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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 301 to 311]
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P. T. from Chicago
(10/20/2007)
"Was it really as bad as everyone says?" (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 First marathon ever. Trained to plan all summer in the heat. Yes, the temperature was 91 degrees (bank temp at mile 20 something), with 86% humidity... but I trained in worse. I ran about 1 hour slower than planned and trained for, but I made obvious "newbie" mistakes by starting off too fast for the first 1/2, finishing at 4:50. Not proud of the time, by any means, but it's a finish. Awesome course, but I do believe there were too many runners. Literally shoulder to shoulder the entire 26.2 miles. There were problems with water towards the last 10 miles or so. Looking forward to Chicago '08! | |
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J. S. from Chicago
(10/19/2007)
"follow up letter to Mr. Pinkowski" (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 Dear Mr. Pinkowski, I am a 47 year old male who ran in my first marathon last Sunday in Chicago. Just a few observations: 1. There was no liquid available for three consecutive water stops starting at around mile 14. I was located in the upper middle of the pack, considering we had 10,000 no shows and 10,000 behind me this was not good. 2. The telling of bald face lies on how plenty of water was available. A quote from a race official stated 'There was plenty of water, but the people up front were dropping cups of water on their head and the people behind could not reach the tables.' I felt like I was watching the nightly news in Iran. We could not get a drop of liquid in the later stages of the race when temps were reaching 90 degrees. 3. I could not believe the Mayor was saying the runners should be more responsible in their judgment about running in the heat. My judgment told me that my $110.00 entry fee would have covered the water being supplied at the designated water stops. If the temp was 50 degrees, it would be suicide to run a marathon without water. 4. Telling the world that the race was canceled. I ran the full 26.2 miles course in 5:51. There were thousands behind me. In reality, the race was canceled for only those who chose to quit or fell well behind the 6:29 medal qualifying time. I guess the race was kinda canceled but not canceled enough to get a refund. 5. Saving the best for last was the decision to hand out medals for those who quit and took the bus in. I am sure it took away some heat from the angry, thirsty crowd; however, handing out finishing medals like cracker jacks forever tainted the hard earn medals for those who stuck it out and finished the full 26.2 miles. | |
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M. L. from Grayslake, IL
(10/19/2007)
"Deflection of responsibility disappointing" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 I started in the C corral and did not have a problem with water/gatorade. I did carry my own water bottle, poured water on my head at each stop, slowed my pace dramatically and finished almost an hour slower than last year. My wife ran this year as well in the open corral, at a slower pace and she had problems finding water from the start. She went off the course numerous times to find hydration. Although she felt great, she was forced to quit at mile 16 where the course was barricaded. It is clear to us at least that the organizers were forced to call the race because of poor planning and the lack of water. I do think it was the right decision to cancel the race and I think the city of Chicago, the volunteers and spectators did a great job supporting the race. The race organizers like to point at the number of people that visited the medical tents (300) as sign of how bad conditions were. I ran Grandma's in June which had high temps as well (80+ degrees). At Grandma's they reported 500+ people visited the medical tents for a race that has less than 1/4 the entrants of Chicago. They did not cancel the race. The responsibility for the outcome of the race clearly falls on the shoulders of the race organizers. Blaming runners for pouring water over their heads and being too slow and under-trained is just an attempt to deflect responsibility. The attitude and public statements from the race officials makes me not want to give this race another chance. For a race that hung its hat on organization in the past, this is really disappointing. | |
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M. M. from Santa Fe, NM
(10/18/2007)
"Too hot in 2007 but will come back" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Amazing city, huge expo, fantastic crowd, flat course. I was hoping to get my BQ but gave up given the weather conditions. I'll come back in 2008. | |
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R. M. from Chicago, IL
(10/18/2007)
"Best they could do under circumstances" (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Record temperatures, high humidity, mostly open course with limited shade... tough conditions but still an awesome experience. Crowd is unreal. I ran 45 minutes slower than I thought my worst time would be and I still always had water at the stations. Would have liked more misting stations, especially in miles 8-15. | |
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Special K from NY from New York
(10/18/2007)
