FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon
Prepares for Warm Race Day Temperatures
Medical Director Advises Runners on Proper Precautions
LOS ANGELES, February 10, 2016-- The current weather forecast for Sunday,
February 14th calls for unseasonably warm weather. Participants should be
advised to take precaution, hydrate early and often and consider slowing
down their pace on race day.
The National Weather Service is currently predicting a high of 83 °F in
Century City (Mile 19) and 80 °F at the Finish Line in Santa Monica. The
race will begin at 6:55 a.m. from Dodger Stadium.
"Given that most runners have been training in cooler temperatures, we
advise that they begin hydrating now and slow their pace down on race day.
Last year with a weather forecast similar to what is currently predicted,
we were pleased to see that many athletes took precautions seriously and
were able to enjoy the race," said Tracey Russell, Chief Executive of
Conqur Endurance Group. "We are planning to implement similar measures as
2015 because they were effective."
The Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon is taking the following
measures to reduce the risks for runners:
Continuing wave starts to ensure proper runner spacing and enabling more
efficient replenishment of supplies at early aid stations
Stocking all 22 aid stations at the same ample levels as in 2015 and
distributing water and Gatorade Endurance Formula at all aid stations
Providing 'cooling buses' at all 10 medical stations along the course and
at the finish line
Providing misting stations, cold towels and ice
Providing regular updates as to additional resources added for the event
Aid Stations
The Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon has set up 22 fully-staffed
aid stations along the course that feature both water and Gatorade
Endurance Formula (Lemon-Lime). Aid stations will be available regularly on
the course, beginning at Mile 2 until Mile 25. At each aid station,
Gatorade Endurance tables will be first, followed by water. If the first
aid tables at any aid station are crowded, participants should continue
moving through the aid station to the next set of tables in order to
minimize congestion and provide all runners with convenient access to
obtaining fluids.
Medical Support
There is medical support at the start and finish lines as well as along the
course. Beginning at mile 6, medical tents are staged every two miles along
the course - miles 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24. Medical tents
are located at the finish line and in the post food & fluid area on Ocean
Avenue in Santa Monica. Medical stations are staffed with volunteer
physicians, nurses and assistants, and are coordinated by Keck Medicine of
USC.
Medical Advice
As more than 25,000 runners prepare to take to the streets of Los Angeles
for the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon, Marathon Medical
Director Glenn Ault, M.D. of Keck Medicine of USC reminds runners to take
proper precautions for race day.
Dr. Ault offers the following preparation tips to all participants:
Hydrate. Drink the proper amount of fluids, both water and electrolytes.
Study the race course. Be aware of water and aid station locations.
Cover all exposed skin with sweat resistant sunscreen to prevent sunburn.
Listen to your body. If you’re dizzy, lightheaded, nauseous, vomiting or
in a lot of pain, go to a water or medical station with staffed medical
personnel and get help immediately.
Dress appropriately—avoid cotton fabrics, long sleeves and long pants.
Wear lightweight, breathable fabrics ("technical" running gear) that will
help to keep you cool.
At the finish line, keep moving to acclimate your body to a more
sedentary state. Watch for "hot walkers" assigned to help runners keep
moving if you need assistance.
Contacts: Molly Biddiscombe, Ketchum PR on behalf of Conqur Endurance Group
860-539-2492
Kerry Hendry, Ketchum PR on behalf of Conqur Endurance Group
404-275-0090
About Conqur Endurance Group
Conqur Endurance Group, a subsidiary of McCourt Global, creates world-class
experiences that ignite passion in athletes and connect communities through
the transformative power of sport. The Skechers Performance Los Angeles
Marathon is among the largest marathons in the country with more than
25,000 participants, thousands of volunteers and hundreds of thousands of
spectators. The "Stadium to the Sea" course, starting at Dodger Stadium and
finishing near the Santa Monica Pier, is one of the most scenic in the
world, taking runners on a tour of Los Angeles past every major landmark.
Conqur Endurance Group will host the 2016 Olympic Team Trials for Men’s and
Women’s Marathon, awarded by USA Track & Field and the U.S. Olympic
Committee, which will take place in Los Angeles on February 13, 2016. For
more information, please visit www.lamarathon.com.
ABOUT KECK MEDICINE OF USC
Keck Medicine of USC is the University of Southern California's medical
enterprise, one of only two university-based medical systems in the Los
Angeles area. As part of the university’s USC Health initiative, the
medical enterprise encompasses academic, research and clinical excellence,
attracting internationally renowned experts who teach and practice at the
Keck School of Medicine of USC, the region’s first medical school. The
medical enterprise also includes the renowned USC Norris Comprehensive
Cancer Center, one of the first comprehensive cancer centers established by
the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States; operates the
Keck Medical Center of USC, which includes two acute care hospitals:
401-licensed bed Keck Hospital of USC and 60-licensed bed USC Norris Cancer
Hospital; and owns USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, a 158-licensed bed community
hospital. It also includes more than 40 outpatient facilities, some at
affiliated hospitals, in Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, Tulare and Ventura
counties. The medical faculty physician group, USC Care Medical Group,
practices at the above facilities as well as at Children’s Hospital Los
Angeles and Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center (LAC+USC).
U.S. News & World Report ranked Keck Medical Center of USC among the Top 10
in ophthalmology (No. 9), and among the Top 25 hospitals in the United
States for urology (No. 20) and cancer care (No. 23) and the Keck School of
Medicine at No. 31 among medical schools nationwide.
For more information, go to www.KeckMedicine.org/beyond
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