Nigeria marathon legend Colonel Abbas Mohammed (retired) has warned against athletes engaging in multiple yearly full marathon races, a trend that could lead to Athlete burnout.

 

Mohammed, one of the coaches from Army University that participated in the ‘Training the trainer’ seminar in Gombe this week, said it is dangerous having an athlete participate in more than three full Marathon races in one year, adding that this could lead to sudden death.

 

“Certainly, in this country, I’m one of the foremost marathon runners and have the right and experience to advise up-and-coming runners on how to deal with multiple long-distance races for their good,” Mohammed said.

 

“I discovered that due to increasing prize money in marathon races nowadays, athletes are lured into participating in more than three races per year without considering the health implications.

 

“Training alone takes a lot from an athlete; then they have to contend with the actual competition, which is also very strenuous.

“Most athletes today can’t afford the services of experienced nutritionists and, therefore, train and compete without good preparation; this could lead to sudden death.

 

“The full Marathon (42.5) race is about 45 km, and organizers of these races and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) should be mindful of Athletes’ health before allowing their participation.”

 

However, a resource person at the just concluded Athletes’ Seminar in Gombe, Dr. Alex Sule Mana, advises runners to choose their races carefully and not be greedy for money to the detriment of their health.

 

“That is why it is advisable for runners always to take insurance policies,” Dr. Mana added.

 

He warned that experienced runners should not go for competition that won’t add up to their well-being, insisting that three full marathon races a year,  with adequate preparation, would be enough for runners.

The Chairman Gombe State Athletics Association, Alhaji Ahmed Gara Shuaibu Gombe, sponsored Tuesday’s one-day NAATO Seminar in his State capital.