Runners Suffer Heat Injuries At Simsbury Half Marathon Event

By Ted Glanzer and John Fitts 


Seven runners were transported to area hospitals for heat related injuries at the Amica Iron Horse Half Marathon, 10K and 5K in Simsbury on Sunday morning, said Beth Shluger, executive director of the Hartford Marathon Foundation. 

The incidents were reported at approximately 10 a.m. and in addition to Simsbury officials, several area towns, sent ambulances.  

NBC Connecticut reported that more than 10 ambulances responded to the scene at Iron Horse Boulevard; some runners were seen to have collapsed, while others were able to walk to the medic tent.

In a telephone interview, half-marathoner Malorie Senofonte, 27, described the challenging conditions, particularly at the end of the race at Terrys Plain Road.

"It was very, very hot," she said. "I thought I was going into a death zone. It was excruciatingly hot on Terrys Plain Road. There was no breeze and no shade and we were running directly into the sun."

While Senofonte was able to complete the race with a personal best time of 2:15, she saw others getting medical attention on the side of the road at the end of the race around miles 9 and 10. (A half marathon is 13.1 miles.)

"The medical personnel were on top of everything and were there in a flash to help everyone," Senofonte said. "People were also out in yards spraying [runners] with hoses. Kids were also out with water guns squirting people."

Shluger said Sunday's temperature was the highest of recent Hartford Marathon events. The wet bulb globe temperature, or wgbt, which takes factors such as radiant heat into account, was very high. 

"It's a very hot day," Shluger said. 

The event reached a red alert system, which is the second highest of all levels and means high alert. Had it reached the next level, black, or extreme, the event would have been halted, organizers said. 

The foundation educates runners, posts the index and had 5 medics from New Britain and plenty of water on scene she said. She also praised Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance and other crews who responded. 

The following safety information was also distributed to runners this week and contains more information about safety, wgbt and much more:

http://www.hartfordmarathon.com/Assets/Foundation+Events/Event+PDF+Files/PDF_Due_to_expected_hot_weather.pdf

http://www.hartfordmarathon.com/Assets/Foundation+Events/Event+PDF+Files/PDF_WBGT_Details.pdf

http://www.hartfordmarathon.com/Assets/Foundation+Events/Event+PDF+Files/PDF_Hot_weather_running_tips.pdf

In addition, the final race instructions sent via email to all runners addressed the heat prep as well (http://www.hartfordmarathon.com/Assets/2011redesign/eBlasts/2013_IH_Final_Instructions.pdf): 


Here in part is what the foundation said about hydration during the race: 

It is going to be the first really hot day of the year for runners.  Be prepared by drinking lots of water before race day so your tank is full when the start horn goes off.  Starting a race fully hydrated gives you a better chance of a finishing and finishing well (not to mention avoiding the use of our top notch medical services) . . . Hold onto your gel packets until a trash container and dispose then. Medical personnel will be located at the finish line on Iron Horse Blvd and on roving bike patrols along the course.  If needed on the course, alert the nearest water station, which will communicate with race officials
Race results, safety tips and more can be found at http://www.hartfordmarathon.com/