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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 431 to 441]
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f. r. from Bayonne, New Jersey
(10/8/2007)
"Race director should know better" (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I have ran 152 marathons and 6 chicago marathons, The fail of the organizers to provide more water stops, it is a mistake of a rockie race director, I never expected from Chicago. They knew for a week that it was going to be hot, they had enough time to put water every mile and if they did, the results could it be way different. I knew that it was going to be trouble when I heard on the speakers in the morning that they added more water on the same water stops, instead more water stops. Still I love Chicago and the marathon I will be there next year again. FR - Bayonne, NJ | |
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S. D. from Charlotte, NC
(10/8/2007)
"Spectators Rocked!" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 Hot, hot, hot! Yes it was very hot, but ordinary Chicago citizens were awesome... the course was packed with well-wishers, people spraying us with their own hoses, handing out water, pretzels, and cheering us well beyond the untimely cancellation. Personally, I didn't experience any gatorade or water shortages, but sometimes the pouring was overwhelmed by the demand... but that always happens at one time or another. My biggest area of concern is the press/media rush to claim that the one death in this race was solely due to his Mitral Valve Prolapse condition and had nothing to do with the heat. Sounds to me like either a rush to judgement or a sympathetic cover-up for the organizers. I don't want to arm-chair quarterback the organizers, it was unfortunate the race was cancelled, but I noticed it was hot and was shocked by the number of walkers I saw starting at mile 13. With the police etc. shouting that the medics were being overwhelmed, you gotta do the responsible thing and take their advice to walk. I gave the course a 2 because frankly, it seemed like a concrete jungle, the Marine Corps Marathon was much better. | |
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W. S. from Chicago
(10/8/2007)
"A great challenge" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 4-5 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I ran the race, finished the race, and all I can say is that it was a hell of a lot harder than I ever imagined it would be. People are going on and on about the temperature, but in my opinion it was the humidity that made it so incredibly dificult. From my perspective, the race was well-organized, well-executed, and went off without a hitch. I say that despite having finished 45 minutes slower than last year. The spectators were wonderful as always, and made the race. The main thing I would change is add more hoses and sponges along the way. That probably would have stretched the drinking water further, and I hope they give that strategy a dress rehearsal at the Chicago Distance Classic (a mid-summer half marathon) next summer. A hosedown or spongedown every four miles might have made all the difference. I am sorry that the slower runners had their day cut short, but I think that the race organizers made the right decision in canceling the race. I saw enough runners go down ahead of me to know that people really cannot be relied upon to do the responsible thing. I don't see how anyone can expect the city or the organizers to just sit by and watch people drop by the hundreds and not step in and put a stop to it. Say what you want, but it is not OK for one race to tie up the whole emergency medical system of the city. What if somebody not associated with the race needed an help? I will definitely be back next year. I just hope that it isn't as hot, and if it is they've captured the lessons learned here. | |
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L. S. from Roswell, GA
(10/8/2007)
"Thank you Chicago" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I travelled to Chicago from the South where I trained in heat and humidity and still I ran a personal worst (guess that would be a PW??). However, I loved every minute of the race and I will come back. I feel for the first timers who put their heart and soul into training. If I haven't learned anything else from the marathon experience, I have learned that it's a grueling affair and there are sometimes obstacles that keep me from running my personal best. at constantly keeps me challenged. The heat we endured on Sunday was our obstacle...The race director and team of volunteers did an excellent job of supporting us all along the route. This, in spite of the fact that EVERY runner on the course was walking through the water stops (that NEVER happens) and we were all grabbing multiple cups of liquid at each and every stop(also never happens). I do understand the disappointment of those who weren't allowed to finish but at the same time I think those folks have to be honest with themselves and ask whether they might have been saved from being another casualty to the heat. From the start of the race, ambulances could be heard in the distance being called to aid downed runners. I have never personally seen so many runners who weren't just a little dehydrated - they were OUT COLD! At some point, the director had to say enough is enough...Thank you Chicago. I had a great time and because I ran so slow, I actually feel great today! We had a great time in your city and we will be back. | |
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J. K. from Atlanta
(10/8/2007)
"Tough Day" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I started the race and then dropped early, deciding to save my training for another marathon in Nov or Dec. I stayed at the finish line to wait for other friends and I think they made the correct decision to re-route. There were so many people going down and being taken to the hospital. There's no way the medical could keep up with the sick runners if it kept going. If I was on course and they tried to re-route me, I would have been pissed too, but they made the right call. I was also at the ING Georgia marathon as a pace leader and Chicago by far handled the situation better. The one thing I think these marathons should consider is a flexible start time. They knew last week it was probably going to be bad. Why not start the race at 7 or 6:30am? Also, they need to consult the hot weather marathon directors when they know there's going to be high heat. Why not pull in the Miami race director or another hot weather director. Miami deals with 80 degree temps every year. They plan for it, but they probably haves some insight. | |
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M. H. from Chicago suburb
(10/8/2007)
