By MARILYNN MARCHIONE
Swim-bike-run triathlons pose at least twice the risk of sudden death as marathons do, the first study of these competitions has found.
The risk is mostly from heart problems during the swimming part. And while that risk is low — about 15 out of a million participants — it's not inconsequential, the study's author says.
Triathlons are soaring in popularity, especially as charity fundraisers. They are drawing many people who are not used to such demanding exercise. Each year, about 1,000 of these events are held and several hundred thousand Americans try one.
"It's something someone just signs up to do," often without a medical checkup to rule out heart problems, said Dr. Kevin Harris, a cardiologist at the Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. "They might prepare for a triathlon by swimming laps in their pool. That's a lot different than swimming in a lake or a river."
He led the study and presented results Saturday at an American College of Cardiology conference in Florida. The Minneapolis institute's foundation sponsored the work and tracks athlete-related sudden deaths in a national registry.
Marathon-related deaths made headlines in November 2007 when 28-year-old Ryan Shay died while competing in New York in the men's marathon Olympic trials. Statistics show that for every million participants in these 26.2-mile running races, there will be four to eight deaths.
The rate for triathletes is far higher — 15 out of a million, the new study shows. Almost all occurred during the swim portion, usually the first event.
"Anyone that jumps into freezing cold water knows the stress on the heart," said Dr. Lori Mosca, preventive cardiology chief at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and an American Heart Association spokeswoman. She had no role in the study but has competed in more than 100 triathlons, including the granddaddy — Hawaii's Ironman competition.
Cold water constricts blood vessels, making the heart work harder and aggravating any pre-existing problems. It also can trigger an irregular heartbeat. On top of this temperature shock is the stress of competition.
"It's quite frightening — there are hundreds of people thrashing around. You have to keep going or you're going to drown," Mosca said.
Swimmers can't easily signal for help or slow down to rest during swimming as they can in the biking or running parts of a triathlon, said Harris, who also has competed in these events. Rescuers may have trouble spotting someone in danger in a crowd of competitors in the lakes, rivers and oceans where these events typically are held, he added.
For the study, researchers used records on 922,810 triathletes competing in 2,846 USA Triathlon-sanctioned events between January 2006 and September 2008.
Of the 14 deaths identified, 13 occurred during swimming; the other was a bike crash. Autopsies on six of the victims showed that four had underlying heart problems. Two others had normal-looking hearts, but they may have suffered a fatal heart rhythm problem, Harris said.
A search of the Minneapolis registry and the Internet found four other triathlon-related deaths from 2006 through 2008 beyond those that occurred in the officially sanctioned events.
"While not a large risk, this is not an inconsequential number," Harris said.
Fundraising triathlons have enticed many runners to try to expand into areas like swimming, which they may not have learned to do very efficiently, to benefit particular charities, Mosca said.
"They're really recruiting people to do these events," she said. "It can be a recipe for disaster."
Doctors offer these tips to anyone considering a triathlon:
_Get a checkup to make sure you don't have hidden heart problems.
_Train adequately long before the event, including open-water swims — not just in pools.
_Acclimate yourself to the water temperature shortly before a race, and wear a wetsuit if it's too cold.
_Make sure the race has medical staff and defibrillators on site.
__
On the Net:
Heart meeting: http://www.acc.org
American Heart Association: http://americanheart.org
Registry: http://www.suddendeathathletes.org
PETA
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Monday, November 17, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
The first tri - Scary Swim...... - Part 1
And finally the race day arrived for which i was waiting for a long time. My first triathlon race The Music City Triathlon. Got up early at around 4:15 am and was ready. Maria came to pick me and Csaba along with our bikes. By 6:00 we were are the race place.
Then went through the basic checking of the stuff and got my bike and rest of the stuff in the transition area. A few familiar faces were around me from the University and also some from last nights dinner get together. Warmed up with a some stretching exercises. The weather predictions were not very good and since morning there were gusty winds blowing. We were praying to get the waters calm so that we could start properly and go along. By 7 i was ready with all the stuff laid out and ready to go.
Since entering the collegiate category i was in the first wave of the swimmers. So made a point to hit the shores a bit early to get the fee of the water. The signs were not good since there were high waves all over with gusty winds around and that was tough. Before the start an announcement was made that those who want to back due to the weather conditions can back out :) hmmmmmmm that's quite interesting for a first timer.
So as per the directions the WAVE 1 participants entered the water till a marker from where the start was given. And so finally started my maiden triathlon. The waves were quite high and initially i was not sure if i could even make it to the finish line because mid was the winds got too rough. But made a point to stay close to the other swimmers. I was hardly able to see the marker since every time i had my head up there was a big wave in front of me . At time i felt i was along .... freakkkkked out .... but all were around me :).
