Thank you to the medical volunteers who supported the UW Medicine Seattle Marathon and Half-Marathon on December 1, 2024. Dr. Mark Harrast, who has been the medical director of the marathon since 2007, led the team of around 120 UW Medicine volunteers to ensure the safety and well-being of participants across the 26.2-mile course.
Dr. Harrast emphasized the essential role of our PM&R residents and fellows, who not only volunteered their Sunday but also stepped up as leaders of smaller medical teams. Their clinical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to serving the community were invaluable on race day. “It was a long, cold, but amazingly sunny day, and we could not have been successful without their valuable help,” says Dr. Harrast.
This year’s marathon was cold, and—to the participant’s delight—dry. These conditions influenced the type of injuries experienced on course. The medical team saw over 300 patient contacts—almost double from last year—including minor sprains, strains, blisters, cramps, dehydration, and hypothermia. Fortunately, most of these issues were handled with quick stops to the medical stations on course.
The race also highlighted the critical importance of a robust medical infrastructure. One young runner experienced a cardiac arrest on the course but was quickly attended to by emergency responders. Thanks to swift action, CPR, and defibrillation, the runner is now recovering at a UW Medicine hospital. This life-saving response underscored the value of our medical presence and the thorough Emergency Action Plan in place for mass participation events.
This event could not take place without the commitment and dedication of our medical volunteers. Dr. Harrast sums it up best: “Thank you again for spending your Thanksgiving weekend at the race and contributing your expertise. I hope you all warmed up quickly and had a restful Sunday evening and start to your week. See you next year!”