Medical Information

Before the Race
Day of the Race
Learn Hands Only CPR
Volunteer for the Medical Team

The Medical Directors of the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon & Half-Marathon are hard at work to ensure safe and healthy race conditions for everyone, including athletes, spectators, volunteers, and race staff.  We invite you to spend some time reading through the information on this page.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at medicaldirector@mohawkhudsonmarathon.com. 

A Word From the Medical Directors

Congratulations on signing up for the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon & Half-Marathon!  Whether this is your first marathon/half-marathon or you are a seasoned veteran, this event requires training, preparation, and confidence to go the distance.  As experienced endurance event participants ourselves, we understand the work that has gone into the last several months.  But as physicians, we also have an understanding of the risks that are present in such an event. 

A marathon should be a fun event, one that you will enjoy and hopefully want to do again.  The event is best when it is safe and runners can avoid injury and problems.  The race organizers have made every effort to keep this event safe – now all you need to do is prepare yourself as well.  The miles have already been logged, now the task is at hand to get through the 13.1 or 26.2!  Keep these tips in mind:

• Hydration is key!  Leading up to the race, and especially the 24 hours just before the race, you should try to keep your body as hydrated as possible with water or caffeine-free sports drink.  Urine should be clear to pale yellow to indicate that hydration is adequate.  Energy drinks are best the morning of to keep the glycogen stores maximal as well as preventing electrolyte imbalances. 
  
  
• During the race, don’t forget to take in fluids at each aid station.  Don’t ever skip more than one aid station in a row!  Hyponatremia (the lack of salt or too much fluid diluting the salt in the body) can be prevented by avoiding “overhydration” with water the day of/during the race, so try to include some energy drink, at least every other station.  If you are especially prone to muscle cramps, consider salting your food the night before while carbohydrate loading!
  
  
• Avoid anything new on race day – new shoes, new clothes, new diet – this will only risk you having a problem – a blister, chafing, upset stomach, etc.
  
  
• Your diet the week prior to the race should be heavy in healthy carbohydrates such as pasta, bagels, wheat breads, potatoes, etc.  This will help get the body ready for a big effort.
  
  
• The morning of a marathon should include some sort of breakfast because the race is long.  But, deciding what to eat can be difficult.  Pre-race nerves get you ready to go but can make digestion difficult.  If you have a sensitive stomach, carbohydrates are best because they are easily digested.  Protein and fat slows digestion and can cause more cramps or upset stomach.  Avoid dairy and acidic citrus (such as orange juice) if you have an especially sensitive stomach.  Possible options for a good meal include a bagel with honey and/or a little peanut butter or an energy bar.  While training, practice your pre-race breakfast, and experiment in regard to food selection. 
  
  
• Sunscreen can make you faster!  It helps by protecting the skin and reflecting the suns rays, thus preventing absorption of more heat. 
  
  
• On bright, sunny days, a light colored hat and/or sunglasses help prevent strain and can conserve energy.
  
  
• Warm-ups before a marathon are less important than before a shorter race.  Move enough to get warm, stretch, then you’re ready to go!
  
  
• Pace yourself!  If you have done it right, you will feel energetic and fast at the start of the race.  Hold back as much as possible and know that the race is long and there will be plenty of time to pick up the pace later on.  Faster marathon times can be run with a negative split (second ½ faster than first ½)!
  
  
• If at any point in the race you feel that you cannot go on, stop at the next aid station for assistance.  It is normal for a marathoner to have moments of doubt where self confidence can waver.  Wait for 15 minutes before you make a final decision. Don’t be afraid to seek aid. If you feel sick or are having pain that causes you to change your running/walking style, stop at a medical aid station. At these stations, volunteer physicians and medical personnel will be there to help you. Take advantage of these free services to ensure a healthy and successful finish.

Remember these tips and you are well on your way to a successful day and avoiding a visit to the medical tent!  Anticipate the ups and downs of a long run and you will make it to the finish. 
Good luck and have fun out there!

Todd S. Shatynski, MD,
Primary Care Sports Medicine Specialist
Capital Region Orthopaedics
( 518) 489-2666

Kimberly A. Kilby, MD, MPH,
Family Medicine Physician
Albany Family Practice Group
(518) 207-2273

Michael Dailey, MD
Emergency Medicine Physician
Albany Medical Center

Before the Race
Take 1 Minute to Save a Life By Learning Hands Only CPR
Click Here to View Hands On CPR Video

Volunteer for the Medical Team: Medical Volunteer Form

Day of the Race — Medical Services and Information
The Medical Directors of the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon want to congratulate you on your success in getting to the starting line of the marathon or half-marathon.

Our goal is to keep every runner as safe as possible.  To that end, the following details what medical services will be available for you during the race today.  Don’t be afraid to seek help.  Seeking help does not mean dropping out. 

• All volunteers have been trained in Hands-Only CPR. 

• All runners have been encouraged to watch the video on Hands-Only CPR.

• There will be water stations approximately every 2 miles along the course.

• There will be FOUR medical aid stations along the course to provide basic first aid and blister care.  These aid stations will be located at:
• Fonda Road (~mile post 14.4)
• Alexander Park/Green Island Inlet (~mile 17.7)
• Schuyler Flatts (~mile 21.4)
• Albany Bike Path (~mile 23.4)

• There will be teams of medically-trained bikers patrolling the entire course

• There will be a medical tent at the finish line to assess any runners in serious need.  There will be doctors, nurses, and medical personnel at the medical tent who will be able to treat non life-threatening medical problems. 

• Any runner with a life-threatening medical problem will be stabilized and transported to a local emergency room via ambulance.

• Local EMS/Ambulance services will be on-call and ready to respond to emergencies throughout the race

If at any point in the race you feel that you cannot go on, stop at the next water station for assistance.  It is normal for a marathoner to have moments of doubt where self-confidence can waver.  Wait for 15 minutes before you make a final decision.

Don’t be afraid to seek aid. If you feel sick or are having pain that causes you to change your running/walking style, stop at a medical aid station. At these stations, volunteer physicians and medical personnel will be there to help you. Take advantage of these free services to ensure a healthy and successful finish. Good luck and have fun out there!

Todd S. Shatynski, MD                       
Kimberly A. Kilby, MD, MPH
Michael Dailey, MD

Please Take 10 seconds to participate in our CPR Knowledge Poll

Please Take 1 Minute to Save a Life By Learning Hands Only CPR
Emergencies can happen when you least expect them, even while running.  Whether it is an emergency that you are experiencing or one that is happening to someone near you, it is important to prepare, be aware, and respond. 

In an effort to help you prepare and to make this race as safe as possible, the Medical Directors of the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon, urge you to take 1 minute to learn Hands-only CPR from the American Heart Association. 

Click Here to View Hands On CPR Video

Volunteer for the Medical Team
The Medical Directors for the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon are seeking medical professionals to join our medical team.  If you are a doctor, nurse, EMT, PA, NP, certified athletic trainer, physical therapist, medical student, or other medical professional, please consider volunteering to help keep this race safe for all the runners! If you are interested, click here for our Medical Volunteer Form.

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