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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 411 to 421]
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C. A. from Baton Rouge, Louisiana
(10/9/2007)
"Life saving spectators ... poor organization!" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 Being a runner from the south, we are use to running in high temps and high humidity. The difference is we understand the importance of having fluids out along the route. Yes Chicago was HOT, but it was the lack of water at the early OFFICAL water stops (miles 4 & 6) and the lack of cups at others that caused problems. Race officials can say what they want about having enough water, they are playing the CYA game at this point, but just ask anyone who witnessed the thousands of runners drinking out of the fountain in Lincoln Park and they will tell you a different story. The true heros of this race were the spectators along the route. Bringing out their own water and ice and giving it to runners. If it weren't for the citizens of Chicago who knows how many more would have gone to the hospital. Like everyone else, I trained for 6+ months. Lucky for me I did get to cover the entire course albeit the last 6+ miles we were being told to walk for our own safety. I would come back based on the course and most of all the people of Chicago. | |
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P. S. from Petaluma, California
(10/9/2007)
"Really bad weather for a great race" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 2007 was my 4th Chicago marathon and my 20th overall. I finished in 4 hours and every aid station was still packed with drinks. I feel very bad for the people who couldn't get water or finish the race. It's because everyone was dumping water over their heads, even at the first few aid stations. The organizers did increase the water to 50 cups per person, but it wasn't enough, so they had to cancel. They did their best and I believe that any other race with the same conditions would have had the same issues. | |
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C. D. from Columbus, OH
(10/9/2007)
"Right Call - Too Late" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 It should have been stopped earlier, perhaps let elite and front runners finish the full distance and stop at a half marathon for those projected at 4 hours+. By mile 16, the road was full of those walking and standing, a great injury risk to themselves and those still running. Moving to later in the month would help. Last year's cold worked much better. | |
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I. B. from California
(10/9/2007)
"Horrible organization - no water or gatorade" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 I will never come back to this race. This was my first time in Chicago and even though the spectators were nice, the lack of water and gatorade for the 'slower' runners has left me with a bad feeling. They should have been prepared to bring in more water when the first station ran out. Blaming the faster runners for using it is wrong, they needed it. I got stopped at 17 miles. There are many other marathons to travel to and I'm recommending everyone do that. | |
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B. S. from Tippecanoe County, Indiana
(10/9/2007)
"Disappointing, Chaotic Chicago Race" (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 My first marathon - I don't know what was more disappointing... the runners, the officials, or the fact I didn't meet my goal. I think a lot of runners should have known better and gotten off the course. All those walkers should have called it a day earlier. I think the officials should have been better prepared for the weather. And to think that 9,000-10,000 didn't even show up for the race and there still wasn't enough gatorade & water. Maybe the officials should have opened the hidrants around the water stations before the race was cancelled so runners wouldn't waste the drinking water pouring it on themselves. I think the most disappointing part was listening to the race officials making excuses afterwards. First they blamed the 'private business owners' who had their own water stations which gave the impression supplies ran out. Then they blamed the runners for dumping too much water on themselves so the volunteers could not refill cups fast enough. The officials were more concerned about placing blame and that is LOW CLASS. I understand the cancelation, the officials could have taken the high road, but they didn't. I still love Chicago; it's a beautiful city. | |
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D. B. from Woodridge, Illinois
(10/9/2007)
"The fault, if any, lies with each runner" (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second Chicago Marathon. The Organizers did the best job possible under the conditions. I knew the likely conditions days ahead. On Marathon day, I knew it would be a slow hot race - and adjusted accordingly. Dress cooly, bring a towel for wiping and cooling. Drink, drink, drink, with gel blocks. Each runner must recognize the conditions and take individual responsibility to adjust as needed. A big thanks to the Organizers and the volunteer support team. You are the best. | |
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K. I. from USA
(10/9/2007)