"Hot Day For All" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Chicago Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This Chicago marathon was my 16th Chicago marathon and 38th marathon. It was my slowest Chicago marathon, I was about 20-25minutes off my target time. But thats OK, it was hot. Because I am an experienced marathoner, I know how to listen to my body and slow down as needed. However, that is no excuse for the lack of water/gatorade as some slower runners described. I'm sorry, I believe them and not the race organizers, they were not the ones out there without fluids. It was a very dangerous situation. I think that if they had adequate amounts of water every 1-1/2 miles instead of every 2-2 1/2, many of the heat injuries would have been avoided. Don't get me wrong, I love the Chicago marathon, that is why I've done it 16 times. I wish the organizers would have listened to the prior weeks weather reports and planned properly. It did seem that all they care about is the elites and not the back of the packers, who trained hard too!!! | |
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H. G. from Houston, TX
(10/8/2007)
"It reminded me of the Katrina disaster" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 I can't believe how the organization committee could have done such a great job in just about everything but the most important thing: fluids for the runners. What's most disappointing is how clear it was several days in advance that it was going to be hot. I got to the first two water stops and there was no water to be found. I just couldn't believe that a marathon that prouds itself to be one of the "majors" could have done such a poor planning job. I read the responses from some members of the organization committee and they couldn't own up to the blunder. There wasn't enough water on the course. End of story. It was clear they weren't running. How hard could it be to multiply a number of runners times an amount of water and then multiply times a safety factor to account for spills, people taking more than one cup, etc.? The one thing that was amazing was the fan support. I walked the last 7 miles or so and couldn't believe how many fans stayed on the course to hand ice and water way passed the cancellation time. Kudos to the Chicago fans. Regarding the organization committee, someone has to be held accountable for this mess. Notwithstanding the horrible tragedy that occurred, the Chicago fans and the tourist infrastructure deserve a lot better. | |
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L. C. from California
(10/8/2007)
"Negative experience at Chicago 2007" (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 I have run 74 marathons, including Boston for the last 5 consecutive years, as well as New York and LA. I have never had such a bad experience in a marathon. The race director knew about the weather enough in advance, much as Boston did in 04. Boston handled the heat in 04 very well. There was plenty of water, plenty of fire hydrants open to cool the runners, ice and sponges on the course. I ran Boston an hour faster than I ran Chicago. The difference? Starting at the first aid station, there was no water, no gatorade. Aid station #2 at mile 4, same thing. At that point I got smart and went into a convenience store and bought a bottle of water and a bottle of gatorade, drinking the gatorade and carrying the water bottle with me the entire rest of the race. I filled this bottle periodically on the course in case other aid stations had no water. I did not get gatorade 'on the course' until mile 8, too late under those conditions. Every aid station that I was able to get water at cost me at least 3 minutes in time. I had to stand in line to get a cup and stand in another line to get the water or gatorade poured into the cup. It was ridiculous. Being a large marathon, there were alot of first timers out there who were no way prepared for such a debacle. I felt sorry for them. Heck I felt sorry for me. I was panicked as I am a 50 stater on the way to finishing up the states in Philly this year. I NEEDED this race. We were told the race was over at 19. No way, for me. Fortunately, even though they stopped the race officially, the group I was with was allowed to stay on the course and walk it in. Not so with people just a mile ahead of me. They were diverted off the course and were not allowed to finish. How disappointing. The course was already coned off, why not let them walk it in. I guess that the race officials figured that out by the time my group was there. In any event, I'm definitely not blaming Chicago for the weather, only their complete inability to adequately staff the aid stations so that there was plenty of help in pouring water and gatorade as well as supplying enough water and gatorade to the stations that ran out. I will say this, the people of Chicago were very generous, handing out water bottles, spraying people with hoses and giving out candy, food etc. They were one of the few positives of the Chicago marathon 2007 | |
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P. O. from Maryland
(10/8/2007)
"Monumental failure" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 People have complained about the obvious but as a doctor I was APPALLED at the failure of medical follow through. An unfortunate German runner collapsed just in front of me. He quickly lost his pulse after I and others laid him down. I started rescucitative attempts on him and he responded a minute later. He regained consciousness 2-3 mintues after his pulse returned. The LETHARGIC response by the medical services and by a race physician??? (wearing MD eblazoned on a smock) shocked me. That summed it all in one word -INDECENT Why was the race not started earlier? Im sure the city and runners would have agreed to a 6am start. Wouldnt have solved all but would have taken the edge off many of the problems The organizers worked hard but it all fell apart calling the 2016 Olympic bid into question. They (organizers) and the City must see it as a priority to re-engender themselves with the running community. | |
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J. B. from Southeastern, PA
(10/8/2007)
"We ALL knew what the weather was going to be!" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Chicago Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I am sorry, I just can't sit back and read all of these reviews that are blaming the organizers of the Chicago Marathon for not being prepared for the weather that was predicted for marathon day. WE ALL KNEW WHAT WAS PREDICTED!! Why didn't every runner on the course have a fuel belt on?!? I spent all of Saturday drinking bottle after bottle of water and I made sure all of the bottles on my fuel belt were filled with my electrolyte drink for Sunday. I was shocked at how few runners I passed (in the ten minute mile pace) that had belts on. I felt like I was the only one that came prepared. Folks, this is an endurance sport. It is not meant to be easy!! If you know there is hot weather predicted you better prepare yourself for it! Don't cross over the starting line without enough fluid to last you to the finish or close to it! I was lucky, I got to finish. I did it with a big smile on my face. Next time you hear bad weather is in the forecast, come prepared or stay home! |
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