Matters of the Heart: Risking it All for the Marathon

By Don Allison
For Active.com

As most long-distance runners and fans know, the sport suffered a great tragedy this year in New York City when Ryan Shay--one of the USA's top marathoners--died suddenly in the early miles of the Olympic Trials Marathon.

What many people may not know is the next day a 50-year-old runner, Dr. Matthew Hardy, died after running the New York City Marathon. While both deaths were tragic, Shay's received much more media attention. Not surprising given his youth, stature as an elite athlete and that his death occurred in a championship race.

In addition to the sincere outpouring of grief for Ryan Shay, the topic of sudden death surrounding the marathon arose again. Since autopsies on Shay have so far proved inconclusive, many speculated that if a supremely-trained and seemingly healthy elite runner could be struck down, they too might be vulnerable.

Interestingly, many veteran runners past the age of 50 were far more shaken by Ryan Shay's death than they were by that of the 50-year-old Hardy, with whom they were much more likely to have something in common.

While the reaction to Ryan Shay's untimely death may seem a predictable response, it's based more on emotion than logic and probability. His death, and Hardy's for that matter, will have no real effect on your chances of experiencing a similar fate during a marathon.

Are You at Risk?