Death marred an enjoyable Energizer night run last Saturday that gathered about 2,500 people in Mandaue City.
Alexander Landera, a 19-year-old member of the Danao Runners’ Club who was accepted to his school’s varsity running team just last week, passed out at the finish line of his first-ever fun run and was taken to the Mandaue City District Hospital.
LIKE A SPRINKLE OF FIREFLIES. Runners wearing Energizer headlamps light up Mandaue City’s streets in the first-ever Energizer Night Run. Runners described the run as unique and enjoyable. CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE. (PHOTO BY NORWIN DETALLA)There, he regained consciousness, started jogging in place and asked for his shoes. He then reportedly asked people where the finish line was before running into the emergency room’s glass door, breaking it and severely injuring his arm. He then jumped out of the window before people could restrain him and take him back into the hospital, where he died reportedly of loss of blood.
Details aren’t clear yet as to what caused Landera to faint but what happened raised the need to educate people to listen to their body and not push too hard.
Yes, people cheer the podium finishers but they also cheer, and even reserve the loudest applause to those who finish last.
Dr. Peter Mancao, a heart surgeon who espouses recreational running, says runners should immediately stop when experiencing what he describes as warning signs: being out of breath and feeling chest pains, headache and vertigo.