Plan Ahead for the World’s First Solar Eclipse Marathon

An Australian travel agency that caters to runners is sponsoring the world’s first Solar Eclipse Marathon, to be held in the northeastern part of the country in November 2012. The eclipse will occur at approximately 6:40 a.m. and remain total for two minutes.

Spokesperson Michael Walton said the event will provide Australian and international runners with a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“Linking the eclipse and the marathon festival is all about the experience the competitors receive here,”  he said. 

“For example, we are timing the race start just as the first rays of sun re-emerge from behind the moon, creating the first ever intergalactic starting gun!”

Not everyone is so thrilled, however.

“I think it’s foolhardy. Given the conditions in that part of the world, competitors are being put at an unreasonable level of risk,” Dr John Brotherhood of Sports Medicine Australia (SMA) said.

“I would expect high incidents of heat related health problems. Organisers will need to account for at least 10 per cent of people to require medical attention, many will be quite seriously ill. For a public event they’re taking a pretty high risk.”

And I know you’re thinking, “Is that guy’s name really Dr. John Brotherhood or is it one of those erroneous SpellCheck suggestions?” That’s his real name.