The new runner over 20 years old fell into a state of brain death after more than 6 hours of emergency care. The story shocked the Korean running community, and was also a warning to all marathon organizers and running enthusiasts.
The growing runner community means the number of marathons is also increasing rapidly. Many events are held on the streets, so that when the line between the traffic lane and the running lane is almost empty, tragedy can strike at any time. Not only at officially held events, but also those who practice sports every day on the streets must pay close attention.
Runway safety must be considered a minimum standard, not optional. Distension of lanes, fences and traffic monitoring teams are 3 indispensable factors. Runways need to be strictly controlled, especially in intersections or densely populated areas.
The need to close roads, separate traffic flows, or control vehicles cannot be ignored. All major races in the world comply with the principle: Runners are the center, traffic must absolutely serve their safety. However, the reality in Vietnam shows that there have been many complaints about the inconveniences caused by races, so it is necessary to find optimal solutions to harmonize.
An incentive can lead to bad things. No one expected an accident to happen, but every scenario had to be predicted. Propagating and communicating widely to the community about the time and route, having solutions to minimize the impact on traffic and the community during the tournament is the responsibility of the Organizing Committee.
Only when runners feel protected do they strive to conquer the roads. The risk is always present when the organization is not guaranteed. Safety should not be discussed after accidents. It must be the starting point of every race.
