Track event is tragedy waiting to happen

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

I am writing in reaction to the article, ‘‘A retching development,” which appeared on June 7 in the sports section. The subject of the account was a track event. Forty county high school distance runners (and a few recent grads) assembled for the ‘‘4x8urrito” at Gaithersburg High School on June 4.

Many of the participants were elite county runners, but the event was not sanctioned by the school system. The students organized the competition. In short, each competitor ate a large burrito and then raced 800 meters. The goal was two-fold: try to win the race and simultaneously endeavor to regurgitate the burrito.

My concern is with the breezy, light-hearted and non-analytical nature of the article. Teenage self-induced vomiting is not a frivolous activity. Gasping for breath while racing 800 meters and at the same time throwing up a mass of undigested burrito is inherently dangerous. Another such track event is scheduled for this summer. A tragedy is out there waiting to happen.

The Gazette should write a more sober follow-up article on this subject seeking community input from a variety of sources: medical, athletic, counseling, parental. Such an article would raise everyone’s level of awareness and perhaps help put an end to a poorly conceived activity.

Hugh Lynch, Gaithersburg

The writer is a retired county public schools teacher and coach.