As more and more women are registering for the Stayfree Women for Change DNA iCan women’s half marathon, doctors suggest a few dos and don’ts during the run.
Experts ask marathoners to stop when they feel their body can’t take the strain any more.
Dr Ashish Arbat, orthopaedic surgeon at Fortis hospital, said, “There are many first-time runners participating at the marathon this time. One thing that they should keep in mind is not to compare themselves with trained athletes.”
Dr Arbat, a self-proclaimed sports enthusiast, advises the DNA iCan runners to start the run slowly. “Runners, especially those who are overweight, should start the run slowly. After a kilometre or half, she should pick up pace and then maintain it. As she approaches the finish line, she should slow down.” Dr Arbat further added during such runs, many people suffer from muscle cramps and muscle fatigue. They should avoid pushing themselves as they could get dehydrated which could lead to long-term problems.
“Take electrolyte before and after the run. As the person shows signs of fatigue, she should reduce her pace,” said Dr Arbat. He also emphasised on the need to wear proper running shoes and not canvas shoes or slippers.
During marathons, runners also fall short of breath and suffer from chest pains. Dr Kaushal Chhatrapati, preventive cardiologist, said marathoners need to be cautious about their health, both before and on the day of the event.
“Those suffering from acute illness, serious infection or an injury that has not healed should avoid participating in the marathon,” Dr Chhatrapati added. He also said that any discomfort in the chest region that persists for more than a minute should not be ignored. The person should immediately stop and seek help. A marathoner should stop if she gets a severe headache, feels disoriented and starts losing balance.
