Runner Dies and 250 Hospitalized at Chicago Marathon

[nucpharm29]

here's the link to the article

http://sports.yahoo.com/sa/news;_yl...bYF?slug=ap-chicagomarathon&prov=ap&type=lgns

Prayers going out to all the families and athletes! Do we have any WISHers running Chicago that haven't checked in???

 

[Big Vic]

Man, that's terrible.

Hoping our WISHers are ok.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Here is another link http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...,7788754.story?coll=chi-technologyreviews-utl

They started at 8:00am. If they did that at this years WDW marathon, we would have had the same issues. DW & I were out there til 1:00pm and it was ugly.

 

[MouseDogMom]

My Galloway group leader and 3 of my teammates were running Chicago - I was online looking for their results and was trying to figure out why NONE of them finished, then saw the article on the race website about the heat, then came here and saw your post. I'm really worried about them now - can't wait to hear from them when they get home!

Thanks for the link!

Jackie

 

[windwalker]

Here is another link http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...,7788754.story?coll=chi-technologyreviews-utl

They started at 8:00am. If they did that at this years WDW marathon, we would have had the same issues. DW & I were out there til 1:00pm and it was ugly.

I agree Robert, we faced the same conditions at the Mickey this year, the difference was the 6 am start that we all fussed about.

Yes it was getting ugly out there on that highway before we finally entered the MGM Park. That open highway was the hardest for Erica. My wall came after we left the MGM the trek through Epcot was brutal.

Dave

 

[nucpharm29]

I just talked with my SIL who lives in chicago. One of her good friends was running this morning. Apparently, he made it to mile 21 in around 4hrs. At mile 24 they told them to stop running and if they wanted to finish, they needed to walk the rest. I guess he stopped to walk and both calves cramped up as well as his groin, and he collapsed. He got a lot of help from other runners trying to massage the cramps-but ended up having to be taken to the finish by the medical team. He is doing well tonight and is in good spirits. And Kudos to the race organization for still giving him a finisher's medal even though he didn't make it through the finish chutes!

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I just talked with my SIL who lives in chicago. One of her good friends was running this morning. Apparently, he made it to mile 21 in around 4hrs. At mile 24 they told them to stop running and if they wanted to finish, they needed to walk the rest. I guess he stopped to walk and both calves cramped up as well as his groin, and he collapsed. He got a lot of help from other runners trying to massage the cramps-but ended up having to be taken to the finish by the medical team. He is doing well tonight and is in good spirits. And Kudos to the race organization for still giving him a finisher's medal even though he didn't make it through the finish chutes!

Not to be a stick in the mud but if you don't finish the race(cross the finish line), you really don't deserve a finishers medal. I know races where you are not an a "official" finisher because you cross the line after the cuts and you get a finishers medal. That is fine as you did 26.2 miles. Period.

Runners knew the conditions and what to expect. When we did the Goofy this year, I knew it was going to be hot. I carried extra water, hankerchiefs I wetted for my head and neck, and took Endrolyte pills every hr to help supplement. It took us almost 7 hrs due to DW's PF but we finished and earned our medals. If WDW said you had to walk(well that's what I do) to finish the race well that's what I would do. If I had to stop or was unable to finish because of my own issues, I wouldn't expect a finishers medal because I didn't finish.

They are for finishers. Off my soap box.

Please don't shoot me

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I've just read the articles. I thought it was hot here. Oh what a disaster they had.

 

[TEK224]

I also heard they had a man die in the Army Ten Miler in Washington DC.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected.

Terri

 

[WDWFAN9]

Just saw the local news, about 10 runners remain in serious/critical condition. The man that died was a police officer. His wife was also running, she didn't find out he collapsed until she got back to their hotel room. How very, very sad all around.

People on the news were commenting that the event should be held later in October, but last year it was very chilly, windy, and kind of rainy - so you never know.

 

[Hockeychic]

Scuba Diver (Jim) was doing the Chicago Ithink has anyone heard from him??

Thoughts and prayers to all!!!!!


Kim

 

[monte]

How sad...my prayers are with the families involved. My boss ran this marathon and he's suppose to fly back to Colorado this morning...hope all is well.

 

[eeyore45]

There are so many stories out here on the news, talk shows, radio... how after the first hour the wave of runners had no water at the first stations - many grabbing water for there heads - one of the marathon spokesman on the radio Sunday am assured the listeners that they were opening water hydrants to help stave off that heat - I cant help to question what they were thinking - he mentioned the organizers had ice as well as cooling busses, but listening to the stories of people that had nothing and would go to Walgreens to buy their own water and gatorade - it does give you wonder...

On Sat there was a high school meet that had disasterous results, and the spokesman sunday said they were learning from that event -

The sad thing is a huge cold front is moving in later today - it will barely get in the 60's - down in the 40's at night - so if they could've moved a mountain and held it a week later (of course this is impossible so many from out of town, country, hotel reservations etc etc)

They also stated that 10,000 people opted not to run. Also the spokesman mentioned that with the chip technology you could type in a runner's bib number, or last name and see what markers the runner had passed online...

its all so sad. One person that had trained for the marathon with the Fox morning show talked about people around her dropping, falling over, hitting the concrete. She mentioned that there wasnt water at some stations, but I believe she did finish - and she talked about how incredible it all was...

eta link http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/

they have video on the link and a few stories... also I found the link to the woman's story (she trained for a year and lost 100#, but I couldnt get the video to load)
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/p...n=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=5.2.1

 

[Tinks]

Not to be a stick in the mud but if you don't finish the race(cross the finish line), you really don't deserve a finishers medal. I know races where you are not an a "official" finisher because you cross the line after the cuts and you get a finishers medal. That is fine as you did 26.2 miles. Period.

