"Death" article?

[Justin]

I'm not sure if all you guys have read this article by Kevin: tristaterunnur.com/article1.html

It has the following sub title: "Death by running a possibility athletes must consider"

Although a somewhat interesting read, I'm not sure about the purpose. What was the point? Seems like "normal" media sensationalism to me. Most of these runners that have died while running have had previously undetected, and often times undetectable, genetic problems with their hearts. Running may have brought these defects to the surface, but so would have any strenuous activity. Running isn't to blame. I really don't agree with the sub title personally. Why do I have to consider death? I for one don't want to live my life afraid. If I would consider that when I leave the house for a run that it may be the last thing I ever do, I believe I would turn back around and go back home. I don't believe that's a way to live.

I do like the part of the article that urges people to prepare for the event before participating, so I'm not going to be 100% critical.

[kevinspradlin]

Perhaps it could be interpreted to consider that others are putting themselves at risk and, if a kind fellow runner looks to his/her left or right and sees a fellow runner in distress, perhaps that runner will notify a race official or simply ask, "hey, are you OK?"

Runners are an obstinate bunch. We rarely know when to stop. The possibility an injury or death could be prevented by simply asking if someone's alright seems like a reasonable approach to me. The article was inspired by what happened this past weekend in Charleston, an area I consider within Tristaterunnur.com's regional coverage area.

I never said, directly or otherwise, that runners should be afraid. That's just silly. Running, to me at least, is all about freedom. I have enough places and responsibilities in life that I have to worry about the parameters. Running shouldn't be one of them.

And if I left the house each afternoon thinking that training run might be the last thing I ever do, I wouldn't turn around and head back indoors. I'd run as well as I could.

But, thanks for reading and beginning a new discussion thread. I was wondering where everyone had gone... must be training up hard for the GAR.

[baldisbetter]

If the Doctor gave me 7 minutes to live; I would lace up my running shoes and get in my last mile. There I would be on the ground with a smile on my face knowing that I died doing what I love. How many people can say that?

Don't be afraid, stand at the edge of the abyss and run in at race pace!

[Justin]

I totally agree Rob, but the feeling I get from the article is that the choice is to run and die or not run and not die. There is a difference. Running isn't the 100% cause of these deaths and shouldn't be singled out.

[frojoe23]

A Jaron statistic for everybody: 100 percent of all people die!

I thought about going to Charleston this past weekend, and I am glad that I didn't. I know that it had to be a warm day down there - pretty humid. Plus, Charleston is a tough course. I think Kevin's article is more about knowing your limitations and realizing that some days you shouldn't push it to the limit. For example, last night was very warm and we all had a workout to do, but the three of us (Rob, Jeremy, myself) all felt pretty bad. We skipped the workout and got the miles in because an effort like that when you are not at your best and in those conditions could be deadly.

I'll end with another Jaron statistic for everybody to think about: You are 100 more likely to die later than sooner!

[Justin]

I think getting those workouts in non-ideal conditions is really good practice for racing in non-ideal conditions. That doesn't mean you shouldn't be flexible with your trianing, but sometimes the long runs in the heat and humidity, or workouts in thunderstorms are a blessing in disguise.

Sorry guys, I may just be cranky lately because of a heavy training week and "baby sleep". I just don't have time to waste time on thinking about dying.

[baldisbetter]

All kidding aside, an article of this nature which is intended to be informative, can give the audience a false impression of running as a sport. A parent that is not familiar with running may read this article and develop a prejudice against the sport. We have a responsibility to the broader community to provide a balanced accounting of running issues. If an article is published on the site about running deaths then the article should include stats from football, basketball, baseball, etc…

Since, the intent here is to raise awareness and inform the community of the risks associated with running. Let’s agree not to use fear as an approach to educate.

[frojoe23]

The statistician Robert Smith has spoken!

I think that is a valid point - it could be compared with how many deaths there are from all those 9th grade, 5 foot 8 inch, 260 pound wannabe football players that hit the turf during two-a-days in the middle of August.

Another Jaron statistic: 50 percent of the world's people really equal 80 percent of the world's people mass.

[kevinspradlin]

Yes, I could have researched deaths in other sports. But that wasn't what the article was about and wasn't relevant to the forum I was writing for. As you know, Tristaterunnur.com is a site for runners. I'm sure Darrell isn't going to start showing up and video taping Campers football games. There's an outlet for other sports. Tristaterunnur.com is not that outlet.

What the article was intended to do was take a very recent tragedy - this past weekend - and discuss it in a public forum and generate thought among fellow runners, a community comprised of members who might be concerned or take note of the incident.

Thanks to Justin and others, this has been continued in a mostly positive manner. However, I am concerned about Justin's comments. Not because they're from him or the comments themselves, but anytime anyone puts anything in print, the reader is left to perceive the writing as he or she desires. Justin took the article in a "runner-be-afraid, be-very-afraid" tone. I would imagine that while he's not the only one who could have interpreted the article in that manner, I'm sure many others did not.

I consider Westminster my "hometown" running club and was saddened to learn last spring when a 6-year-old died shortly after completing the Main Street Mile. I wasn't there in 2007 when it happened, but I had spoken to Connor and his family members in previous years and I was there in 2008 when they dedicated the fun run as the Connor Smith Run and honored the top boy and girl from that division as Connor Smith Memorial Award winners.

