Staff Writer
Two
runners unexpectedly passed away running the Rock N’ Roll Half Marathon in
Raleigh. The name of one man, age 31, has not been released yet due to privacy
issues. Derrick Myers, age 35, was the second man to pass away. The 31-year-old man collapsed at the finish
line while Myers passed along the 10- and 11-mile markers. The Wake County EMS
and race medical personnel immediately took action but were unfortunately
unable to revive the men. The causes of death have not been officially
released; however, doctors at the event believe it to be the result of
undiagnosed cardiac abnormalities. Dr. Jeff Bymtomski, head medical team
physician at Duke University, said, “It’s just an inherent risk at these races.
It’s still a very low risk, but it happens.”
Runners’
deaths at races are relatively rare. A study done by the New England Journal of
Medicine discovered that out of nearly eleven million participants in marathons
and half-marathons between 2000 and 2011, there were only forty-two fatalities
total. Even if participants are regular runners, they can sometimes have
underlying medical problems. Runners are highly encouraged to get checked out
by a doctor prior to a race to ensure that they are in the proper health
condition.