Runners knew the conditions and what to expect. When we did the Goofy this year, I knew it was going to be hot. I carried extra water, hankerchiefs I wetted for my head and neck, and took Endrolyte pills every hr to help supplement. It took us almost 7 hrs due to DW's PF but we finished and earned our medals. If WDW said you had to walk(well that's what I do) to finish the race well that's what I would do. If I had to stop or was unable to finish because of my own issues, I wouldn't expect a finishers medal because I didn't finish.

They are for finishers. Off my soap box.

Please don't shoot me

I'm not going to shoot you but I was there Sunday and two friends were in the race. The big problem was 1. weather 2. They ran out of water and 3. because of 1 and 2 around 300 people were taken by ambulance to the hospitals. This doesn't count the people treated "at the scene" and not taken anywhere.
As the numbers mounted, the race officials called the race. They gave out medals because many people weren't allowed to finish even though they would have been fine. I personally think it was nice to give them out, especially because they should never have run out of water. We've known for several days that it was expected record highs for the race. The race organizers didn't prepare. I do think they made the right call stopping the race, but what if they had been prepared for the heat

I just feel bad for the people not allowed to finish properly. It was really hot!

So I guess I disagree with you about the medals for this race.

 

[CarolA]

Not to be a stick in the mud but if you don't finish the race(cross the finish line), you really don't deserve a finishers medal. I know races where you are not an a "official" finisher because you cross the line after the cuts and you get a finishers medal. That is fine as you did 26.2 miles. Period.

Runners knew the conditions and what to expect. When we did the Goofy this year, I knew it was going to be hot. I carried extra water, hankerchiefs I wetted for my head and neck, and took Endrolyte pills every hr to help supplement. It took us almost 7 hrs due to DW's PF but we finished and earned our medals. If WDW said you had to walk(well that's what I do) to finish the race well that's what I would do. If I had to stop or was unable to finish because of my own issues, I wouldn't expect a finishers medal because I didn't finish.

They are for finishers. Off my soap box.

Please don't shoot me

Sorry, but you are being a stick in the mud!

If the organizers STOP the race it's not the runners fault he/she didn't finish. Some of those who got stopped probably would have finished with no major issues so why shouldn't they get the medals?

I have a friend who lives and trains in ATL. The conditions were not a problem for him, but he was NOT allowed to finish..... So he deserves the medal. (It's not his fault they failed to have water... isn't that the race organizers job????) He wanted to keep running and race officals basically pulled him off the course. (Conditions there weren't near as bad as running in Atlanta in the summer he said, but as I said he is used to the heat/humidity) He sent out an email last night and was FURIOUS with the Chicago folks. He said they were rude and abusive to folks who were doing fine and wanted to run. He and his buddies tried to just run on the sidewalk or something and they were threatened (not sure how) by the race officals.

 

[perfectmatch300]

The whol;le situation is really sad. I have been looking for WISH shirts on every news report I see, but so far I haven't seen any.

What amazes me is the race officals who keep saying they had plenty of water, but so very many runners saying they had mo water. Something is not quite right there.......

Prayers to all the affected runners in both races.

 

[windwalker]

The whol;le situation is really sad. I have been looking for WISH shirts on every news report I see, but so far I haven't seen any.

What amazes me is the race officals who keep saying they had plenty of water, but so very many runners saying they had mo water. Something is not quite right there.......

Prayers to all the affected runners in both races.

On Fox News they were interviewing groups of runners who were having to go in a convience store and buy water because there was none on the course.

Dove

 

[Steffwalks]

I am praying for everyone involved. It is a very sad thing to happen.

 

[scuba diver]

Scuba Diver (Jim) was doing the Chicago Ithink has anyone heard from him??

Thoughts and prayers to all!!!!!


Kim

Well, I am back in Florida and enjoying the cool weather after being in hot Chicago.

The bottom line is that my daughter and I had a great time in Chicago, but it sure was a long way to travel and a lot of money to run the Chicago 19.1 mile FUN run.

All the reports you hear about no water being available, people having to buy at a gas station, drinking out of public/private fountains are all true. I saw it all. The water station at mile 4 was empty and the tables were actually turned over.

I adjusted my pace because I know to add time when it is hot. Just give up the idea of a PR and enjoy the event. Finish and Enjoy! I was having a great run, heart rate in check, eating my GU and taking my electrolyte pills when they closed the course. They basically tried to stop everyone from running any furthur. They put busses across the road. They had police in the road trying to stop people. It was a mess.

The official website says that if you were past the 1/2 mark by 11:30 you were allowed to finish. Not true. I was way beyond it and they just rerouted the course. Some of my friends were are mile 20 and were told to just walk back slowly and there there was no more water.

It was basically a mess with no one knowing what was going on.

At mile 16 I heard the news of the course being closed so I ran the last 3.1 miles in at a 8:00 pace. I wanted to run and had a lot left.

I think it the final analysis will come down to a couple of things.

1. They needed to start the race earlier. 7 am would have been easy enough to annouce since we all had to pick up race packets.
2. There were a lot of runners who do not know how to adjust their running to heat. They did not slow down enough or bring their own GU or electroyle pills. I will rely on the course for water, but in heat I try to bring everything else I need.
3. 48,000 runners is just to big to manage unless the conditions are perfect. If something goes wrong the support needed is just to great, even for Chicago.

Even though I ran 19.1 miles and did cross the finish line, I did not run the Chicago marathon. I'll be putting a black band over this metal. I'll run Chicago in a few years.

I'm off to find another marthon to run this month since I just completed a training run.

 

[keenercam]

Jim -- what a relief to know you are home and safe!