Medical Advise

Important Information

At the Swindon Half Marathon we take medical matters very seriously indeed. We want you to enjoy your race and not to end up in the back of an ambulance with a drip in your arm - or worse. If you are unlucky enough to suffer illness or injury, our specialist medical team will endeavour to provide the best possible response. But we need your co-operation.

• Listen to your body, if you're not well on the day - please don't run - there will be plenty of other races - but you only have one life.
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Stick to your tried and tested diet on race day; 9th October is not the day to experiment
• Make sure your friends know your race number and likely finishing time
• If you drop out notify the nearest marshal/first aid point so supporters waiting for you can be informed
• Start the race well hydrated and drink whenever you can, especially in the first half of the race, but do not gulp down large volumes of liquid.
• At the finish do not stand about getting cold - keep walking and drink as much fluid as you can
• Change into dry warm clothes as soon as possible
• Keep on drinking and have something to eat
• Running a half marathon is a serious business and not to be taken lightly. Don't be foolhardy, respect the race, respect your life

Sadly most of the problems we encounter are due to excacerbation of pre-existing medical conditions, dehydration, lack of blood sugar, exhaustion and blisters caused by poor preparation, inadequate training, people pushing themselves beyond their limits and failing to take on enough water or energy drinks. Larger races are also now seeing serious problems with people drinking too much water. These are all preventable.

If you have just started running, or have a history of medical problems, check with your GP before you try to run a half marathon. You must follow a proper structured training programme.

Message for asthma sufferers :
Please remember to carry your inhalers with you. Each year our first aid posts are presented with runners who forgot them

Medical & Contact Details
All runners must complete the medical and contact details on the reverse of their race number prior to pinning it to the front of your vest.

St John provide Standard (Level 2) medical cover for this event.