So, in a personal way, the Charleston incident touched off memories of what happened in Westminster. That's what ignited the article. A running-related website was kind enough to publish it. This running-related site was thoughtful enough to continue the discussion. How on earth is any of that a bad thing?

Justin, I don't know you very well at all but I am surprised at the negative tone with which you read this article. Let's hope you get some extra sleep in the coming days and weeks, your training continues to go well and we can be a little more positive.

You mentioned I was exploiting the situation. Well, if the fact that I wrote the article shortly after I learned of the event exploited the situation, then yes, I suppose I did. But Rob noted the fear should not be used as a tool to educate. This article was voluntarily read by those who did so, I would assume. With that in mind, I ask you: when is a message of concern and safety most likely to be received by an attentive audience?

On a far different note, what color is today's federal terrorism warning? I don't even know if the government is still using such a tool to warn Americans of a threat. But I'll bet many people knew the other in the days and weeks following 9/11 - because there was a direct, timely event with which to associate such warnings.

Car accidents - from drunk driving to speeding to falling asleep - could serve the same purpose. When is MADD most effective? Probably shortly after visiting the scene of a violent, possibly fatal car crash in which innocent people get hurt or killed.

Runners are, along the race route, at least, innocent people. Why would someone have an issue with an article using a recent event to attempt to inform the voluntarily reading public about risks in a running-related outlet? Makes sense to me.

[Justin]

I don't think I've been overtly negative, just honest criticism. I never used the word exploit, I said sensationalism, there's a difference.

Read the sub-title and honestly tell me that isn't a message of fear. "Death By Running..."

[baldisbetter]

Honestly, what message does this send to parents that have freshman running XC and are new to running?

"However unlikely, there’s always a chance
Death by running a possibility athletes must consider

By Kevin Spradlin
Tristaterunnur.com

CUMBERLAND – Google ‘runner died.’ Go ahead. I’ll wait.
Didn’t think there were that many results, did you? Fact is, there is a chance, no matter how slight, that any race in which you are in charge or choose to compete, someone will not make it out alive''.

[frojoe23]

Maybe the subtitle isn't so alluring, but the article itself is realistic. It happens - people die while running. It doesn't happen that often (I'm pretty sure that you have a better chance of being struck by lightning), but it still happens. And it could happen to any one of us.

I think the article was more of a "Always be aware that it could happen to you or your running partner and be prepared to help prevent the death outcome by training properly."

One more statistic: 100 percent of people have differing opinions

[baldisbetter]

We could fall down on the treadmill and have our face ground off. Right SaintRalph

Emily thingyinson
Because I could not stop for Death --
He kindly stopped for me --
The Carriage held but just Ourselves --
And Immortality.

We slowly drove -- He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility?

We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess -- in the Ring --
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain --
We passed the Setting Sun --

Or rather -- He passed Us --
The Dews drew quivering and chill --
For only Gossamer, my Gown --
My Tippet -- only Tulle --

We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground --
The Roof was scarcely visible --
The Cornice -- in the Ground --

Since then -- 'tis Centuries -- and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads
Were toward Eternity --

[kevinspradlin]

Yes, we could fall on the treadmill and experience tragedy. But that didn't happen in Charleston or in any other instance I referenced in the article.

Sorry, Justin, for the incorrect use of the word "exploit" to "sensationalism." But I disagree that the headline or the tone of the article is sensationalized. Hardly. It's a column, not a news story. And it's on a running website, not a media website - and mission accomplished, it caught someone's attention. But you used a weighted phrase, too - possibly to capture a reader's attention - by calling the article the "death" article. Instead, you could have used "kevin's article on tristaterunnur.com" or "the runner safety article" or something to that effect.

And never once did I blame running, largely for two reasons. First, it simply isn't true. Second, I love the sport too much and work too hard to promote it as much as I can to "damage" it unnecessarily. That's not to say that if a study came out from a reputable scientist and said "running will make you grow a tail" that I wouldn't write an article (or a column, depending) on the issue.

I didn't clearly come out and say that running wasn't to be blamed. That would have been useful, I admit - and thank you, Justin, for pointing that out. But please know I'm doing this on my own time without aid of an editor to proof things over. Thus, a typo here and there or the misuse of a word or phrase every now and again. It's going to happen.

As for what message it might send to new runners or parents of new runners ... perhaps the parent would ensure their student-athlete is thoroughly checked out by a medical doctor instead of the current practice of what are, in my personal opinion, sham physical exams currently required in order to participate in high school sports.

Again, it's a safety issue. I don't see anything wrong with that. You see, it got people talking - unfortunately, some people got off message - but dialogue is rarely a bad thing.

[Justin]

My weighted phrase for the topic was to make a point, satire if you will, of what you did in your article.

I also strongly disagree that you never blamed running for these deaths. In the subtitle you start with the words "Death BY Running" This indicates to me that running is the cause of these deaths.

As with Rob's post earlier, there can really be no argument against the fact that the driving emotion of the piece is fear.

I really do appreciate your writing for the web-site and the writing about the local runners for the paper, but because the writing is done on a volunteer basis doesn't mean it is out of reach for criticism.

I agree each athlete should be checked out before participating in sports, and maybe more thoroughly than the usual physical, but truthfully most of these instances of runners dying during competition are from undetectable hereditary defects, so really preventative measures are limited.