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Chicago Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Chicago Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.7 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 4.9
Number of comments: 949 [displaying comments 261 to 271]
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Rich Hawkins from Warrenville, IL
(10/13/2008)
"flat as advertised" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The course was flat and well marked. Water and Gatorade were ample. The fan support was incredible (nonstop cheering and encouragement). The food at the finish was average at best. I've run little marathons with only 300-400 runners and got better fare at the finish for only half the entrance fee. The only other drawback was the set-up in Grant park to try to accommodate 33,000 runners and 1.5 million spectators. It was crowded to the point that you couldn't even walk. Not a comfortable feeling after hammering out 26.2 miles. I'm glad I ran it but probably won't be back. I'm not into the massive crowds and confusion after the race. I'll probably just stick to the Quad Cities Marathon and other small Midwest races. | |
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R. T. from New York, NY
(10/13/2008)
"Impeccable organization, beautiful city" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I have run this marathon 5 times, and I have always thought the organization was wonderful. Part of why I run Chicago is that I don't want to have to worry about fundamental things going wrong because of inexperienced and/or inept race organization. This year was the best yet. They really stepped up after last year's meltdown; my experience was perfect. From a seamless packet pick up to an awesome expo to having numerous race info volunteers at the starting area directing people to their destinations, I was impressed. The corral system works very well and I was happy to see that bib numbers were actually checked to ensure no bandits - this is the first time I could run without much weaving around slower people. There were so many aid stations I hardly had time to get thirsty (but I drank anyway). Aid station volunteers were friendly and aware. The finish area had ice towels in addition to the usual Mylar blanket - a much-welcomed respite after the heat. The finish area spotters scanning the crowds were attentive to any runners in distress, and though I didn't require help, every response I saw appeared swift and effective. There were spots where the crowds just seemed to be staring at a train wreck rather than cheering. C'mon, people - your yelling/clapping/singing/dancing really gives us a surge, whether we know you or not! But I still enjoyed the course and reading the funny signs some spectators had crafted. I would not change anything worth noting. Except the weather. | |
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J. R. from Cincinnati, OH
(10/1/2008)
"I am happy I survived this one in 2007" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 I chose Chicago in 2007 to be my very first marathon, and at times I thought it was going to by my last one. I liked the route and the fans were nice and supportive (thanks!). The problem was that after the first 10K THERE WAS NO WATER OR ANYTHING LEFT TO DRINK. I couldn't believe it! I saw people falling like flies all over the place. It seemed like a zombie movie. I even saw the paramedics taking two persons covered in CSI-like fashion into their ambulances. For over 11K, I drank half-used water and Gatorade bottles that other people left behind on the street or from public fountains and residents' water hoses. I wish I had brought some money with me to buy something during the race. After 4 hours, one police man told us that the race had been stopped, so we walked-ran-walked till the finish line, hearing the sirens running wild all over the city. I expected to finish under 4 hours but I made it alive after 7. I strongly believed that the organization team could have done more, even though the heath went over 92 degrees. Even though I love Chicago, I don't expect to run this marathon again. Instead I will run the Flying Pig Marathon. I KNOW first hand it is well organized and that they have plenty of water along the race course! =) | |
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Mr. Snake from Chicago
(9/25/2008)
"Poor planning" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 As the 2008 race is upon us, I am saddened that I live in Chicago but have chosen not to run it. Last year's bad taste is still in my mouth. I have never run such a poorly planned race. Organizers inherited a proven product but failed to plan on the heat. Made zero sense. I carried my own water bottle because of the heat; I just needed something to put in it. Running a 9:30-pace, I imagine the leaders got hydration, but since Chicago attracts so many beginners, the followers were screwed. I ran from 12 miles in to Pilsen before locals had their hoses out with relief... just about the time the police became "race officials" and stopped the run. I will be on the sidelines this year. | |
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A. K. from Naperville, IL
(7/9/2008)
"Not as good as other Midwest races." (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 I have run this marathon three times - the last time in 2006. I did not like it much, although it is very close to where I live. Actually, smaller races in Green Bay, Milwaukee, and Madison are organized much better and cost two times less. In 2007 I ran the Milwaukee Marathon on the same day as the disastrous one in Chicago. Although it was very hot in Milwaukee too, the Milwaukee race was organized perfectly; there were enough fluids for everyone, and I had no problems running - just slowed down a little bit. In 2006, it was very cold, in the low thirties. After finishing the 2006 Chicago Marathon, I really wanted to put on my warm clothes. However, the person at the gear check of Chicago Marathon was extremely slow and unfriendly. It took him almost five minutes to retrieve my bag - the person who was supposed to do it moved very slowly, and even forgot my bib number, having no consideration that I was very cold and shivering, waiting for my warm clothes. | |
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A. S. from Minneapolis, MN
(5/29/2008)
"Results book and certificate are in!" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 So almost 8 months after the race, we finally get the results book and certificates in the mail. Unbelievable. I had almost forgotten about it by this point. | |
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M. W. from Washington
(5/27/2008)
