From the medical view: “Totally absurd”
Emergency doctor Christiane Özay-Wolff warns of health risks

Rhein-Zeitung issue 230 of October 5, 2009

KREISSTADT. Hunched shadows moving on rather limping than running, faces seemingly aged by years within a few hours: That too were the German Championships 100k running. Who was on the course long enough could watch the athletes’ running style “develop” lap after lap: What looked quite fluid in the beginning, could only be described as “wobbly” or “hopping” on the final kilometers of the race. The mere thought of what makes the heart of extreme runners beat faster, is plain insanity to some physicians.

“Madness, insane, crazy”  - these three words summed up  Dr. Christiane Özay-Wolff’s personal impressions as emergency doctor on duty at the race course. “From a medical view this is totally absurd” she said.
The health risks of an ultramarathon are the same as those in a standard marathon. But whereas raw nipples, athlete’s foot and blistering are rather annoying than dangerous, problems with the musculoskeletal system (for instance hip or hamstring ailments), water-electrolyte imbalance or dehydration should be taken much more seriously. Especially older runners also risk an overload of the cardiovascular system. At the championships in Kreisstadt on Saturday the three ambulances of the DRK had to be deployed several times. Fortunately heat stroke was not an issue: At temperatures below 20 degrees Celsius the sun was rarely seen. (peo)

This article was published in the Rhein-Zeitung on the occasion of the 23rd German Championships 100 kilometer running in Ahrweiler. The perception of the emergency doctor indicates her inexperience in the matter of ultramarathon running. It is very likely that those championships were the first competitions of their kind she has witnessed. The statement our sport could only be described as “totally absurd” from a medical view however, is imprudent and incorrect. Here I would have to disagree.
I would like to point out that signs of wear of the musculoskeletal system (e.g. arthrosis) is a lot more common with inactive non-athletes than endurance athletes. Also I did not see any older runners experiencing cardiovascular problems. It is absolutely not true that the ambulances of the DRK “had to be deployed several times”. In fact there was one runner who collapsed close to the finish line and had to be treated with infusions. Other than that I know of no relevant medical problems.
Of course the health aspects of our sport will aways be subject to criticism from outsiders, but I consider it a medical as well as a journalistic obligation to research properly before reporting about something and by all means to refrain from dramatization.