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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 351 to 361]
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R. S. from North Carolina
(10/11/2007)
"first time was a fun, crazy, slow, adventure!" (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 I ran Chicago as a first timer this past Saturday. I did not really know what to expect of my pace goals, but I aimed for 4.30 which I thought was highly realistic, and I even hoped to maybe beat that. Short story, I did not finish until 5.05!! And of course that was after the race was 'called off'. I obeyed walking instructions at about mile 24 but ran most of the last mile. The walking instructions were discouraging, as I really would have liked to finish sooner BUT I am very grateful that we were allowed to finish the whole course. What can I say. . it's hard to rate this marathon on organization given what they had to deal with this year! But I do think that the water issue was not dealt with well; that is the only real criticism I have. In 90 degree heat, I find it laughable that reading the news later, the race director didn't think I would dump water on my head to cool off. I even dump water on my head in 5ks in the summer! It is not for hydration, it's for external cooling. So with that and the need to drink, of course I took 3-4 cups at each stop. I normally cannot run with a lot of water sloshing in my tummy, but on Sunday it was so hot that at each stop, I was fully ready to consume about 10 oz of water and I really think that doing so kept me from being dehydrated and being one of the people in the medical tent! I don't think I should have to apologize for that, I think the race directors should have to apologize for not planning for it. I am soo very grateful to have had water and Gatorade at the stops but I fully believe those who say there was none left a short time later; someone posted a video on YouTube about it. For me the first 1/2, before the sun got scorchingly hot, was awesome. . .the crowds in Chicago are GREAT. I know some 'elite runners' hate the big-event mentality, but I loved it; loved the spectators; loved it all. Loved the people who sprayed me with hoses along the course. :) As for the course, which unlike the weather is less changeable from year to year: This is silly but not being from Chicago, when I looked at the map and the course looked near the lake, i actually thought it was going to be right *on* the lake. So I was actually slightly disappointed in that, but should have done my research ahead of time! I actually had a really good marathon experience; I feel like even with my slow time I survived something special; I experienced awesome comraderie along the course, and the spectators make you feel great, not to mention the whole weekend, and the expo, was really a huge deal and lots of fun. They can't control the weather. . .but the one thing I would have done is make sure enough water was available for all; if it is true that this was not the case then that is just not acceptable for a race of this magnitude. Other than that. . .thanks Chicago, it was nice visiting you!! | |
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M. H. from St. Louis, MO
(10/10/2007)
"This didn't have to be a fiasco" (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 I think thousands of other runners would agree with me when I say the absolute best thing about this marathon was the City of Chicago and the support that ordinary citizens (who were not even associated with the official organization) provided when they saw the bad situation that was developing. Chicago... you are awesome! The people who were supposed to organize and manage this race, on the other hand, could have done much, much better. We all knew for days in advance that it was going to be hot. How hard would it have been to get more water and Gatorade lined up, and to change the start time to 6:30 or 7:00? And this may be a small thing, but why was there no water available at the expo except for the $3.00 bottles available for sale by vendors? Adequate hydration in the last few days before a marathon is more than just a little important. Most of us trained for months for this event... and many of us trained in heat. We showed up with our fuel belts, we slowed our pace because it was the prudent thing to do, and then, 17 miles into the race, we're told it's over. The group I was running with all carried their own liquids, we all felt good, and all could (probably... you never know for sure) have finished the race well within the six-hour limit. Yeah, they gave us a medal anyway... but the runner in us knows: it doesn't mean anything - we didn't earn it. I have yet to hear the race director admit that any mistakes were made. And to blame the runners for the shortages at the water tables? That just disgusts me. Not only were they not prepared for the 45,000 runners who registered, but it became obvious in the first six or seven miles that they weren't even prepared for the 36,000 or so who actually started the race. One thing I've always loved about this sport is the feeling that runners are a different breed - people that, for whatever reasons, push themselves to go beyond the ordinary. I've always felt that organizations that supported runners were infused with that same spirit. The way the Chicago Marathon officials are "handling" the aftermath of this race is disappointing. It smacks of big business and corporate cover-ups. The City of Chicago and the thousands of spectators who cheered us on, cooled us with their garden hoses, gave us ice out of their refrigerators, and set up their own ad-hoc water stations all deserve better. A great city deserves a great race. I hope they get it next year. | |
