Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    THE running of marathons is becoming more popular, but it is also resulting in greater risks for some participants who don’t have regular training and are unaware of their hidden physical diseases.

    In a Bao’an marathon that ended Dec. 4, 11 runners ran into trouble and ended up in hospital including one with a serious condition.

    For the coming Shenzhen International Marathon this Sunday, which has attracted 30,000 runners, the organizer, Wisdom Group, will arrange a medical volunteer for every 100 meters along the 42-km route to ensure the safety of runners.

    “The organizer will set up 22 medical stations, each of which will be equipped with four to eight medical staff. A total of 25 ambulances and 56 defibrillators are ready to handle emergencies,” Wang Zhiqiang, a department chief with Shenzhen’s sports administration, said at a news conference Monday.

    Wang said that the city had made safety a priority by establishing a five-layer safety network for runners including emergency treatment channels, designated hospitals and 200 medical runners.

    Chen Hong, the Rio Olympics women’s 2-km race walking champion, will take part in the 6-km race. The organizer has invited 30 elite runners from six countries including Kenya and Ethiopia to participate in this year’s event.

    Medical security measures have been strengthened following an incident in Xiamen where two runners died in Saturday’s half marathon.

    One runner suffered sudden heart failure 4.5 kilometers from the finish line and the second runner died after crossing the finish line.

    Despite the fact that organizers usually inform runners that they should undergo full medical checks before entering the event, people often underestimate the risks involved.

    In the 2015 Nanshan Half Marathon, a male runner, surnamed Yao, 33, collapsed 400 meters from the finish line. Yao exercised regularly and had plenty of experiences running marathons. However, Yao didn’t follow his doctors’ advice after he was diagnosed with heart problems.

    Data shows that at least 15 people have died from heart failure in marathon events in China over the past three years.