The 2025 London Marathon is just around the corner, and long-distance running icon Martin Fiz is keen to hammer home the seriousness, and danger, of the endeavour
A former world marathon champion has issued a stark warning about the risk of death in amateur running, just days before the London Marathon. Martin Fiz, who won gold at the 1995 World Athletics Championship, says he fears that the increasing popularity of marathons and half marathons, combined with inadequate preparation, is leading to a surge in accidental deaths among amateur runners.
“Unfortunately, we will have to get used to more accidents because more people are taking up running, many without proper preparation,” Fiz told Diario del Triatlon. The 65-year-old attributes the alarming trend to two key factors: the growing number of runners and a widespread lack of respect for the physical demands of long-distance races.
“There are more runners and less respect for distances,” he said. The running boom has transformed marathons into a cultural phenomenon, with many amateurs viewing them as bucket-list challenges rather than serious athletic endeavours.
“Marathons have become a trend, but for me, it’s a way of life,” the Spaniard, who competed at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games, explained. “The running boom has led people to lose their fear of distances because it seems the harder the challenge, the more participation there is.”
The consequences of this mindset are becoming tragically clear. In recent years, the number of deaths in half marathons and marathons has risen, with a notable example being the death of a runner in the Madrid Half Marathon earlier this year.
Fiz believes many amateurs underestimate the need for rigorous preparation. “A marathon cannot be prepared in three days; running it is the result of constant and continuous work,” he said. “To do it, you must be prepared, and if not, you should start with shorter distances.”
He also criticised the culture that pressures runners to tackle marathons or ultra-trails (long-distance races that take place on mountain trails, rather than on roads or tracks) to prove their worth. “Amateurs are setting the wrong goals by thinking you’re nobody if you don’t run a marathon,” he insisted.
“It’s like mountain races where if you don’t do an ultra-trail, you’re not an athlete. We are completely misunderstanding the concept. We are disregarding distances.”
To mitigate the risks, Fiz advocates for a more cautious approach. He urges runners to adopt healthy eating habits, undergo stress tests, and build their endurance gradually. “Some are born to win and others to participate,” he said. “Elite athletes are the ones who win Olympic medals, not amateurs, so enjoy it, and make the most of training.”
Fiz, who has logged over 150,000 miles in his running career – more than most cars – is still going strong, despite approaching his 70s. Earlier this month he braved freezing temperatures and gusty winds to win the M60 category at the Berlin Half Marathon, marking his fifth victory in the SuperHalfs series.
Despite a recent injury that sidelined him for four months in 2024, Fiz’s resilience and disciplined approach have kept him at the top of his age group. “I’m very happy because after so many months injured, I’ve been able to compete at a good level again,” he said.
The Spaniard is the only athlete in the world who has managed to win in six Majors Marathons in the Master 50 category [runners over 50 years old], winning the Marathons of New York, Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, Chicago, and London, achieving the goal of obtaining the ‘Six World Marathon Majors’.
The London Marathon begins on Sunday, April 27. This year’s event is aiming to break the world record for the most finishers of a marathon, with more than 56,000 people expected to run.
The record was set at last year’s New York Marathon, where 55,646 competitors crossed the finish line.