"They did the best they could!!! Give them a break!" (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first Chicago marathon and while it was a nightmare because of the heat they did the best they could! I finished in 5 hours 13 minutes and there was PLENTY of water the whole way through. As I understand it, people who were slower were rerouted to Grant Park a different way. Did that not happen? Or did some of those runners choose not to follow that route and therefore found that there was no water? I don't know, but we all knew what the weather was going to be, and everyone at the starting line chose to run the race. Marathon officals did the best they could, they were prepared as much as they could have been, no one could have been prepared for an outcome like this. No it was not the race we all trained for, and yes, that is very disappointing for EVERYONE! It just seems a shame that so many are out to lay blame instead of just accepting it for what it was; a HOT MISERABLE day to run a marathon. Race officals were caught between a rock and a hard place, and mo matter what course of action they would have chosen to take, people would have been angry. Give them a break, and be glad you have a story to tell your grandchildren some day! Say a prayer for all the runners who did have an awful day and will be recoverying from this race for awhile! | |
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J. Z. from Quantico, VA USA
(10/9/2007)
"If it was easy... Everyone would do it!!!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 As I am no longer a marathon novice, much less a Chicago Marathon novice, I feel some heat (sorry for the pun) needs to be taken off the Chicago Marathon in general... #1. This is a marathon, it's supposed to be the most physically and mentally challenging thing the average person EVER puts his or her body and mind through... Because the weather added to the challenge is part of the challenge... Embrace it or don't, but don't blame others! :-) #2. 2007 was my 7th Chicago, and if you are looking for a better course, a better organization, and/or better spectators for an event of this magnitude, and you throw out the 2007 culmination of issues, You WILL NEVER find a better one than Chicago. #3. There are things the director could have done to improve the course conditions, BUT, any time you gather that many people to participate in a physically challenging event you are going to have medical issues, when you add in the heat, those medical issues are going to appear much more frequently and severely... The fact that only 1 (in no way disrespecting the fine civil servant and citizen) individual passed away, doing something he loved, speaks volumes to the preparedness of the medical personnel that were available, as well as to the decision to close the course once those personnel were beginning to be overwhelmed. #4. To those of you who didn't receive an official finish time, particularly you who are first-timers, as one of the finishers, (my brother and wife were as well) I can only offer you my support and praise for attempting the most physically and mentally challenging thing you probably ever will and I encourage you to dig deep one more time and find that spark, that desire, that grit and come back again next year! It will be worth it in the end, and when you cross that finish line, you will truly know what you have accomplished! :-) #5. I can only assume LaSalle Banks and/or Chicago Marathon will only take the highest of steps towards communicating their desire to see us all again next year by offering a discounted if not a free entry into next year's marathon for anyone who crossed the start line... Thanks for looking at the post and GOOD LUCK in your future training endeavors! 'There will be days when you don't know if you can run a marathon. There will be a lifetime of knowing that you have.' -Unknown October 12th, 2008! | |
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J. O. from Chicago, IL
(10/9/2007)
"I've never seen water stops like this" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 3 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 This was my third Chicago marathon, and I planned to finish between 4:25 and 4:40. I crossed the start line about 14 minutes after the gun, and by the time I got to the first two water stops they were down to a few tables at the far end of the stop. I can't imagine what it was like for runners who were 10 or 15 minutes behind me. Every water stop was chaotic. I made it to mile 21 when police and race officials told us to stop running and walk. I finished in 5:08 having walked the last 5 miles. It was a bizarre day, and my heart goes out to all the runners who collapsed and got sick. Thanks to the residents of Pilsen (18th street) for the ice and garden hoses! 18th street helped a lot of runners finish, I'm sure. | |
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J. N. from Sterling Heights, Michigan
(10/9/2007)
"Hot, Hot, Hot but well organized." (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 There is a lot of bashing on this thread about the race, I for one ran 20 mins slower than normal but it was the heat not the organizers of the race. I was up around the 3 hour mark and had plenty of water, as well as my friend who 'finished' in 5 hrs 30 mins who seems to have had water the entire route. The best way to put it in my eyes is that if the heat is that high with humidity, take it as a long run with nothing more in store and live with it. Adjust your pace accordingly, I trained very hard for this race but to put blame on organizers....Relax, look for another race to hit your times! |
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