A Blouberg Marathon health check starts with understanding your own health risks before race day. Months of training, early morning runs and carefully planned kilometres all build towards crossing the finish line, but for some runners, preparation should also include a conversation with their regular doctor.
For some runners, an important step before race day is a conversation with their doctor.
When to consider speaking to your doctor
Distance running places additional demands on the heart and body. A known health condition, symptoms during exercise or a combination of risk factors may mean it is worth speaking to your regular doctor before participating.
The information below is not a screening tool and cannot confirm whether you are fit to run. It is a self-identification guide to help you review the factors that may make a conversation with your regular doctor appropriate.
Consider speaking to your regular doctor before race day if you:
- Have a known heart or blood vessel condition, including a past heart attack, coronary artery bypass or angioplasty, irregular heartbeat, heart failure, heart muscle disease, a pacemaker or an inherited heart condition
- Experience chest pain, pressure, tightness, unusual shortness of breath, dizziness, light-headedness, fainting, palpitations or an irregular heartbeat during or after exercise
- Have two or more cardiac risk factors
- Have a chronic health condition
- Take regular prescription medication for a long-term condition
- Have previously collapsed during or after a race or training session
- Have a symptom, running injury or health concern that has not been assessed
- Have any concern about your health, training or participation
- Have not had a general check-up in the last 12 months
Cardiac risk factors
Cardiac risk factors can include:
- Male aged 45 or older; female aged 55 or older; or post-menopausal
- Current smoker or smoked within the last six months
- Diagnosed high blood pressure
- Diagnosed high cholesterol
- Diabetes mellitus
- A first-degree family member, such as a parent or sibling, who had heart disease before age 55 if male or 65 if female
- Physically inactive, meaning less than 30 minutes of moderate exercise on fewer than three days a week
- Overweight, or told by a doctor that you are overweight
If two or more of these risk factors apply to you, consider speaking to your regular doctor before race day.
Your regular doctor is best placed to advise you
Your regular doctor knows your health history and can assess your individual circumstances, review your medication and advise whether any further assessment may be appropriate.
If something in this article applies to you, consider speaking to your regular doctor before race day.
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Important disclaimer
This article was developed with reference to the SAFER VII pre-race screening programme and ESC/EACPR pre-exercise screening guidelines. The content has been adapted for a general public audience and is not a direct or complete reproduction of either tool. It is intended as a general self-identification guide only and does not constitute a formal screening assessment, medical advice, medical clearance or confirmation that you are fit to participate. Only a doctor who knows your full health history can assess your individual circumstances. If a listed factor applies to you, or you have any concern about your health or participation, please speak to your regular doctor before race day.
