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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 331 to 341]
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J. G. from Hillsborough, NJ
(10/12/2007)
"Good Race/Experience, Bad Weather" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I finished in a little over 3 hours (about 15 minutes slower than I trained for) and so I missed the "fun" described here by so many other runners. For what it is worth...: This was my first big-city marathon and I found the starting situation a bit daunting. After stumbling out of the porta-potty 4 minutes before the start of the race, I was able to make it to my assigned starting location. I tried to go approximately goal pace for the first mile and realized that there was no way I was going to maintain it due to the weather, and so I went to "plan B" and slowed my pace to something I thought I could safely maintain. The race itself was amazing. The crowds were great. The aid stations were organized and well stocked, and I had no trouble getting enough fluids. I have to confess I was one of those who dumped cups of water on my head (though not at the first few aid stations). I feel very bad that I may have contributed to the problems described by other runners. (My sincerest apologies.) It really did not occur to me that water might run out at an event like this. If there were more spraying stations set up, I would definitely have used that option instead of dumping water on my head. As a runner of small races and trail marathons, I have never experienced this kind of crowd support. I'm glad I signed up and I will probably mix in a few more big-city marathons in the future - maybe even this one again. | |
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D. B. from Boston
(10/12/2007)
"tough, but good call" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is the second time that I ran Chicago. The heat was amazing this year. I don't think of 90 degrees as being particularly hot, but the marathon was much hotter than the 90 degrees would indicate. I usually pace myself so that at the 13.1, I feel like I am nicely warmed up, but on this day at 13.1 I was already feeling sick. From about 6 miles on, I heard sirens constantly. I have never seen so many people drop during a marathon. I can remember wondering if the medical people could keep up. I understand now that they could not. In retrospect, how could they? Because of the heat, I was well, well below my expected pace. When the police drove by telling us that the marathon was called, I was upset for a moment, but then I realized that this was clearly the best decisions. As the police asked, I walked the next few miles to the finish line. I heard that some people didn't have access to water or Gatorade at some of the stops, but both water and Gatorade were available at all the stops when I went by. Some people have complained about the fact that the race was called, and I can understand the disappointment, but I think it was the only choice. Too many people were on the edge of hurting themselves seriously. You could see it everywhere. I think the decision probably saved a number of lives. It was disappointing, but I congratulate the Chicago staff for having the courage to make a very difficult but necessary decision. My thoughts go out the family of the gentleman who lost his life during the race. -Dan | |
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m. d. from Chicago
(10/12/2007)
"Very poor planning" (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 I run a 10-minute mile, so was not up front and surely not in the back - there were lots of us. I knew trouble was brewing when I got to the second water stop and found nothing but cups on the ground. Things became pretty fuzzy as far as specifics but I believe I ran from about 12 to 18 miles (into Pilsen) before I came across hydration - garden hose. I also came across water stations that had water but no cups (have never seen a race where runners carried their own cups). Police interference was disturbing as they told runners that there would be no finish line to cross when, in fact, it was still there with the clock running. Many of us had trained running in the heat and, with proper support systems in place, could and would have finished. But the crowds were great. | |
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Carl Marshall from Portland, OR
(10/12/2007)
"Chicago Residents are the Best!" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and I thought there was no better place to begin than with a bang at one of the largest marathons. Start: Very crowded. Make sure to get there really early. If you hydrated like you are supposed to, then you will need to use the restroom, which I found to have extremely large lines. The checked bag was amazingly easy and took virtually no time. The corral was difficult to get into, and I couldn't make it up to the pace group that I was targeting. Start of race: Be prepared to start 20-30 minutes after the gun, since it takes awhile to stream that many people through the streets. During the race: I really enjoyed the crowds coming out to support and the great city views as running through Chicago. I did notice lots of walkers on the course and having to weed through them was difficult at times and caused lots of mini-sprints during the race. I also learned not to wait in line at the early restrooms since this took 10 minutes... ouch! Although I did get some water from a tent close by. At the first couple of aid stations there was little to no water and no Gatorade. It seemed like I was a beggar for water, shooting from table to table with my cup hoping for a few drops. That was a bit sad for shelling out $110 for refreshments. It seemed that where the organizers failed, the Chicago residents picked up. They were buying water to hand out, spraying runners down with hoses, giving out food, cheering us on, and overall just displayed a lot of heart. Mile 20: Race was canceled; we sort of heard it from one officer but everyone kept on running. Then, further down the road we heard it from the loud speakers of a police car that the race was canceled. Most everyone started walking, but I continued to run at a slow pace. I had salt, Gu, and a water bottle, which definitely helped. The organizers failed in not thinking out of the box and either putting a lot of water/Gatorade early in the race, starting the race a couple of hours earlier, giving refunds and ask the participants to come back next year, or setting up additional aid stations. Overall, I love the course, the people, and I still had a great run. I hope the organizers hear the statements of the runners and really work hard to make this a great run again. | |
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W. G. from Madison, Wisconsin
(10/12/2007)
