Despite battling furious flames, firefighters face the biggest risk from inside themselves if they don’t have a healthy heart. One annual race seeks to extinguish that risk.
The Third Annual “Run 4 Your Life” 5K race, organized by Schenectady Firefighter Lt. Brian Demarest, is being held on Saturday, March 31, at Schenectady’s Central Park. The 5K run and walk will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the free Kids Fun Run will begin at 10:30 a.m. All proceeds raised through the race will be donated to the American Heart Association. Last year the race raised $10,000, doubling the first race, and Demarest said this year he‘s hoping to reach $12,000 and 700 runners.
After Demarest learned a heart attack following a response to a fire call was the leading cause of death among firefighters, he started the event to raise awareness.
“I wanted to start it so I could take a proactive measure and try to raise awareness,” Demarest said. “I figured it is something that I can do that would be proactive and maybe place some attention to it and I figured what better place to donate the money to than the American Heart Association.”
Demarest is turning 45 years old this summer, but he is also practicing for his first full Ironman race in Cooperstown this September. He said he has always led an active lifestyle, but now he has just “kicked it up a notch.” He is also more conscious about his eating habits now.
“I have found without running I find it difficult to keep the weight off,” he said. “Running for me has been better than any diet I do.”
He said he tries to lead by example, so an active lifestyle isn’t something he just preaches about, but practices. Even with a busy day-to-day life, he said it is important to find time to exercise.
He also hopes to change the culture and standards at fire departments to implement for stringent physical fitness standards. Many departments only require a firefighter to pass a physical from their doctor.
“I think my overall mission would be to try and get other fire departments to implement more of a physical standard for active members and not just new hires,” he said. “Once there is a tragedy then everybody jumps on the bandwagon or is up in arms.”
It is also more common for older firefighters to be hired since age requirements have been lifted. He said the highest risk for a heart attack is also in middle-age adults.
“You come on the job, maybe you are 25 to 30 years old, and you may be in a lot better shape, but what happens when you get in your 40s and 50s,” he said.
Around seven other fire departments throughout the Capital District participate in the event, but he said the majority of runners aren’t firefighters.
Awards will be given for the top three overall, age divisions, male and female runners, team entry and retired firefighter. Teams from the area fire departments compete for the specially made Fireman’s Trophy, which the winning department holds on to for a year and brings to the following year’s race.
“It is basically a helmet we customized and hand made a trophy. It emits a flame that is driven by a propane cylinder in the base of it,” he said. “That was kind of just a work in progress that developed to what we have now. That is up for grabs for any other fire department that can beat our time.”
There is still time to register for the race, because runners can register the day of race. For information on the race visit www.schenectadyfireirefightersrun4yourlife.com.
Run 4 Your Life is organized and hosted by the Health and Safety Committee of IAFF Local 28 and the Schenectady Permanent Firemen’s Association. The title sponsor is the Martin, Harding and Mazzotti Law firm, among many other business donating to the event.