Mid way into the race even the race boats were not see as due to the bad weather they were not able to make it. And on the way back from the first marker i could see swimmers scattered all over and that was mostly because the waves were just throwing us around like anything. At the second marker for the turn towards the shores i was able to see the lighthouse and the pack of swimmers.
But the cross winds were drifting all of us away from the shore. That was the last part but completely against the wind.... i could see most of the swimmers going to the other side they just could make it against the winds. But all of them were trying their best. Finally made it to the shores and that too in a comparatively higher end of the pack. The best part was that made it to the shores. Half way towards the shores we were told that the swim part of the race was canceled due to the rough weather conditions. So of the total of 14 WAVES only fist three WAVES made it to the water.
The race was stopped for some 45 mins just to make sure that everyone was out of the water and no one was left in there. Later swimmers were helped by the boats and some who had drifted to the other end to come to the race point.
In all the first tri swim was really really scary. But was very happy that i made it and that gives me a good confidence for the later races to come.
Then went through the basic checking of the stuff and got my bike and rest of the stuff in the transition area. A few familiar faces were around me from the University and also some from last nights dinner get together. Warmed up with a some stretching exercises. The weather predictions were not very good and since morning there were gusty winds blowing. We were praying to get the waters calm so that we could start properly and go along. By 7 i was ready with all the stuff laid out and ready to go.
Since entering the collegiate category i was in the first wave of the swimmers. So made a point to hit the shores a bit early to get the fee of the water. The signs were not good since there were high waves all over with gusty winds around and that was tough. Before the start an announcement was made that those who want to back due to the weather conditions can back out :) hmmmmmmm that's quite interesting for a first timer.
So as per the directions the WAVE 1 participants entered the water till a marker from where the start was given. And so finally started my maiden triathlon. The waves were quite high and initially i was not sure if i could even make it to the finish line because mid was the winds got too rough. But made a point to stay close to the other swimmers. I was hardly able to see the marker since every time i had my head up there was a big wave in front of me . At time i felt i was along .... freakkkkked out .... but all were around me :).
Mid way into the race even the race boats were not see as due to the bad weather they were not able to make it. And on the way back from the first marker i could see swimmers scattered all over and that was mostly because the waves were just throwing us around like anything. At the second marker for the turn towards the shores i was able to see the lighthouse and the pack of swimmers.
But the cross winds were drifting all of us away from the shore. That was the last part but completely against the wind.... i could see most of the swimmers going to the other side they just could make it against the winds. But all of them were trying their best. Finally made it to the shores and that too in a comparatively higher end of the pack. The best part was that made it to the shores. Half way towards the shores we were told that the swim part of the race was canceled due to the rough weather conditions. So of the total of 14 WAVES only fist three WAVES made it to the water.
The race was stopped for some 45 mins just to make sure that everyone was out of the water and no one was left in there. Later swimmers were helped by the boats and some who had drifted to the other end to come to the race point.
In all the first tri swim was really really scary. But was very happy that i made it and that gives me a good confidence for the later races to come.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Bumpy roads
A good article i came across regarding the increase in the usage of bicycle around due to increase in the gas prices .........
Bumpy roads
Jul 31st 2008 | SEATTLE
From The Economist print edition
It’s not all free wheeling
WITH petrol the price it is, more and more people are riding a bicycle to work. In Broward County, Florida, about 35,000 people a month typically put their bicycles on a bus bike-rack, thereby shortening a cycle commute. In May of this year, 68,000 people did so. Denver saw 25,000 people register for a recent “bike to work” day, up from 15,000 a year ago. In Seattle cyclists complain about a shortage of bike stands, while in Portland, Oregon, some 6,000 cyclists cross just one of the city’s many bridges each morning.
Bicycle-boosters are thrilled with the sudden popularity of their humble machine. “Ridership is just skyrocketing,” says Elizabeth Preston of the League of American Bicyclists, a Washington, DC, advocacy group (even cyclists have lobbyists these days). Performance Bicycles, a retailer with shops in 15 states, says bicycle sales in June were the highest ever recorded.
But cycling’s popularity has a downside. The people of Portland, for instance, have been entertained over the past few days by a series of altercations between bicyclists and motorists. In one, a motorist and cyclist came to blows after the motorist berated the pedal-pusher for ignoring a stop sign. The enraged cyclist used his bike to batter the motorist’s car until a bystander punched him.