"Bad Leadership" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 They knew the race was going to be hot, but the leadership just wasn't prepared. I heard Twin Cities had bottled water for its runners. The leadership of this race took a bad situation and managed to make it worse. To be fair, the fans were great. | |
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S. A. from Portland, OR
(10/12/2007)
"Enjoyable PW in Chicago 07" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 I trained for months for a 2nd straight PR in Chicago but came away with a PW instead! I was definitely affected by the humidity (even though I carried my own hydration) and felt as if I was hitting the wall as early as mile 10. I started in the C Corral so I made it through all of the water stops prior to them running out of supplies. I heard the announcement of the marathon shutdown at mile 22. I was shocked and dismayed when it was suggested that I stop and walk to the finish. Interesting contradiction is that I also heard an announcement that we would still be timed, which was odd since I noted that the timing mats had been turned off (ie not beeping). I did not stop, and ended up completing the race, albeit an hour worse than last year! One odd observation that I didn't fully understand until now was that as I was exiting the finish line area, I noted a mob of runners entering against the flow whom had been redirected off the course and were backtracking to touch the finish mat, gather their medal and take the finisher picture. This invalidates the placements by finish or gender, so why are those data points published on the marathon result site? The people of Chicago lining the course were spectacular, shouting encouragement and willing each of the runners to beat the heat. While I had been impressed by Lasalle Bank and the marathon organization related to the expo and race logistics I am disappointed with the leadership and the mayor of Chicago for deflecting responsibility related to poor contingency planning given the fact that the forecast was known a full week prior to the event. An apology or some consideration however small would go a long way. My wife (who ran as well) and I enjoyed the week we spent in Chicago so all was not lost. The food was fabulous and the city pristine and easy to get around. Not to mention that we survived Chicago 07 and finished the race! Fortunately we are already registered for the Disney World Marathon in January, so we can continue our pursuit of a Boston qualifying time then! Not certain when we will be back...it depends! | |
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A. C. from Stoughton, WI
(10/12/2007)
"Too crowded, too disorganized" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 I won't be doing Chicago again. I was one of the lucky ones who was allowed to finish. I paced myself and got plenty of fluids (when they were available, which wasn't at all aid stations). The race officials gave incredibly mixed messages during the last NINE MILES of the course. I heard that I was going to be bussed to the finish, I heard that I would be taking a shortcut, I heard that the timing clocks would be turned off and I wouldn't be allowed to cross the finish line, I heard that there were no fluids of any kind available after mile 19. All of this was lies. There were fluids. The clocks were on. I was allowed to finish. I got a chip time. This was my first marathon. I am dismayed that it was such a non-event for me because I wasn't sure until the very end that it was going to 'count'. I now feel that I have to do a 'real' marathon for my first time. If the officials had not lied - if they had simply stated that we would be allowed to finish, supported, but would be asked to walk - I would have understood. To give misinformation was disgusting and discouraging. Another reason I won't do this one again is that it's just too crowded for me; I was expecting crowds, so that's OK... but I guess I wasn't fully prepared for never being able to run (or walk) my own pace without bumping into people. There will be a 'next marathon' for me... but it won't be Chicago. | |
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L. P. from South Elgin, IL
(10/11/2007)
"INEXCUSABLE" (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 It is now 4 days after the race. We were suppose to get a statement from the marathon office in regards to the water/gatorade fiasco Wednesday. Still - nothing! The longer Carey takes to address their screw up, the more the runners frustrations continue. There were 2 other marathons close by with very similar weather conditions on the same day as Twin Cities & Milwaukee. Interesting how those who ran them no one complained about having no water/gatorade or runners dumping water on their heads & not having enough left over! We get having the race, we get cancelling the race but we don't get the lack of communication and explanations that you oooopppss messed up. 14 years of making it great being washed down the drain by not saying you were wrong. Is it due to lawyers? If you are back, how will you deal with the legacy of not addressing this that you will face at all the clinics you give for Chicago 2008? You need to do some PR work quickly. The longer you don't address it or think it will just go away, the more damage you are doing to such a great marathon. | |
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Keith Yunger from Springfield, MO
(10/11/2007)
"First-Timer, Awesome Experience, Bummer Weather" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Expo was fun. Organization top-notch for runners and my family as spectators. Crowds were great. Aid stations were well prepared, you just needed to move past the herd and the first table to get your fluids. My goal was to finish in 4h00, with the weather it took 4h34. I will be back next year to beat my time! THANK YOU CHICAGO and RACE ORGANIZERS!!! | |
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J. W. from Chicago, Illinois
(10/11/2007)
"Rediculous" (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 This was my very first marathon and I was EXTREMELY disappointed in the organization this past weekend. I started the race a little after 8:30. I ran a total of 4 hours and was still unable to finish the race. I walked past the finish line backwards with rude race staff jumping in front of me, telling me to stop and turn around. This is completely unacceptable. At the end of the race there was about 500 water stations FILLED with water bottles...where was this on the course!?! Overall, I was saddened by the lack of effort. It had been above average temps for a week leading up to the race and it is as easy as checking the weather channel to know how hot it is going to be, and to plan accordingly!! I was not even struggling when i stopped running at 4 hours which just shows that the weather should have not been such a problem for well trained runners. On a lighter note, the crowds were incredible. |
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