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L. S. from Chicago, IL
(10/10/2007)
"Disgusted Chicago Marathoner" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 3 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 They ran out of water early in the race. I did not see a functioning water station until 11 miles in. That was the inexcusable part. The smart action came when the officials shut the race down because too many inexperienced dehydrated runners were getting heat exhaustion. They ran out of medical help for the runners. Who would want to experience a heat stroke on the course without any medical help around? The experienced runners quit at around the 10K-mark due to lack of water on the course. I finished the race and actually had a PR, but that was because I brought cash with me and was able to purchase my own water - otherwise I would have dropped out at the 10K as well. The Chicago Marathon officials dropped the ball and owe us an apology at minimum. To the inexperienced runners who decided to run without water in that heat and got hurt this is a wake-up call to respect your body as a marathoner and quit when you are facing the losing battle of dehydration. I also do not think the marathon officials were well prepared for the kind of disaster that happened. It was utter chaos at the finish line with runners collapsing everywhere. I feel they should have implemented a stronger plan to anticipate what could happen in that heat and they certainly should have overstocked on water and Gatorade. I am really irritated that Mayor Daley and marathon director have blamed it on the heat. That is only a factor in that disaster. It started with dehydrating over 25,000 runners from the start. I suggest all those unhappy with the way this race was organized should not register for next year's race. When their financial goals aren't met, the officials may start thinking more about runners and how properly to accommodate us in a race. We don't ask for much, and clearly they give out very cheap t-shirts year after year, and we keep coming back... but we do need water and Gatorade to have a fair shot at running a marathon. | |
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g. F. from Bermuda
(10/10/2007)
"2007 thoughts" (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Course: Very easy - potential for very fast time. Pretty boring though - not a patch on NYC. Crowd: Pretty silent - again not a patch in NYC.vPerhaps it was something to do with the Cubs' loss the night before?! General: I can't really comment - I was up near the front and had plenty of liquids. From my perspective, it was a very well organized race, given the numbers. The expo was a bit disappointing. Other: Don't stay at the Congress Hotel - the staff are very rude (in particular the bar staff). Overall: If you are planning on doing one marathon only, choose NYC! | |
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P. B. from Chicago
(10/10/2007)
"Lost data." (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 4-5 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Just like H.A. from Mass., there appears to be no record of my running in the Chicago Marathon this year. We took the same route and ended at the finish line. Family and friends were notified by email/text message that I finished. However, my running partner, John, WAS listed as a finisher. (The fans deserve more than 5 stars, incidentally.) | |
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J. H. from Takoma Park, Maryland
(10/10/2007)
"Grueling Weather, and Less-Than-Perfect Planning" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 In any other year, with less extreme weather, the 2007 Chicago Marathon would rank as one of my all-time favorites (I have also run Marine Corps, Charlottesville, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Richmond). The crowds were extremely supportive and helped out runners when race support faltered. The course is flat and fast, snaking through wonderful neighborhoods. I will remember this year's race for a variety of reasons!! Many center on the extreme weather and the strange events that unfolded as the marathon wore on. Every participant I talked to (myself included) suffered terribly, especially during the second half of the race. I train in heat similar to what we experienced on race day; regardless, it was extraordinarily grueling. Runners had nowhere to hide from the sun or the heat. Regardless of the rhetoric by Chicago public officials and race officials regarding the marathon, they could have done a better job planning for the unusual conditions. For example: - The race organizers could have moved up the race start earlier in the morning (e.g., 6:30 a.m. instead of 8:00 a.m.). I have run other races that did this to avoid potential mid-day heat. This strategy would have mitigated some of the problem. - The race organizers should have had much more water on hand. This was inexcusable, especially given that local and national weather forecasters were anticipating the extreme weather at least a week in advance of the race. Early aid stations ran out of all water and Gatorade for runners at the back of the back, although there were 10,000 fewer runners than were initially anticipated for the run. Additionally, the only cool liquid I found in the finishing area was beer. I am proud I completed the race, although my performance was by far the worst of any of the nine marathons I have completed. I will eventually run Chicago again; however, I hope race organizers can learn from this year's mistakes and better prepare in the future. | |
