More than 12,000 participants took to the streets of downtown Columbus for the OhioHealth Capital City Half and Quarter Marathon on April 26. The event, now in its 22nd year, continues to benefit from OhioHealth's medical support, a collaboration that began in 2010 when OhioHealth became the official medical provider and later, the title sponsor.
A team of 55 OhioHealth professionals was present, including athletic trainers, resident physicians, attending physicians, and medical students. The Red Cross First Aid Services Team (FAST) also offered support on the race course using golf carts and bikes.
The day's cooler weather contributed to smooth proceedings, according to Ben Bring, DO, family and sports medicine physician at OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital and race medical director. "The weather this year was about as perfect as you can get for a race day," he commented, citing start temperatures of 53 degrees and ideal conditions throughout the event.
Medical issues on race day were mostly minor, with the team addressing cases such as exercise-associated collapse (EAC), a condition involving lightheadedness when runners stop abruptly. Dr. Bring explained, "Most of the time this is not a serious condition."
The race also saw some scrapes and abrasions, but more serious heat-related incidents were kept in check by the weather.
For Dr. Bring, the pre-race atmosphere is a highlight. "Our core team has a tradition to get a photo up on the bridge above the start/finish line," he said, expressing enthusiasm for the large gathering of runners and the event's growth.
Planning for the next marathon is already in progress, with Dr. Bring and the medical team set to review this year's outcomes and explore areas for improvement.