UKC

Do you ever take out any additional insurance if you're running in a race outside the UK? "Additional" ie over and above normal travel insurance.

In reply to Ava Adore:

Generally no.. for a road race anyway.

I've never bothered for races in general.

In reply to Ava Adore:

What cover would you anticipate needing, out of interest? Unless you have a very restrictive travel policy that does not allow any form of competitive activity whatsoever, of course. (Some cheap travel insurance is basically just "holiday insurance").

Neil

In reply to Neil Williams:

I've not looked closely at my own policy but wouldn't be surprised if it covered me for holiday only and not something like a running race. Just wondered if those folk who run regularly overseas have come across this before.

In reply to Ava Adore:

Often races have their own insurance.. I think for general road stuff you'd be OK.. but high alpine mountain races may well be outside of standard travel insurance.

In reply to Ava Adore:

I've been to do the Dolomites Sky race and Sierre-Zinal abroad before and didn't take out any extra insurance. I think the race insurance covers you if anything happens.

In reply to Ava Adore:

Depends on the race - there may be advice on the race website. All races should have insurance but they'll also have indemnity forms (usually signed by you on entry). I've never bothered for European marathons or one day races further afield(just take my E111/EHIC card for Europe) but had specialist insurance for multi day races like the Marathon des Sables or Trans Alpine (have used BMC and DogTag as well as a budget one that just seemed to cover repatriation of my remains!)

In reply to Ava Adore:

As has been said, the race will need to have insurance and you'll be covered for most medical stuff. I think the problem would arise though for instance if you broke a leg, and needed repatriating back to the UK after having surgery - meaning another flight with specialist help. If your insurance stated no to competitive events (many normal policies do) then you might end up paying for this yourself.

Saying that, I've run a few ultras in France without any specific insurance. I'm going to Amsterdam in October for a road marathon and am not going to take any specific insurance.

If I was going to the US for a race I would definitely look into it since the medical costs could get silly very quickly.