"No way to treat runners" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 What a negative experience. I don't know if I'll ever do this again. I went specifically to PR and was completely devastated by how race organizers handled the situation. I can accept that they can't control the weather, and I can accept that they had legitimate public health concerns when they cancelled the race. What I cannot accept is the total lack of preparation for the hot weather. There wasn't enough water period. I find it laughable that the race director could say he didn't anticipate that people would pour water on themselves to cool off. WHAT?! The water stations were too far apart; they should be at every mile like they are in the NYC Marathon. Positives: The course really is as flat as everyone says. There's just the one unfortunate hill before the finish line. The fans were fantastic, and I thank them for helping me get to the finish line. | |
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W. T. from Maine
(10/17/2007)
"I Won't Forget This One" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 3 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 This was my third Chicago Marathon and I had been training hard in hopes of a marathon PR this year. With the "weather advisories" that we received prior to the race, I pretty much knew that a PR wasn't going to happen. I run with a heart-rate monitor, and very quickly understood that if I was going to keep at my target heart-rate, I would just have to run a lot more slowly than I projected for a PR. I had hoped to finish at about 4:30 and ran for a while with that pace group in sight, but understood that I had to pay attention to my heart-rate if I was to finish the race in any kind of shape. This was disappointing, but necessary. As it turned out, I was at about mile 20-21 when the "cancellation" call was announced to the runners. Was I disappointed? You bet, but now, ten days later, the whole experience is in perspective. I did get to finish the race and ended up running 40 minutes slower than I had hoped. I did more walking than I have ever done. I did not experience water/Gatorade stops with no liquids, but, from reading these postings, that seemed to happen to others behind me. My daughter, who was running behind me, reported that this was the case as well. Lack of water at aid stations has to be the responsibility of the race organizers, doesn't it? Is it reasonable to expect that there will be water for you at a water station? There seems to be a disconnect between the comments posted on this website and the 'official' reports. Even in the heat, the crowd support was awesome, the bands were great and the overall atmosphere was excellent. (I loved the band under the overpass that was playing Motown tunes.) I feel a sense of accomplishment, even though I had a slow, slow time. Chicago is a great city and I always enjoy going there. I think that next year I will plan on a different marathon though. I am going to look for one a little later in the fall. I ran Chicago in '05 and '06 and the marathon was 2 weeks later last year. It was cool and windy, but it was a much better race for me. | |
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R. H. from Minneapolis
(10/17/2007)
"Race officials not prepared for 45,000 + runners!" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 I really think the Chicago Marathon officials were trying to make this the biggest marathon simply for names sake. They were in no way prepared to handle 45,000 + runners. Can you imagine what would have happened had all 45,000 + runners ran the marathon? It would have been horrible! I was in corral A, so I had no problem with water and enjoyed the spectators. I can't imagine what it would've been like had I been in the open or other corrals. They allowed way too many people to register for the marathon. | |
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b. s. from Mobile, AL
(10/15/2007)
"What a waste" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 I trained in record heat in Alabama - wanted to run a race for my brother in Iraq. My first marathon after 30 years of running. We started slowly and paced ourselves due to the heat. After the first water station there wasn't anymore water for seven miles - that is crazy! I understand the race officials' decision to stop the race but then to lie about availability of fluids? Forget it - I won't go back. | |
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T. T. from Singapore
(10/15/2007)
"Nobody's at fault." (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is my first time running a full marathon. Like many others, I've trained hard for months and the warm weather was totally unexpected. The weather was hot, nobody forced anyone to take the run if he/she didn't feel well. 10000 participants even chose to draw out of the run. I felt the organiser has done its best to come up with contingency plans by increasing the amount of water available at the water stations, releasing water from the fire hydrants, providing cooling buses and water sponges etc. And to make such a critical decision to cancel a world class race at its 30th anniversary for the first time, I felt the management had done its best to protect the safety of the remaining runners. No doubt I do feel disappointed for completing an unofficial race on my first marathon, but the fabulous spectator crowd, volunteers and organiser has given me an experience of what a world class marathon is like! I just hope next year's could be held at a later date and an earlier start time to prevent another similar situation as this year's. Definitely a run I'll recommend! |
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