Re: Running in France


"Ken" <Ken@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:SmD+vkGPNoyDFwGh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> In article <0Hfyf.1269$C7.357@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, brian fisher
> <brian.fisher@xxxxxxxxxxxx> writes
>>"steve common" <stevenZ.common@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>>news:lpvfs1lt928keudb38ldd3ci50ne6q02er@xxxxxxxxxx
>>> "brian fisher" <brian.fisher@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Someone has read that French races require a medical certificate for all
>>>>entrants. I had heard of that for the Paris Marathon, but is this the
>>>>case
>>>>for ANY race in France?
>>>
>>> Yep, unfortunately. It's been law since 1999 and has pretty much worked
>>> it's way down to most race organisations now.
>>>
>>> You don't need a certificate each time if you're a member of a sporting
>>> federation which requires one when you (re)subscribe, so maybe any club
>>> runners among you wouldn't need one (though maybe this only works for
>>> French federations).
>>>
>>> I believe there are still a few "unaffiliated" races, which don't insist
>>> on having a certificate, but they're getting scarce.
>>>
>>>>If we have to shell out large quantities of Euros just to get a cert
>>>
>>> Your family practitioner can do you one. Mine does a basic fitness
>>> examination and then has me do a Ruffier-Dickson test (rapids squats for
>>> 45 seconds with heart-rate and blood pressure before and after). Dunno
>>> how
>>> much a visit costs in the UK these days? Maybe the waiting time to get
>>> an
>>> appointment is worse than the price?
>>>
>>> In any case, it just has to say, something to the effect of
>>>
>>> MEDICAL CERTIFICATE Mytown 1st April 2005
>>>
>>> I, the undersigned, Dr Proctor, certify that Mr Aleguzzler, Brian
>>> has no apparent health issues preventing him from engaging in road
>>> running
>>> competitions.
>>>
>>> Signature:
>>>
>>>
>>> and rubber-stamped.
>>>
>>> In French, it looks like
>>>
>>>
>>> CERTIFICAT MEDICAL Fait à : Mytown, le 1er avril 2005
>>>
>>> Je soussigné, Dr Proctor, déclare qe M. Aleguzzler, Brian
>>> ne présente aucune contr-indication apparente à la pratique de la course
>>> à
>>> pied en compétition.
>>>
>>> Signature :
>>>
>>
>>
>>Thanks Steve,
>> I guess this is driven by the French insurance
>> industry.
>>We're investigating if being a UK AAA affiliated club is sufficient to
>>satisfy the medical requirements, although I suspect not.
>>
>>As my GP charges just for his signature on a passport application I have a
>>feeling he'll charge quite a bit more to assess me for a certificate.
>>
>>Brian
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
> I wasn't aware that UK:A insurance covered personal accident.
> --
> Ken

I wasn't thinking along those lines. Their insurance is only likely to
indemnify the organising club against claims made by a third party.

I was thinking more that French life insurance companies have brought this
about in the belief that asking competitors to obtain a certificate before
entering a race will mean that some individuals will be advised by their
doctors not to run and thus reduce subsequent claims.
And of course if a runner who collapses and dies in a race was later found
not to have a certificate then any pay-out might be reduced.

I guess I was kind of hoping that membership of a UK running club affiliated
to the AAA would mean that by implication one was a regular runner and less
likely to drop dead halfway round than a casual entrant.
But reading Steve's reply again he does suggest all French club runners have
to obtain a yearly cert so it's probably wishful thinking on my part.

Brian


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