesia had been hosting more and more races each year.

“We saw a 33 percent [increase] in [marathons] from 2017 to 2018,” Kamal told The Jakarta Post, adding that the increase was to 341 marathons in 2018 from 288 in 2017.

“Before marathons became a trend, we only had one event every month. Now, there’s at least one marathon taking place every weekend.”

KedokteRAN2019 event committee chairman Jack Pradono Handojo said the deaths were largely the result of misconceptions surrounding marathons and what runners should or should not do to prepare for one.

A notable example, he explained, is the myth that wearing a parachute jacket while running would help people lose weight easily.

“The thing is, body fat melts at 100 degrees Celsius. When we wear parachute jacket while running, the heat trapped inside the jacket is 30 degrees to 38 degrees at the most, which does nothing to body fat.”

Furthermore, running in a jacket is dangerous because it slows the body’s natural ability to cool down, he added.

“Cooling down is an important process after exercising as it allows our heart rate to return to normal. When the process is delayed, we can face serious health risks, such as hypothermia or muscular injuries,” he said.

To prevent further deaths, Jack emphasized the importance for runners and marathon organizers to have first aid and first-response training.

One common but effective treatment is PRICE, which stands for protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation. First, the affected area should be protected to prevent further injury, which could be done by using a support.

The injured person should reduce their daily physical activity as well, and then apply an ice pack to the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes every two to three hours. It is also important to use elastic compression bandages to limit any swelling and keep the injured area raised above the level of the heart.

“People who have cardiovascular diseases and respiratory disorders should undergo [a medical] assessment prior to joining a marathon. Running is recommended to help them recover, but it is important to know your physical condition beforehand,” Jack said.

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