More medical services in the first edition of the Valencia Marathon with a Gold Label

The health of runners is a top priority for the organizers of both the Trinidad Alfonso EDP Valencia Marathon and its parallel 10K. That is why there will be extra medical staff and equipment in the 2016 edition. A medical protocol will be implemented under the supervision of doctor Luis Cort and with the support of the Red Cross to provide immediate care to all of the runners and spectators who take part in the races on Sunday the 20^th of November from 8:30 am.

A multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals – doctors and nurses, as well as podiatrists and physiotherapists – who will cover the whole race course. Two field hospitals will be set up in the finish area and 30 medicalized ambulances will be located all along the race course (one every two kilometres until km 31 and, after that, one every kilometre until the finish line). There will be a doctor and a health worker in all of them, as well as an automated external defibrillator (AED) and all the equipment required to perfom advanced resuscitation. Six more lifeguards who belong to the Skating Federation will skate and carry defibrillators to provide quick help in the last 10 kilometres of both races.

In addition, since there are more spectators in the last kilometre and access to that area is restricted, four triage points will be located there with medical staff qualified for the early recognition of serious physical malfunctioning who will take immediate action if necessary. Furthermore, two quads will be used to evacuate people as quickly as possible and to take runners to the nearest hospital.

Our volunteers work for your welfare

Many volunteers will work in this year’s edition of the Valencia Marathon and the 10K. Since volunteers are the first ones who can help runners during the race, they have attended specific training sessions on first-aid and resuscitation thanks to the support of Hospitals NISA. They can also find an action protocol and the Red Cross contact numbers in their accreditations.

Quick help points to relieve minor discomfort

The Marathon medical services also comprise quick help points managed by Farmacia Ribera, which will be located at kilometres 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40. At these points runners feel their legs tired and they might even suffer cramps, muscle stiffness and chafing. Runners who experience discomfort will also be provided with Vaseline and Reflex, an anti-inflammatory spray.

We have been researching and working to improve runner’s health

Valencia City of Running launched the campaign ‘Train your health’ months ago which raises awareness of the need to prepare and train well before the marathon. In addition, a research has been conducted to analyse the impact that training and running a 42,195 metre race has on health. The Jaume I University of Castellón, the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation, SD Correcaminos and the Hospitals Nisa Foundation have been developing the research project CRH (Run, Recover, Repeat, Always Healthy), whose aim is to build physical endurance from a healthy point of view. In order to do so, 100 runners have been subjected to tests while they train, as well as before and after the race.