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J. S. from Los Angeles, CA
(10/10/2007)
"Chicago Marathon spectators are the BEST!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I've just read the post from "H. A. from Massachusetts" regarding missing results. My running partner suffered a similar fate. Text messages were sent at all timing zones, yet there are no results available, and he is missing from all records. Many, many thanks to the great people of Chicago for aiding me numerous times along the course!!! | |
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D. P. from Colorado
(10/10/2007)
"Thanks to all you spectators!" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 This was my sixth marathon and my first time to run Chicago. I would like to thank all the spectators who provided aid to us runners on Sunday. I would especially like to thank the folks at the church on LaSalle who let me, in the first 30 minutes of my marathon run, get water from their water cooler. I trained in high temperatures this summer, so I was ready for the heat, and by mile 6 I knew that I'd have to adjust my goal of a PR. I finished the whole marathon, walking the last 2 miles due to the closing of the course, in an hour slower than I had hoped. Now a message to the race directors: accepting responsibility does not show weakness, but rather strength. Somewhere our modern society decided that to admit mistakes is a sign of weakness. It is not, if a person attempts valiantly to rectify the mistakes in the future. While you race directors were not responsible for the weather, you were responsible for everything else in terms of preparations along the course at the Chicago Marathon. Alienate the running community, and you may as well close down this marathon. | |
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B. M. from New York, NY
(10/10/2007)
"What doesn't melt me makes me stronger" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 3 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I was in a 3:50 pace group at the beginning and skipped the first water stops because I was carrying a bottle, so I didn't see or experience any of the issues that others did. The tables had plenty of Gatorade all the way to the end at the time I was there, though some of the later stations had only a little water at the last tables, with no volunteers, and one had run out of cups. I do think more aid stations were needed - I actually planned to use my water bottle for those stretches over 2 miles, but I quickly depleted my supply well before the next water stop. Thank goodness I never ditched my water bottle as I planned, as it was refilled numerous times! I was so internalized as the heat got to me that I missed some of my favorite neighborhoods and could not enjoy the awesome entertainment. I still think this is a well-run race with the best fans and I will be back. You can bet they won't run out of ANYTHING next year. | |
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Jaclyn Burnette from Chicago
(10/10/2007)
"THANK YOU SPECTATORS!!!!!!" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 As a registered nurse and a previous marathon runner, I understand why the race was called. This, however, does not take away my frustration and disappointment that I was not able to finish. Though in the paper I have a FIN next to my name, with 3:57 as my time. The 3:57 would be something I don't think I could ever attain, and that is why most people who know me were floored when they saw that. I was very surprised when I arrived at aid station #1 and 2 with no water or Gatorade. I have run the Chicago Marathon before and I still think that it is a great race, especially because of the spectators. I do have to say a huge "thank you" to all of the spectators, for not just being loud, fun and obnoxious, but for being real lifesavers out there on that course. If it was not for the hoses, water guns, misters, bags of ice, bottles of water many other people could have died out there. So thank you! Being a Chicagoan, I know how great this city is, but you all proved even further why this city has the best citizens! As far as the organizers, I have mixed feelings about the outcome of this race. I really believe there should have been more tables of water and Gatorade at each mile. And once the course was rerouted we were again faced with no water on Jackson. The start time should have changed as well. I will most likely run Chicago again, but I think the people did not have the chance to finish the entire course should get a rebate for next years entry fee. I don't expect a full refund, but I do think some sort of reimbursement is appropriate for the time, sweat, and tears that so many people put into this marathon. Also the possible injuries that people may have endured through the last few months training. Thank you again to the people of Chicago for a memorable experience, and thank you for being our lifesavers! |
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