The past few weeks as have many in the past few years been heavy for the endurance sport community. We’ve lost athletes locally here at 70.3 Wisconsin and at the Milwaukee Lakefront Half Marathon, and I even read about another young runner collapsing and dying at the Portland (OR) Marathon as well this past weekend. In some of these cases we still don’t know the cause, and my heart goes out to every family and friend.

But one detail stays with me. Many of these athletes over the past few years had no "known" medical concerns. That’s exactly why I’m writing today.

More people are getting into endurance sport than ever, and I love that. But we pour so much energy into the training (the watts, the pace, the weekly hours) and so little into the one system everything depends on.

Step 1: You wouldn’t race a car you’ve never had inspected.

Before you start an intense training regime for endurance sport, get a checkup. Specifically:

• An annual physical with a doctor who knows you’re about to train hard
• Ask your doctor whether bloodwork makes sense based on your age, history, symptoms, diet, training load, and goals.
• EKG? Depending on your age, history, symptoms and risk factors, your doctor may also recommend an ECG/EKG or additional cardiac testing.
• A real conversation about family history. Tell your doctor about your family history, especially any unexplained fainting, sudden cardiac death, or heart disease at a young age in close relatives.

I know health care looks different depending on where you live. Some of you have easy access and good coverage. Some pay out of pocket. Some live far from a specialist. I’ve raced and traveled in 33 countries, and I’ve lived in the USA, Germany and Taiwan, so I’ve seen how different these systems can be. The access varies, but the principle doesn’t. Do the most you can with what’s available to you. A basic checkup and bloodwork is far better than nothing, and often costs less than the gear in your garage.

Don’t ignore warning signs while you train:

• Chest pain, pressure, or tightness
• Unusual shortness of breath for the effort
• Dizziness or fainting
• A racing or irregular heartbeat
• Fatigue or performance drops that don’t make sense

If you feel any of these, stop and get seen. No workout, no Strava segment, and no race is worth it.

Step 2: Find a coach who stresses you the right way.

Medical clearance tells you whether you're ready to train. It doesn't tell you how much training you should do. Once your doctor says you’re good to go, the next most important decision is who guides your training. Look for a coach who applies the right stress at the right time, enough to prepare you for your goals and never so much that you show up to race day without a plan. Ask how they build a week, how they decide when to back off, and whether they care more about your performance than your training log. The answers will tell you a lot.

If you’re looking for that kind of coach, I’d love to talk. I work with amateur and professional athletes across many disciplines. Book a free discovery call here and tell me about your goals.

Why I’m telling you this: My job is to help you be fast when it matters, but also healthy for the long haul. Everything I do is about building durable, robust athletes over years, not burning through bodies for a season. That starts with knowing your body is ready for the work.

So before your 2027 season gets going, book the appointment. Take care of what’s under the hood first.

Coach Carson

This newsletter is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your own doctor about what’s right for you.