Chi Town Marathon.

[RICHARD]

One dead, hundreds fall.

And the blame squarely laid upon the shoulders of the sponsors/organizers.

Like shouldn't you know, as a runner, that 88 is way to hot to be running around for 26 miles?

In the L.A. marathon earlier this year three people died, two were cops- the fatality in the Chicago marathon was also a cop!

Donuts + running = trouble.

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The Marathon was cut short and the runners blamed everyone except themselves and after looking at the cups that lined the street where the water stations were, I really do not have any sympathy for them.

Imagine that, littering as part of a sporting event!

The participants probably drive green cars, are part of the 'clean air initiatives' for their towns and are active in healthy excercise programs-but don't cut their run and their littering short!

[Freedom]

I have never liked marathons and refused to go see the Boston marathon all the years I lived there. For this reason, people don't know when to STOP. Sometimes people have to be protected from THEMSELVES. Sports often brings the determination to go for it, "no pain no gain," and all that.

I find it quite similar to the old steeple chases when the horses would be pushed so hard they'd drop dead at the finish. Except these folks push themselves.

[AbbyMom]

The one who died actually died of a heart condition and the Tribune is reporting that he was aware of it.

Still, more than 300 people needed treatment for dehydration or other heat-related problems and dozens were hospitalized.

Yes, they should have known before starting. But what they actually "knew" was that they had to drink a lot of water and the organizer would provide it.

Unfortunately, the organizers ran short of water at some of the stations.

Apparently some runners were using the drinking water to splash on themselves for cooling and then others behind them did not get any.

I've never seen a marathon, but I guess the runners were supposed to use the cooling stations (hydrants) and not the drinking water.


Here's to the neighbors along the route that bought out the garden hoses, sprinklers, water jugs, and bottled water.

[RICHARD]

The cooling stations are arches that spray water as you walk thru them.
Kinda like the mist nozzles you see attached to the edge of a canopy.

Any time you particpate in any kind of event you have to be prepared.

Remember this when you go to a outdoor music festival and find there is no TP in the porta potties.

The event organizers will tell you that there are out houses in the area, but will the TP hold up?