Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers!) About Race Safety As We Return to the Course
Dr. Brooke Nichols, PhD, MSc is an infectious disease epidemiologist currently serving as an assistant professor at the Boston University School of Public Health, where she specializes in the mathematical modeling of infectious disease. Nichols' recent work includes modeling of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa and Zambia, analyzing and optimizing virus testing strategies with minimal resources.
Also an ultra runner, Nichols is currently consulting with and advising both the Boston Marathon and Spartan Race, with the goal of building effective protocols so people can enter and safely enjoy participating in an outdoor athletic event.
As you can imagine, epidemiologists like Nichols have been busy. Keeping up with the flood of studies alone is challenging. In December, Nature reported that scientists have published more than 200,000 papers focused on the pandemic.
Related: This Is How Spartan Is Keeping You Safe and Protected From COVID-19 As Racing Returns
We spoke to Nichols in great detail about the policies that she has helped Spartan establish to ensure that events are safe and responsible in 2021.
Q&A With Epidemiologist Brooke Nichols
How Safe Are Outdoor Events?
T.J. Murphy: Can an outdoor event like a Spartan race be safe?
Brooke Nichols: A truly outdoor event like a Spartan race can definitely be safe. I think it’s important to know that a recent meta analysis of the research suggests that— at a minimum — you’re at least 18.7 times safer at an outside event compared to being indoors.
I say "at least" because as the review indicates, the data is often being collected from settings where the event isn’t purely outside. The subjects might be inside part of the time. Transmission of the virus is so low in purely outdoor settings that there is little in the way of research on it.
Is It Safe to Race Without a Mask?
TM: In the protocols you’ve recommended to Spartan, masks are generally required — except for during the race itself. Can you explain why it’s safe to race without a mask?
BN: Think of the basic transmission-mitigating strategies as a triangle. On one side you have the outdoors factor — an event that is truly outside in a totally ventilated space. Another side is the use of masks, and the final side of the triangle is social distancing.
Each of these measures is important, and all can play a part in preventing transmission at a Spartan race. But the evidence shows that outdoor ventilation is the most important because of how thoroughly it disperses the virus. So, for example, if you’re in a totally ventilated space — you’re outside and the wind is blowing — the possibility of transmission is greatly reduced. You are then in a situation where, as long as you’re social distancing, you don’t need to wear a mask.
So when you’re running in a race that has a low density of athletes and social distancing is being practiced, it’s safe enough that you don’t need to wear a mask.
With the triangle still in mind, if you’re in a place where there is low ventilation, then you need to wear a mask as well as practice social distancing to be safe.
Is It Possible to Social Distance on the Course?
TM: How easy will it be to social distance during a Spartan race?
BN: The key is reducing the number of athletes on the course, so social distancing isn’t a problem. To do this, Spartan has lowered the overall number of racers participating and is spreading them out. Spartan is doing this by increasing the amount of time between the start of each heat. We are limiting when racers can enter the festival area — no earlier than 30 minutes prior to their heat time — to reduce the congestion.
This is why masks will not be required during the actual race. You’re truly outside, you’re social distancing, and you’re moving around. In this setting, as I’ve mentioned, the risk of getting or transmitting the virus is so low that it’s rarely even mentioned in the medical literature.
When Am I Required to Wear a Mask?
TM: What about when you’re not running in the race?
BN: Outside of the actual race, at the various contact points masks will be required.
These contact points are outside, but they tend to be spots where people might be closer together. Racers will be required to wear masks in the Spartan festival area, restrooms, the check-in area, and the like. You’ll also be expected to social distance. Appropriate markers will be placed to help encourage the practice — like 6-foot interval markers in the line for the bathroom — and masks will be required as an additional protection.
It boils down to this: Everyone will be wearing a mask, except when they’re running.
TM: What about masks at the start and finish?
BN: The start and finish areas tend to be places where density can go up. You’ll be expected to bring your own mask to the starting line, but you won’t have to wear it during the race. You carry it with you. Since the mask is probably going to get disgusting — expect it to get dirty and muddy during the race — you’ll be provided a new one at the finish.
This is all to ensure that the contact points at a Spartan race are safe, and the risk of transmission is low.
Do I Need to Worry About the Obstacles?
TM: What about obstacles? People making contact with surfaces? How do you mitigate the risk?
BN: Hand sanitizer will be available before each obstacle. Theoretically, if an athlete were infected by the virus, you’d want that athlete to use hand sanitizer before they start climbing up the obstacle so they aren’t spreading viral particles around.
In addition to providing hand sanitizer before obstacles, we worked a lot on developing a pre-event screening process that you fill out online. Once you pass the screening, you’ll have a code on your phone that you'll use to get in.
TM: Will there be temperature checks?
BN: No. The science on this is clear: They don’t work.
The problem with temperature screening is you have a lot of false positives and false negatives. Ironically, temperature screening also puts people close together, possibly putting them at risk of transmission.
So in the absence of any widely-available antigen testing, the online screening process is the best method available to prevent an infected athlete from participating in a Spartan race.
TM: What happens if you fail the screening?
BN: If you were to say "yes" to one of the questions asked in the online screening process, indicating the possibility of infection, you can move your entry to a different event or receive a transfer with no penalty for doing so.
Related: 10 Spartan Races You Absolutely HAVE to Do in 2021 (and What Makes Them So Epic)
Will Staff Members Be Tested Beforehand?
TJ: Tell me about the testing protocols. Will Spartan staff members have to test negative prior to the race?
BN: Every member of our staff is required to follow a multi-test COVID-19 protocol, and we’ve partnered with Eurofins to make this process easy and reliable. Before traveling to the race location, all staff must provide a negative PCR test result, which can be done using Eurofins’ at-home COVID PCR test kit. Additionally, once they arrive at the venue, they must take a rapid antigen test facilitated by Eurofins.
TJ: I wonder if you can comment on how important it is, whether you’re racing or not racing, to get outside and get some exercise. It feels like a lot of people have decided not to worry about exercising until the pandemic is over. Their gym might be closed, so they stop. Yet the CDC has mentioned that one of the preexisting medical conditions that can lead to a severe case of COVID-19 is obesity. What are your thoughts?
BN: It's crucial. I have a good friend who works in an ICU. During the first wave of the virus, he texted me: “Everyone in my ICU is obese. Brooke, whatever you do, don’t stop running!” It's hugely important to stay active and continue exercising, regardless of the circumstances. And especially now.
TJ: And there’s the mental health aspect, too. We’ve been isolating now for so long that we’ve lost connection with our communities. The idea of being in a Spartan race or the Boston Marathon sounds more appealing than ever.
BN: Absolutely. I lived in South Africa for three years. In South Africa, the Comrades Marathon is like the Boston Marathon. Training for Comrades was just fun. We’d get together and train as a team, go to the race as a team. It was all so great. That’s why I became an ultra runner.
Doing a race is such a good thing for you, and it’s so nice to have something to look forward to.
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