Yesterday, a 32 year-old man died just after crossing the finish line of the Rock & Roll San Antonio Marathon & Half-marathon. Cause of death remains unknown, including after an initial autopsy performed this morning.
In a related article, the local paper published a quote from another gentleman who finished the half:
"‘After 26.2 miles, the body needs replenishing, and bagels, water and Fritos won’t do it,’ he said. ‘Protein is critical. I was very disappointed in this experience.’”
From what I can recall in the now-eight marathons (not counting halves or Ironman) I’ve run, that seems to be standard fare. What kind of food have you seen at marathons?
They are pretty much always giving out Muscle Milk or that horrid Gatorade Recovery protein drink at every race in the last year I can remember (this includes the RnR Chicago Half).
They were giving out comparable fare at the NY Marathon (Gatorade Recovery, pretzels, apple). Protein is important for recovery, but it’s hard for me to imagine that a lack of protein is somehow dangerous. A bagel and some kind of carbohydrate drink should be more than enough for immediate post-race needs.
If you ask me, people need to show some level of personal accountability. The NYRR informed us in advance what the recovery food would be… wasn’t what I wanted or felt was needed for my own needs, so I packed a Muscle Milk in my bag. RD’s can’t be responsible for everything.
If you ask me, people need to show some level of personal accountability. The NYRR informed us in advance what the recovery food would be… wasn’t what I wanted or felt was needed for my own needs, so I packed a Muscle Milk in my bag. RD’s can’t be responsible for everything.
This^^^. I always bring my own recovery drink powder. Just add water. They have water, right?
Most of the local races I’ve done have some sort of pasta salad, fruit, nuts, and some sort of drink besides water. I usually pound my own drink then graze on the provided food. Then I go get a cheese burger.
I was a little irritated once after finishing an IM and they had pizza. It just didn’t look, sound, or smell good to me. But others seemed to enjoy it, so there you go.
I am the RD for a medium sized 5K and every year at least two individuals who answer our post-race survey tell me that my post-race refreshments were insufficient as there was no protein available. One day I will figure out who these 2 people are and give then a side a peanut butter with their bagel/roll.
I am the RD for a medium sized 5K and every year at least two individuals who answer our post-race survey tell me that my post-race refreshments were insufficient as there was no protein available. One day I will figure out who these 2 people are and give then a side a peanut butter with their bagel/roll.
I don’t rely on races to give me anymore than what is advertised, but is it really that hard to go buy a jug of peanut butter if you consistently have customers request it?
It wouldn’t be a huge deal to buy a jar of peanut butter but it would cost us anywhere from $1000-1500 worth of fees for the health department. If we sever any type of open food (and yes a jar of peanut butter would be considered open food as we asked), we would need to pay for a food safety inspection and related costs. And we would have to have a volunteer, spread the peanut butter on each runner’s bagel as in order to comply with the rules, we just couldn’t leave it out and have it be self serve.
I guess we could buy 2000 packets of single serve peanut butter but I feel my budget is better spent on things such as timing, course safety, and reasonable entry fees.
It wouldn’t be a huge deal to buy a jar of peanut butter but it would cost us anywhere from $1000-1500 worth of fees for the health department. If we sever any type of open food (and yes a jar of peanut butter would be considered open food as we asked), we would need to pay for a food safety inspection and related costs. And we would have to have a volunteer, spread the peanut butter on each runner’s bagel as in order to comply with the rules, we just couldn’t leave it out and have it be self serve.
I guess we could buy 2000 packets of single serve peanut butter but I feel my budget is better spent on things such as timing, course safety, and reasonable entry fees.
Ever since becoming an RD, my eyes have been opened up to a whole new level of bureaucracy. I can’t imagine what the big city marathons have to go through to put on a race.
They were giving out comparable fare at the NY Marathon (Gatorade Recovery, pretzels, apple). Protein is important for recovery, but it’s hard for me to imagine that a lack of protein is somehow dangerous. A bagel and some kind of carbohydrate drink should be more than enough for immediate post-race needs.
If you ask me, people need to show some level of personal accountability. The NYRR informed us in advance what the recovery food would be… wasn’t what I wanted or felt was needed for my own needs, so I packed a Muscle Milk in my bag. RD’s can’t be responsible for everything.
Considering the man who died purportedly went into cardiac arrest seconds after crossing the finish, I, too, cannot see how a lack of protein was at fault. After pacing the full marathon, a bagel, two bottles of water, and a bottle of Cytomax (all of which were provided) were enough to tide me over until I got changed and caught a ride to my favorite restaurant. Personally, I think it was just too hot & humid for people to maintain their desired pace. Of the ~20 people who started out with me for a 4:15 finish, zero of them were able to hold on past mile 14 or 15, which is where the heat started to get…noticeable.
Not sure if RRSA advertised what would be served at the finish, but I thought what they had was adequate. Whatever winds up getting served, I’m sure someone will complain.
