The Chicago Marathon was horrible...People were so desperate for water that they drank out of the fountain at the zoo. I almost had to pick a cup up from the ground but opted to cup water into my hands. Finally, I got someone to pour water into my mouth... I think I was at mile 18 when we heard the race was called off. There apparently weren't enough ambulances to tend to everyone and there didn't seem to be
enough water. There was a stretch of the course with people lined along the sidewalk laying down with spectators helping. The cops told us to stop running. So I walked about 10 miles. Last year it was 30 degrees. This year it was 90 with 80% humidity.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-071008downey,0,4773526.column
And for you Mike Downey of the Chicago Tribune...Yes it was our choice to run in the heat. But it's expected that there would be water and gatorade for us. There was supposed to be hydration tables set up at Mile 3. And there were, as evidenced by the crushed cups on the ground. But there was nothing to be found by the time I got there. I ran the first 3 miles at at 10 minute pace. So it's not like I was just too late to get to it. And by the time I got to the FIRST water stop it was Mile 5 or 6. Even in training that's NOT acceptable! Without water, we didn't even have a chance to take the race on.
Thank you to the supporters who handed out water and those who squirted their garden hoses to cool us down.
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