"Would've averted cancellation had it been smaller" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I heard many good things about Chicago before I registered - the spectators, fellow runners, flat course and well-trained pacers. I entered with the goal to PR following the most vigorous training that I have tried. From the set-up, athletes' pamphlets, notices, emails, expos, etc., it had all the quality of a large and well-run major race. As I know of '04 Boston and '02 NYCM, both had difficult situations as heat or size, but these two well-known races went very well. However, Chicago was also big in size on a hot day, so it turned out to be a HALT, or "canceled " race. The organizers really needed to improve the operations to be in the same league as Boston or NYCM. There was weather advisory notice to runners that you would expect extra preparations from the race organizers, such as: increased number of water stations, misting waters spots and additional medical tents. To my surprise, there were NOT. There would still be only 15 water stations as layout in the runner's pamphlets and some were very far apart! At races, I usually carry a sports drink so to skip the first 2 or 3 water stations. When I realized that stations #3, #4, #5 were 2.6, 2.25, 2.5 miles apart respectively, I took a larger bottle and planned to discard it after the #5 station, at 10.6 miles. I had trained diligently to run without water for 6-7 miles at 60-70 degrees. With these, I felt prepared for the heat and would PR still. But it was so crowded that I ended up using my own drink until ~13 miles, when it was emptied. I regretted the minute I threw the bottle away. There were runners picked bottles to fill with water for use. It was pretty SAD sight. At every station, I poured water over me to cool off as all runners did at '04 Boston - without thinking that WATER WOULD RUN OUT FOR LATER RUNNERS. There was NO DOUBT that water should have been provided plentiful for all! At least that was the case in all other big races I ran. In addition, there were sprinklers all along the road from Hopkinton to downtown Boston to help the runners to cool off. While in Chicago, running through downtown area, I saw only a handful sprinklers. Understandably, it was difficult for spectators at non-residential areas to provide misting water. I had no problem with water/Gatorade supply. But it broke my heart to learn that was NOT the CASE for the later runners. The curve on the Chicago street surface was substantial so that after some miles on the side of the road, my left little toe and right ankle began to ache. That's when I noticed the curvy surface - an almost protruding cambered surface. Staying on the center of road was hot and unwise at that temperature, as there was constant broadcasting to runners "to stay in shade." As to Chicago pacers, I did find many of them - 4:00, 3:50, 3:40, 3:30 (and towards mile 25, I even saw a 3:10 pacer). I knew by then that the pacers were all way off due to the heat. This was a disappointment for me, as I was aiming for 3:45. I found Chicago was too crowded, even with more than 12,000 no-shows. The crowd in Boston and NYC was big, but it took less than 1-2 mile to be able to run your own pace. However, it was not so in Chicago. At about mile 1, I witnessed a young man tripped on the course, and another one later, around mile 15. I was in the open corral and had to dodge runners for 7-9 miles just to keep closer to my regular pace, which I failed to do due to the endless crowd. It also helped you to give it up the pace, when you heard , "This is NOT A RACE; it JUST A GAME - take it easy&" starting around mile 23. At first, I did not believe what I heard until it was repeated and repeated. I did not only slow down, but also lost desire to sprint to the finish. Many runners really slowed down and some even walked. At that time, I was not even sure how they were going to count finishes, since it was a game. The thought that Boston Marathon might have been gone out the window kept coming to my mind. And all that hard training was all wasted on the Chicago Marathon, which turned out to be a game. Sprinting then would be looking very foolish, or even ridiculous, when you were advised to take it easy at this GAME. I BQ'd the last 3 out of the 4 marathons, including this race. However, my goal was to PR, which I found difficult to attain here due to the heat, size and crowdedness. My conclusion was the width of the streets and the available services in Chicago could accommodate about HALF of the 48,000 runners who signed up. It's too big to handle the runners, and worse when the temperature was approaching 90 degrees. But the spectator support in Chicago was as great as in Boston and NYC. Thank you, Chicagoans. The expo was fine at superb McCormick Place, with plenty varieties of merchandise, though it had less-than-attractive pricing. There were no contemporary running legends present or giving seminars. There were several video-tapings and camera-shootings along the course. I showed my victory pose during the race but lost the desire to do so at the finish when all were advised to "take it easy... ." I appreciate the hard work the organizers put into the event and the obviously correct decision to halt the race when the water and ambulances ran out. It must have been a painful decision, and for runners too. I'd like to suggest in the future that they limit the entries to a manageable number, and always take into consideration the adverse weather and emergency service capacity. | |
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C. C. from America
(5/20/2008)
"Race officials need to be accountable for failings" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 This marathon in NO WAY compares to NY or Boston. The calamity of 2007 would NEVER have happened in NY. What angered most of us was the race officials and specifically the race director's inability to accept responsibility for the pitfalls of the 2007 race. Clearly, they were not responsible for the weather... but for water running low; closing the course; turning the clocks off; lack of bus transportation - come on!!! Like I said, wit ould NEVER happen in NY. | |
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D. S. from Chicago
(5/2/2008)
"What Happened, Carey?" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 4-5 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I had run Chicago 3 time before the '07 debacle ('01, '03 and '04). Though I would like to believe that '07 was an aberration, I am beginning to have doubts. As previous posters noted, certificates did not go out- even now as of 5/2/08. Seven months later and there is still no official explanation for why there was insufficient support or organization in light of the weather conditions. Of course, that has not stopped the "management" from maintaining a registration cap of 45,000. Let's face it: Chicago has gotten too big. There have not been more deaths in past years simply because management has gotten lucky with respect to the weather. Carey Pinkowski had better start doing a better job planning for the slower members of the herd or else he had start limiting how many he permits to register. They need to cap this race at 37,500 because the additional 7,500 that they have been admitting in usually have no business being out on that course. | |
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C. F. from Salem, WV
(4/27/2008)
"Great marathon for beginners; awesome all around." (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran Chicago with three of my training pals. We all four trained and completed. The crowd was awesome - so many people. Course was easy, although there is no easy 26.2 miles. Be sure to use a taxi cab to travel around the city; don't try to walk to the expo, and please get to the restrooms as much and as often as possible. It can be tough trying to use the bathroom when 30,000 of your closest friends have to go as well. Don't let the excitement of the crowd and the other runners ruin your discipline and make you run too fast of a pace. Don't be suprised if you run fast splits. Overall, one of the most spiritually-moving experiences of my life. |
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