Is it safe to run a marathon?

This article is taken from Runner's World. Actually it isn't a bad idea dying while running....die happy what..

So sorry, Doc, to hear one of your runners at the NYC marathon didn’t make it. It seems that every time I pick up the newspaper after a major marathon, I hear of a death. Is it really safe to run a marathon? - Jeffrey S., Chicago

Thanks, Jeffrey. This question already has my office phones ringing off the hook. (Actually, two runners died after last weekend's New York City Marathon.) It's a timely topic, too, as Amby Burfoot writes at length about this in the December 2008 issue of Runner's World; click here to read his special report.)

On the days following a marathon, not only am I treating all the aches and pains associated with running this event, I am also answering this sort of question. Time to re-emphasize some important points I first wrote about in my post "Can I prevent 'sudden death' while exercising?" back in November 2007.

Marathon running is safe for those cleared by their doctors to compete. Although the worldwide statistic is about one death in 50,000 participants or one in 75,000 (depending on the study), and this is quite small, whenever you get a large number of people together in one place, there are “expected” demises.

All who experience “sudden death” have an underlying cause. This points out the need for everyone to get a stress test after age 40 or earlier if recommended by their physician and get checked if they experience chest pain, pressure, shortness of breath, or some other abnormal feeling while exercising. This also points out the need for everyone to fill out the medical information label on the back of their bib number so as to make it easier for emergency personnel to take care of you if needed.

Speaking of which, here's an example of the kind of story you don’t read about:

In this year's marathon, a man was resuscitated on the 59th Street Bridge (he had no pulse and wasn’t breathing; a med team and ambulance were there in two minutes) and rushed to the hospital. He was having a heart attack. The man had angioplasty and will walk out of the hospital to someday run again! With thousands of medical volunteers and an ambulance system tuned to caring for our runners, response time, the greatest indicator for survival, was dramatic. Had he been sitting in his living room, he may not have made it.

In other words: Assuming you have all the appropriate pre-race health screening, running a marathon is safer than sitting in your living room. If you do your part, the marathon course may just be the safest place to be race day.

Enjoy the ride.

SOURCE: Runner's World/Ask the Running Doc