The ultramarathoner pointed out the difficulty of predicting weather conditions at a distance

The weather conditions at the distance during trail races can be very difficult to predict. Ultramarathoner Alexander Kaper told Izvestia about this on July 6.

According to him, it is definitely impossible to run races in dangerous weather conditions, given that runners can spend from six hours to a day at a distance, if we are talking about an ultramarathon. However, the athlete noted, weather conditions can often change dramatically over a distance.

"Sometimes it is very difficult or almost impossible to predict weather conditions at a distance," the source stressed.

Kaper pointed out that marathon runners and ultramarathoners, despite their physical fitness, like other people, find it difficult to tolerate severe weather conditions.

"They freeze in the same way at cold temperatures, often at an altitude of over 2.5 km they suffer from altitude sickness, sometimes there is not enough air to make long ascents and descents," he explained.

The ultramarathoner also added that the organizers of competitions, as a rule, force runners to have special equipment and equipment when going to the start. We are talking about waterproof jackets and thermal blankets, which are made of a foil-like material.

"When going out for long distances, it is necessary to have all the equipment, <...> plus the runner's physical condition must [be] confirmed by a medical document, a certificate. <...> The runner's fitness, it is extremely important, especially in conditions of extreme running," concluded Kaper, adding that safety largely depends on the organizers of the competition.

Earlier that day, the governor of the Murmansk Region, Andrey Chibis, announced that two people died in Kirovsk during the Khibiny amateur trail race — a 62-year-old resident of St. Petersburg, as well as a 47-year-old Muscovite. A criminal case has been opened into the incident under Part 3 of Article 238 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Provision of services that do not meet the requirements for the safety of life and health of consumers").