Detroit Marathon Deaths: 3 Runners Die During Half Marathon In Detroit

Detroit Free Press:

Three men died this morning during the 32nd Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon, police and race officials have confirmed.

The first man to collapse was Daniel Langdon, 36, of Laingsburg, at about 9:02 a.m., said Rich Harshbarger, vice president of consumer marketing for the Detroit Media Partnership. Langdon was on Michigan Avenue, between the 11- and 12-mile markers.

Read the whole story: Detroit Free Press

Comments

[Myshkin57]

I'm betting hyponatremia is the culprit. It's easy for amateur athletes to drink too much water, particularly when it's cold out.

[wadenelson1]

Did any of them die from cardiac arrest, dehydration, or exhaustion?

Or were they all mugged down on Woodward Avenue?

[rich3324]

The odds of three runners all dying at the same race must be astronomical.

[itssafetosay]

All within 20 minutes of each other, and two died one minute apart. And in the age range of 20's, 30's, and 60's. Very odd.

[ChiGuy]

Call it a sign of the times, but the first thing that came to my mind is that some twisted person slipped something into a few of the drinks people hand to runners on the course.

I hope that isn't the case. But someone dying during a half-marathon - or even a full one - is abnormal, and to have three die during the same race just can't be a coincidence. (At least to me.)

[MoreDimensions]

According to local news, all three were running in the half marathon and all three had apparent cardiac arrest.

[DannyRose]

Aye, this sounds mighty fishy.

[Horst]

Phidippides died during the first marathon.......

[Decipherer]

Actually, it happened just afterward.

[TheWestLA-Banned]

It was a case of ki//ing the messenger...

[Mikecola]

I wonder how many will sign up for next year's Detroit Mort-A-Thon just for its new notoriety.

[dml48221]

Could very well have been the weather. I'm a marathon runner and cold weather can have a tremendous effert on the body. I have actually run this particular marathon. I noticed that all the runners who died collapsed between 9:00 and 9:30. The weather at race time was 28 degrees, below freezing and at 9:00 had only gotten up to 34 degrees. For those runners who died, they were running the race in temps below freezing.

[Decipherer]

So? Correlation is not causation. Please explain.

[blackandintact]

My heart goes out to their family. I am running NYC marathon in two weeks. It will be my 5th marathon. I think most people set of the goal of running a marathon without realizing how strenous it really is.

[Witchitalineman]

My condolences to the families. As someone who has run for the past 40 years, the benefits of running/jogging far outweigh any risk(s) involved.

[KIVPossum]

You get a bunch of people together doing something strenuous and someone will check out. If you had a wood splitting or snow shoveling contest, someone would have a heart attack. It's coincidental that three died in one race, but the story says these were the first deaths in the event since 1994, which is a good record.

[RefreshingTaste]

Its all because of man made global abuse.

[Mikecola]

It's because Detroit doesn't make spark plugs like they used to.

[grasyknol]

I known a friends and family members who have been avid runners. One aunt is now in her late 50s with all sort of problems with her joints and tendons. I prefer neighborhood walks and biking over running.

[Decipherer]

For most people, especially "aging athletes," long term cardiovascular and fitness benefits are derived mostly from walking, cycling, and swimming.

[dugmaze]

Did they all receive flu vaccines?

[lovbug]

very good question. This should be investigated, too much coincidence. Something maybe going on here.

[Decipherer]

How about that cuppa kawfee they must've had ahead of time? I suspect Starbucks is the culprit.

[dugmaze]

Here in St. Louis, we've had two teenage athletes die this summer. Both just collapsed while playing sports.

I have a video of a head professor from the University of Kentucky who briefly mentions mercury levels in our hearts to athletes who die. They found extremely high levels of mercury in the athletes.

It can't hurt to check. Maybe it's something new.

[swengnikaerb]

The vaccine is only available to first responders here in MI. And none fall into that category.

[dugmaze]

I said flu vaccine not swine flu vaccine.

Mercury prevents the heart from working properly. They're finding high levels of mercury in young athletes hearts who collapse on the field.

Here around St. Louis, we've had two teenagers die within the last year.

Maybe it's just coincidence but why not check?

[gwhizz]

Woo woo alert.

[dugmaze]

Is that all you offer?

[dugmaze]

I think they should check the mercury levels in the heart.

[lovbug]

why? what will that tell you?

[dugmaze]

Some althetes who collapse and die have extremely high levels of mercury in their hearts.

[hottingers]

It may just be me but I would prefer to have a loved one in not the greatest shape than be dead. You have to know your limits, not everyone can be a race runner.

[Myshkin57]

People almost never die of overexertion. I would bet anything they drank too much water, which is common for amateur athletes and deadly.