Very fit runner dies in Tuson marathon

I hate reading stories like this. Reminds me that running is the 'cure all' some of us like to think it is.

I feel for his family. I know what it is like to lose someone suddenly to unknown heart problems (assuming that is what is was).

Will be interesting to see what the autopsy says. He's not the first "fit" person to die during a marathon. Usually the problem has to do with dehydration, or TOO much water, or a previously undetected heart ailment.

Sad story though no matter the cause.

Flagpole Willy wrote:

Will be interesting to see what the autopsy says. He's not the first "fit" person to die during a marathon. Usually the problem has to do with dehydration, or TOO much water, or a previously undetected heart ailment.

Sad story though no matter the cause.

i agree. sad to see it.

as an aside, i was not aware that there are deaths in races due to dehydration. i thought, and maybe i am wrong, that this was a bit of an urban legend. i am aware that there are people who die of TOO much water.

I remember reading one of his articles are few years back. he was extremely fit. very sad.

I hadn't though of hypnoatremia! A good friend almost died 400 yards from the finish line at Western Staes this summer. He had a 10-15 minute lead in the race when he stepped onto the track, and yet was unable to finish the final 400m on his own. He had been weight monitored, but things just got a little too out of control.Unless the guy has a Jim Fixx-like family/personal history (very early heart disease), hypnoatremia would seem the most likely scenario, Thanks FW

Flagpole Willy wrote:

Will be interesting to see what the autopsy says. He's not the first "fit" person to die during a marathon. Usually the problem has to do with dehydration, or TOO much water, or a previously undetected heart ailment.

Sad story though no matter the cause.

ajackass wrote:

I remember reading one of his articles are few years back. he was extremely fit. very sad.

from the article:

----------

"At 21 1/2 miles, Witkes had run at a pace of 6 minutes, 35 seconds per mile, according to the race results.

...

The ultramarathon runner had a sports blog and a Web site, on which he wrote about his passions: running, the Red Sox, biking, Durango and Colorado mountain living.

An athlete for 20 years, Witkes had competed in 30 marathons and 25 ultramarathons, including the Double and Triple Ironman and the Sri Chinmoy 700-mile run, he wrote on the Web site. "

-----------

not that it makes it more tragic, but he appears to have been in very good shape.

maybe if he hadn't been competing during the last 20 years he would have died 10-15 years ago.

I was there in Tucson: Witkes was actually about to finish in a 3:20 when he collapsed close to mile 26, according to other people who were there. The splits on that course are totally incorrect, so pay them no mind. The halfway point was more like mile 14 and mile 21.5 was actually more like mile 19 ...

I feel terrible for his family and friends.

That $2,000 digital imaging heart scan is looking better and better to me all the time now.

sam w wrote:

Flagpole Willy wrote:

Will be interesting to see what the autopsy says. He's not the first "fit" person to die during a marathon. Usually the problem has to do with dehydration, or TOO much water, or a previously undetected heart ailment.

Sad story though no matter the cause.

i agree. sad to see it.

as an aside, i was not aware that there are deaths in races due to dehydration. i thought, and maybe i am wrong, that this was a bit of an urban legend. i am aware that there are people who die of TOO much water.

I know I've read stories where they said it was dehydration, that killed a runner, but a quick search at Google couldn't produce any. If it is true, I agree that it would be the lesser of the three causes I mentioned.

The splits they had on the Tucson Marathon site where the info of 6:35 for 21.5 was off. That split was well before 21.5 miles.

On the comments to the article, someone wrote he was in an accident and his body may never fully recovered from it.