Sad day in L.A.

3/23/2006

When more than 45,000 people participate in an event you will have injuries, but Sunday s Los Angeles Marathon suffered two deaths. 25,000 competed in the marathon, and 20,000 participated in the wheelchair race, bicycle run or 5-kilometer race. The L.A. marathon is open to all comers it has no qualifying requirements.

Two men, Los Angeles police detective Raul Reyna, 53, and retired L.A. County sheriff's deputy James Leone, 60, died during the 26.2-mile race. Reyna collapsed three miles into the race. Leone fell less than three miles from the finish line and died at a local hospital, according to officials.

More than 200 firefighters and paramedics deployed along the marathon route and treated 75 other runners for heat exhaustion and injuries during the race.

• Nine days remain before the Glass City Marathon on April 2.

Run with this

• "In facing life, no one knows exactly what is going to happen, what is going to be needed, where the search for the Grail will lead. The best we can do is be prepared. Running makes you an athlete in all areas -- trained in basics, ready for whatever comes, ready to live each day, fill each hour and deal with the decisive moment."

George Sheehan