Second death confirmation rocks 2022 Comrades: 'Two deaths are two too many'

[HunterNW]

My dad always talked up how he ran the Comrades in canvas tennis shoes and cash in his pocket to pay for cool drinks along the way. He finished in 69th position.

The story convinced my brother to run the Comrades 10 times. Both their ashes were spread on Polly Shorts and they have plagues on the memorial wall. My brother was the fittest guy I knew having also done a dozen Ironmans. He died of a heart attack on a bicycle in the Eucalyptus forests of Dwellingup Australia.

RIP, This was his favourite and appropriate for these two runners as well:

Almost sounds like my dad. He ran the comrades 12 or 15 times. Best was 64th. Always took a handkerchief with him. (If the need to poo arises). Neither me or my boet felt the urge to run. One day he went for a jog and my boet accompanied him on his bicycle. Next thing he fells down. Massive heart attack.
This was the fittest man i knew. Didn't drink, smoked, all healthy living and exercise.
Now i'm the opposite. One year to go then i'm the same age as when he left this earth.

 

[r00igev@@r]

People said the race was rushed, 3 months to train, serious runners had to train harder and even take leave from work.
Quite a few runners collapsed, a few at the end in the stadium run, was funny, entertaining and sad to watch the guys collapse 5m from the finish line

Don't pull a hammie or slip on your nana getting up from the couch. That would be funny.

 

[Pak Fa Fui]

He like me wouldn't give a **** what I call it.

Yes but ashes, plagues and memorial wall doesn’t read well

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1564546349990907904

 

[G'Wobblez]

how many ran this year?
It's an extreme sport and how do you screen so many people.

 

[r00igev@@r]

how many ran this year?
It's an extreme sport and how do you screen so many people.

Need to run a qualifying marathon before the race or run the previous one.

 

[HunterNW]

Need to run a qualifying marathon before the race or run the previous one.

And belong to a club. My dad ran for the Kudus in Kempton Park.

 

[ForceFate]

Flu can also complicate matters. If you catch the bug, or had just recovered from a strong bout against flu, don't do endurance sport, or at least don't go all out like everything is normal.

 

[ShaunSA]

how many ran this year?
It's an extreme sport and how do you screen so many people.

The screening works just fine

Do people seriously think an event like this is never going to result in a fatality or two?

 

[TelkomUseless]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1564546349990907904

And it skipped for 2 years (since WW2?). People didn't get enough time to train etc IMHO.

 

[G'Wobblez]

Need to run a qualifying marathon before the race or run the previous one.

This I know, but health wise though. These people push very far across the limit.
I know how I feel running over my "limit"
Running ( ultra marathons ) isn't very healthy and the older you get more so.

It's like climbing Everest.
You know you can die doing it, and will be injured.

 

[HunterNW]

Flu can also complicate matters. If you catch the bug, or had just recovered from a strong bout against flu, don't do endurance sport, or at least don't go all out like everything is normal.

That's the guess around my dads death. He had the flu and still trained every day.

 

[G'Wobblez]

And it skipped for 2 years. People didn't get enough time to train etc IMHO.

we were allowed to run.
This is road running.

I think its a numbers game. How many people run.

 

[ShaunSA]

Flu can also complicate matters. If you catch the bug, or had just recovered from a strong bout against flu, don't do endurance sport.

Anything can complicate matters. Maybe he had a weak heart, maybe he didn't drink enough, maybe he didn't train enough, maybe his mind pushed his body too far, maybe, maybe, maybe.

Tbh I'd rather focus on the hordes who did successfully complete the race. Many of them looking like it was a stroll around the block. They are still a bunch of crazies. But the world needs a share of those.

 

[borro]

Climate change

 

[Nerfherder]

This. Particularly the mrna vaccines. There has been a huge jump in healthy people dropping dead in the last two years. I will try find the link.

Every year people die in or after the race. The strain is the same as having a heart attack.

If anything its a long term COVID effect.

 

[ForceFate]

That's the guess around my dads death. He had the flu and still trained every day.

It's the common misconception around "sweat it all out". My friend also does it despite warnings (he was a good middle distance athlete in his prime). May your father RIP

 

[ShaunSA]

And it skipped for 2 years (since WW2?). People didn't get enough time to train etc IMHO.

Bullschit. If you looked at so many of those runners they were bloody well trained!

Besides even in non-covid years you will get people who didn't train enough/right

 

[TelkomUseless]

we were allowed to run.
This is road running.

I think its a numbers game. How many people run.

When did they announce the comrades was open ? (I only heard of it last week, but I don't follow it)

 

[TelkomUseless]

Bullschit. If you looked at so many of those runners they were bloody well trained!

Besides even in non-covid years you will get people who didn't train enough/right

I agree with you. The "stats" guy on twitter made it sound like all a sudden there were 25% deaths.. but doesn't mention it was skipped too for 2 years (which impacts the stats)