Be thankful you chose steroids over marathon running

[Millard]

I know you've heard repeatedly about the deadly dangers of steroids. Be thankful you are not running marathons where there are firm statistics about the probability of death from participation.

The comparative risk of using AAS is so much lower than running marathons. Granted misuse of AAS can have long-term health consequences if not used judiciously. But this is an entirely different category of risk than marathon running.

Two runners, Carlos Jose Gomes and Joseph Marotta, died from heart attacks after finishing the 2008 New York City Marathon. The New York Fire Department revived two other runners who collapsed after suffering heart attacks during the race; one is apparently still unconscious. Dr. William Cole was not surprised by the cardiac incidents at the NYC Marathon

New York City Marathon More Dangerous Than Anabolic Steroids? - MESO-Rx

Anabolic steroids have been banned in sports (and criminalized in society), in large part, due to the belief that anabolic steroids are extremely harmful

thinksteroids.com

 

[andysutils]

i will be eternally grateful i love the juice and am obsessed withit on a daily basis, why anyone wants to be a skinny 100lbs weak ass runner is beyond me anyway without involving any gear, id rather be a big beefy strong bastard anyday.

 

[Lizard King]

A friend of mine runs the NYC marathon, in the last few years he has gone for countless MRI's on his hips and knees due to the extensive training, has been in the hospital due to excessive creatine buildup in his legs. I don't really see the point, seems like more wear and tear on your body then power lifting.

 

[Millard]

The comparative risks of sports participation itself puts the risk of anabolic steroids in a fairer perspective IMO. In many cases, sport itself is riskier.

I'm not trying to be an alarmist here. Sports are relatively safe for the most part. But so are anabolic steroids is use properly and judiciously. Education and proper preparation are recommended.

Screening for predisposing risk factors would be advisable as well (e.g congenital heart problems / history heart disease for endurance sports and heart problems / CHD history for steroid users too).

 

[Millard]

For example, comparative risks of cycling:

Bettini was taken to hospital in a neck brace after a high-speed fall when Ukrainian rider Yaroslav Popovych crashed in front of him.

The Italian star hit Popovych and then his head slammed against the protective barrier, breaking his helmet apart.

"The fall was terrible and I have no recollection of a few crucial minutes," he told Associated Press.

Bettini recovers after six-day horror crash - CNN.com

 

[Millard]

Comparative risks of triathlon competition:

Hundreds of thousands have taken part in triathlons over the last four years, and with just 23 deaths recorded by USA Triathlon since 2004 (not including last weekends deaths), the timing could be a statistical anomaly. But this much is clear: 18 of those 23 deaths occurred during the swim.

Deaths Draw Attention to Triathlon Swim (Published 2008)

A 38-year-old triathlete who died during the inaugural Cohasset Triathlon on Sunday suffered a fatal heart attack while swimming, race organizers said yesterday.

Triathlete died of a heart attack - The Boston Globe

 

[Millard]

Comparative risks of marathon running:

A 22-year-old runner who was taken ill after completing the London marathon has died, race organisers said today.

The man, who has not been named, collapsed yesterday after successfully finishing the 26-mile course around the capital, and was taken to hospital.

[...]

He is the ninth fatality in the 27-year history of the London marathon.
A spokeswoman for the organisers said a second runner, who had been in a critical condition in hospital last night, was better today and had been transferred to a normal ward.

With the mercury hitting 22C yesterday, many contestants needed medical treatment.
A London marathon spokeswoman said 57 people were taken to hospital. St John Ambulance said it treated 5,032 people, some for heat-related problems such as dehydration, as well as cramp, sprains and other injuries.

22-year-old dies after running London marathon | UK news | guardian.co.uk

 

[Millard]

Comparative risks of "drinking too much water" during a marathon:

In April last year, David Rogers a 22-year-old fitness instructor from Milton Keynes died from water intoxication after completing his first London Marathon.

22-year-old dies after running London marathon | UK news | guardian.co.uk

NewsCenter 5's Heather Unruh reported that Cynthia Lucero, 28, suffered from hyponatremia, or water intoxication, a condition complicated by stress hormones.


"You can get too much of a good thing," said Dr. Arthur Siegel, of McLean Hospital. "With prolonged, strenuous exercise, the combination of too much water plus the muscle injury that shuts down the ability of the kidney to excrete the water produces this dangerous, life-threatening problem."

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/newscenter5/1610699/detail.html (Doctors: Marathoner Died From Too Much Water - NewsCenter 5 Story - WCVB Boston)

Examining information on illnesses in marathons since 1985, Dr. Martin and Dr. Tim Noakes of the University in Cape Town in South Africa, write in the advisory statement, ''It has been difficult to find any studies in which dehydration has been identified as the sole important causative factor in even a single case of exercise-related heatstroke.''

But they reported that they found 70 cases of severe hyponatremia.

New Advice To Runners: Don't Drink The Water - New York Times