Train for the end . . .
Wow. That’s pretty definitive. Almost a million people over 3 years: Basically everyone who died of heart failure during a race (13) did so during the swim, one bike crash and no deaths during the run.
And that doesnt take into account the many more that die in training…Many good friends of ours have died that way, and funny thing is that it is usually the bike or run in training. Dont hear about too many swim deaths outside of racing, but lots in the other two sports…
- glad my background is in swimming
- sounds like a lot of these are people who are probably undertrained (though admittedly some are just those freak accidents–which does scare me a little)
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The replies to the article on the 'star tribune ’ article are very good.
It seems to me it is mainly men in about their mid 50’s who are dying of heart attacks. Many of them also die while working under stressful conditions. One guy actually had a heart attack at work here last year and was bought around with a defibulator, and is back working again.
One inactive boss I had said he didn’t exercise because you only have ‘so many miles on the clock’. Two years later at 58 he had a triple heart by pass. Three weeks ago a guy died on a mountain bike race/course near where I am writing from now; but he had had a bypass only 2 years ago. People are pushing things pretty hard.
20 years ago or so when marathon was at its peak there were more deaths in very fit runners; and it looked like some were due to ‘over doing it’.
My own 2 cents worth is not to train/race hard if you have a virus or are getting over one because that can affect the heart muscle wall and do permanent damage.
A guy died in NZ last year in the swim of a triathlon, but I think if the triathlon had started with the bike leg first he might have died then; that is at the start of the physical exertion.
The above said be sensible during the swim and prepare as well as you can. I have done many triathlons and still like to swim to the side of the pack in clean water; it is less stress and nicer.
The article is poorly written/bad because it doesn’t mention the benefits of a healthy lifestyle of exercising sensibly. Probably written by some fat sedentry journalist; either that or someone with limited intelligence who likes to sensationalise things. The article is not written in a balance manner like it should be for the general population to read. Don’t read or pay for that sort of rubbish.
G.
Some of the swim deaths may have been from drowning after a heartattack and if
they had been on the run or bike may have survived. Nonatheletic reports seem to be sensationalized
out of proportion for the consumption of the massed.
There was a recent article in Triathlete mag about Atrial Fib. It was vague but somewhat
understandably so because there are no real good studies on atheletes with A Fib.
A woman wrote to the editor seemingly hysterical how A Fib had destroyed their family etc which is BS
It’s all individual emotionally and physically. I have intermittent A Fib and function just fine but when I go into A Fib
my ability to perform goes way down. At Clearwater in 07 I noticed I was in A Fib 5-6 mi into the bike
and my legs felt like I had run 2 marathons the same day but I was able to finish the race. When I downloaded
my HR monitor I had actually gone into A Fib about 5 min into the swim.
This all to say we all enjoy what we do and each case in individual.
Mike
One inactive boss I had said he didn’t exercise because you only have ‘so many miles on the clock’. Two years later at 58 he had a triple heart by pass.
I find that excuse such a load of crap.
Because im in shape my HR lets say at rest is
50 bpm * 60 mins * 22 hours=66000
+
140bpm * 60 mins * 2 hours= 16800
= 82800
compared to someone who is not in shape with a HR of 80 bpm
80 * 60 mins 24 hours = 115200
I’m glad my finite number of beats in my life will last longer…
Years ago I crunched those same numbers (total HR beats per day/week/year) and determined that gentle yoga, very low HR workouts, a super healthy diet and low weight would put someone at say 50-60 bpm almost all day long and therefore be best 
Hard work and stress make it worse. Therefore slack at your job, too And don’t marry the wrong person or have nasty kids.