Got this request from a participant in a 10k.
"I woke up at the ambulance and they told me that I passed out in 100 yards before finish line. I got to ER, spend a day there and by the end of the day I felt much better. Today I received bill from ambulance for their service.I wasn't able to find any information on your web-site about medical support in general and ambulance in particular. In my understanding such big and well-organized races supposed to provide and cover emergent medical assistant, as well as ambulance expenses."
After brief investigation, athlete is experienced, 30-something male who participates in anything and everything. Footraces of varied distances up to ultra, Spartan and other obstacle-oriented races, triathlons of varying distance up to at least 1/2 IM.
The day was warm, but nothing out of the ordinary. Athletes weren't denied water and this athlete hasn't alleged being denied anything along the course. There was obviously something not right about this guy as he started the race, and I don't suspect it was the sort of thing the race should have noticed at packet pickup or as he entered the corral.
As an attorney, I'm trying to figure out a way to politely respond, but I'm curious - has anyone ever heard of submitting your gatorade or advil bill to a race after you're done? Do any races entertain these sorts of requests?
It's creative - never heard of it. I guess I'd understand if he was treated for a head wound after he fell in a hole along the course. But I'm sure if we looked at his credit card receipts we'd see visits to any number of local taverns the evening before.
This could lead to an entirely new discussion...why the hell some of these "endurance athletes" find races like 10k so beneath them (and it's showing in race registrations around the country).
Your thoughts?