Health, sports, and life messages were conveyed during the open dialogue titled “Running and Health: Tips for both seasoned and new runners” held yesterday at the My Way hotel.
Before the start of the seminar, greetings were given by the Deputy Regional Governor of Western Greece, Charalambos Bonanos, the Deputy Mayor of Sports of the Municipality of Patras, Takis Petropoulos, the Deputy Regional Governor of Public Health and President of the Medical Association of Patras, Anna Mastorakou, and Dr. Panagiotis Trigas, a nephrologist and scientific director of the TRIGAS NEPHROS chronic dialysis unit. Additionally, there was a recorded message from Pyrros Dimas, Olympic weightlifting champion.
Prior to the discussion, the official promo trailer of the Patras Half Marathon was presented, receiving positive reactions from the audience.
The discussion was divided into three parts: the first part focused on topics relevant to all new runners, the second part delved into more specialized topics, and the third part addressed questions from the audience.
Dr. Georgios Stavroulakis, MD, PhD, FESC, a cardiologist with expertise in sports cardiology, opened the discussion by talking about pre-athletic screening and how exercise in general, and running in particular, benefit the body. In the second part, he discussed signs that can help prevent a heart episode and the relationship between intense exercise and heart health.
Theodore Betsos, a physical therapist and orthopedic therapist, addressed the checks one should undergo regarding the musculoskeletal system and the body areas that may be more sensitive. He also discussed the causes of common injuries and suggested preventive measures.
Dimitris Theodoridis, coordinator of medium-long distances at the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS), provided practical training advice, differentiating approaches based on age and initial goals. He spoke about factors influencing performance, the value of ergometric control, and provided specific guidance for the Half Marathon and the last month of preparation.
Dimitris Theodorakakos, a Greek marathon champion and world cup winner in mountain running, talked about how a new runner can maintain consistency in training and stay motivated for continuous improvement. He recommended key training sessions and pivotal points in the training period, combining experiential and scientific data. He also discussed the management of pre-competitive stress.
Irene Babaroutsi, PhD clinical dietitian and sports nutritionist, gave basic nutritional guidelines, discussed weight control errors, and provided useful dietary advice for intense training periods, the final week, and the necessary nutritional support during the race.
Sofia Riga, a Greek marathon champion and participant in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, shared her experiences regarding her early steps in running, race strategy, handling stress, unforeseen situations, and managing negative thoughts during the race.
Dr. Stavroulakis, Ms. Babaroutsi, and Mr. Betsos answered questions from the audience, enriching the event with direct communication and interactivity.
The event was moderated by Nikos Polias, the technical director of the Patras Half Marathon and a marathon champion.
Several fans of classical sports, representatives from the SEGAS Northern Peloponnese, and local sports clubs attended the event.
The main sponsor of the event was the TRIGAS NEPHROS Chronic Dialysis Unit, and the supporter was the My Way Hotel & Events.
The success of the seminar was significant, and now, properly prepared, we look forward to the 2nd Patras Half Marathon on Sunday, April 7th.