Barbara Wright and Evan Snitkoff, co-race directors for the Key West Half Marathon in Florida, know firsthand how CPR training and the availability of an AED (automated external defibrillator) can save a life. Not just once, but twice at their event, a runner has been struck down by a cardiac event and saved by other participants and event volunteers.
“Each of these times (lives were saved) was just a miracle. Each incident happened to have four different people nearby, who happened to be there at that moment, who knew what to do,” Wright said.
Because of these incidents, Wright and Snitkoff are so committed to the importance of CPR training that they have offered entry fee discounts and this year, are giving a free piece of swag to anyone who runs in the event and presents an active CPR certification during race weekend. They also heartily encourage fellow event producers to get CPR certified and have AEDs easily available on your event course.
“It doesn’t take a lot of time and it goes a long way,” said Snitkoff. “We encourage both race directors and participants to get certified. You might be able to help a fellow runner.”
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Opportunity for Running USA members to receive free CPR/AED certification and crisis management training on Sept. 17 in Atlanta, Ga
This regional training will be free of charge to active members of Running USA and its global affiliates and available for a reduced cost to industry partners. It is being held in partnership with Los Angeles-based Joffe Emergency Services and hosted at Atlanta Track Club’s midtown Atlanta headquarters. Registration is open now.
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In the most recent incident at the Key West Marathon, runner Mike Raymond suffered a seizure and actually died on the course, but was brought back by the efforts of fellow runner Dr. Taylor Curley, chief resident at the University of Florida Small Animal Hospital.
Dr. Curley, who started CPR as soon as she saw Raymond go down on the course, was assisted by race volunteer Kathryn Nass, a retired emergency nurse. Another bystander ran to grab an AED from a nearby cruise ship. (The event has three AEDs on course during its event, in the hands of professional EMTs.)
We shared an article about Raymond’s on-course incident in our Running USA news back in April, so it was great to hear that he is well on his way to a full recovery. He plans to speak at the 27th Key West Half Marathon in January 2025.
“The last thing I remember is that I took a picture of the cruise ship at Mile 12. Right after that, I went down. I had no symptoms whatsoever,” said Raymond, who had major heart bypass surgery after the incident.
While he is just gradually beginning to run again with the permission of his cardiologist, Raymond already has his sights set on 2026 Key West Half events, including the multi-distance “Big Pecker Challenge.”
He has stayed in touch with those who helped him that fateful day and recently visited the emergency room doctor who treated him once he was moved from the course to the hospital.
“It took a while,” Dr. Curley said of the initial on-course efforts. “We defibrillated him once and after around eight or nine minutes, EMS arrived and took him away. At that point, he had a heartbeat again.”
It’s safe to say that running – or race directing – with CPR training might just help you save a life.