In Seattle, meanwhile, two cyclists were arrested after they attacked a motorist during a so-called “Critical Mass” ride, events where large groups of cyclists ride through city streets to demonstrate their right to the road. New York cyclists are up in arms about an incident in which a police officer, for no apparent reason, knocked a cyclist off his bike and then arrested him and tried to pretend the man had run into him until a video recording proved him wrong. And in Colorado, reports the Los Angeles Times, cyclists have been feuding with the sheriff of Larimer County for his aggressive—cyclists say unreasonable— enforcement of bike-related traffic laws. More seriously, most bicycle advocates say cycling deaths are sharply up, although the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has no figures as yet for 2008.
After years of federal and local spending on bike routes and other amenities, most cities are ready to handle more cyclists. But many motorists simply don’t see their two-wheeled brethren or, when they do, find them aggravating. Managing more cyclists is going to take more than new bike paths or fresh stripes on the roads. It looks as though there is a need, on both sides, for a revolution in manners.
Bumpy roads
Jul 31st 2008 | SEATTLE
From The Economist print edition
It’s not all free wheeling
WITH petrol the price it is, more and more people are riding a bicycle to work. In Broward County, Florida, about 35,000 people a month typically put their bicycles on a bus bike-rack, thereby shortening a cycle commute. In May of this year, 68,000 people did so. Denver saw 25,000 people register for a recent “bike to work” day, up from 15,000 a year ago. In Seattle cyclists complain about a shortage of bike stands, while in Portland, Oregon, some 6,000 cyclists cross just one of the city’s many bridges each morning.
Bicycle-boosters are thrilled with the sudden popularity of their humble machine. “Ridership is just skyrocketing,” says Elizabeth Preston of the League of American Bicyclists, a Washington, DC, advocacy group (even cyclists have lobbyists these days). Performance Bicycles, a retailer with shops in 15 states, says bicycle sales in June were the highest ever recorded.
But cycling’s popularity has a downside. The people of Portland, for instance, have been entertained over the past few days by a series of altercations between bicyclists and motorists. In one, a motorist and cyclist came to blows after the motorist berated the pedal-pusher for ignoring a stop sign. The enraged cyclist used his bike to batter the motorist’s car until a bystander punched him.
In Seattle, meanwhile, two cyclists were arrested after they attacked a motorist during a so-called “Critical Mass” ride, events where large groups of cyclists ride through city streets to demonstrate their right to the road. New York cyclists are up in arms about an incident in which a police officer, for no apparent reason, knocked a cyclist off his bike and then arrested him and tried to pretend the man had run into him until a video recording proved him wrong. And in Colorado, reports the Los Angeles Times, cyclists have been feuding with the sheriff of Larimer County for his aggressive—cyclists say unreasonable— enforcement of bike-related traffic laws. More seriously, most bicycle advocates say cycling deaths are sharply up, although the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has no figures as yet for 2008.
After years of federal and local spending on bike routes and other amenities, most cities are ready to handle more cyclists. But many motorists simply don’t see their two-wheeled brethren or, when they do, find them aggravating. Managing more cyclists is going to take more than new bike paths or fresh stripes on the roads. It looks as though there is a need, on both sides, for a revolution in manners.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Dreams made for some ... destroyed for some ........
While Phelps was breaking all the records that came along his way to make history there were some who quite actually were confident to make history of their but then could not realise those dreams come true.
Grant Hackett would have become the first male swimmer to win the same event in three consecutive Olympics and came very close in the 1500 freestyle to miss it by 0.69 secs.
An idol for long distance swimmers and one of the greats of all time though always under the shadow of Ian Thorpe ......... he still is one of the greatest long distance swimmers i have seen. Vladimir Salnikov was the greatest long distance swimmer before him who too was eluded of this feat. I did not personally see Salnikov swim in the races but he is considered one.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/17/2337854.htm?site=olympics/2008
Grant Hackett would have become the first male swimmer to win the same event in three consecutive Olympics and came very close in the 1500 freestyle to miss it by 0.69 secs.
An idol for long distance swimmers and one of the greats of all time though always under the shadow of Ian Thorpe ......... he still is one of the greatest long distance swimmers i have seen. Vladimir Salnikov was the greatest long distance swimmer before him who too was eluded of this feat. I did not personally see Salnikov swim in the races but he is considered one.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/17/2337854.htm?site=olympics/2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Friday 15th August......
The 61st Independence day celebrated in India. It feels so good to read about all the news on the independence day and you missed it. Its something, that when you are around you never care for those things but when you are away you just miss them like anything.
And then away from home on a different soil you miss it much more. You enjoy the 4th of July fireworks but surely miss the Hindi commentary from the Red Fort on DD.
Just one more day passes by .....................
JAI HIND.......
And then away from home on a different soil you miss it much more. You enjoy the 4th of July fireworks but surely miss the Hindi commentary from the Red Fort on DD.
Just one more day passes by .....................
JAI HIND.......
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