Major congratulations to Stephanie for finishing the 2007 Chicago Marathon today!!Not only was it the hottest Chicago Marathon in history, today was the hottest October 7 ever in Chicago at 88F with 60+% humidity to boot. And it wilted the 45,000 participants (will they ever cap the Chicago marathon..?) who generated over 90,000 gallons of sweat today, according to my calculations. Over 300 people were taken away in ambulances with one death.
Officials actually shut the course down after only 3-1/2 hours. At that point only 4,000 runners had finished; another 20,000 that had already passed the halfway point were allowed to complete the full distance (while being incessantly shouted at by dozens of bullhorn-wielding organizers and a helicopter overhead to walk rather than run); the remaining 20,000 that hadn't yet reached halfway were simply redirected back to the start. My favorite line came from a particular police car PA speaker while slowly cruising the final five mile stretch of Michigan Avenue, "If you don't stop running and start walking, we will arrest you" (of course, he was kidding).
Between Stephanie and our good friend David from Plymouth, IN, who also ran today, they saw dozens of people collapse. Both added 30-40 minutes to their planned finishing time, with Steph at 4 hrs 56 minutes and David at an amazing 3 hrs 30 minutes (this was his 10th marathon including running Boston two years ago). The last several course miles looked like a triage with countless ambulances running around and blaring sirens. Steph received incredible help, moral support and sherpa service from another awesome Chicago friend Tom who ran "bandit" (that means he wasn't registered to run) with her from mile 10 until the end at 26.2; he was only planning to run 11 miles but ended up sticking through the entirety to help her with additional water and Gatorade and positive reinforcement.
The marathon course was improved for spectators this year, so I saw Steph at 3 points: miles 10, 21 and 25. Friends Matt and Melissa also cheered her on at miles 17 and 23. Friends Brad and Beth live right on the course at mile 10, not only providing Steph a much-needed bathroom break (from over-hydrating, nothing wrong with that) but also blasting music and spray-misting their garden hose into the running crowd which made Brad popular enough to run for mayor. Despite all the runners' problems, the crowd was great this year (people come out to cheer when it's 88F, not 44F) and the event is always phenomenal, so much that I was briefly overcome by a moment of homesickness for Chicago without even leaving yet.
So once more, congratulations to Stephanie (who also raised $750 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation as part of a Hyatt-sponsored charity) and David and the additional 44,998 successful, limping, salty, sunburned and exhausted participants of the Hotter than Hades 2007 Chicago Marathon!
3 comments:
A huge CONGRATULATIONS to Stephanie on two accounts: one for finishing that horribly hot race and two for meeting her "Make A Wish Foundation" goal. Glad to hear that Stephanie had so much support along the way, but sorry to hear it was so hot. The heat must be nationwide; it's still in the 90's with high humidity here - and it's the 2nd week of October! Take care and stay cool!
Huge congrats to the finisher (may I call her 'P-Dub' or "PW?"), and good luck with the move!
The marathon coverage was kind of like some Prince lyrics...
'07 and we'll watch them fall,
Stand in the way of us we will arrest you all,
Without intellect, or any savoir-faire.
PT from the ATL
There is a man I know with no expression...none at all. His name is P. Thompson!
Fantastic to hear from you!! What's your email address? The old cubsvp one is dead and gone apparently. Still in Hotlanta, eh?
You're planning to visit us in Europe, yes? Shane is living over there too, although that might be a negative incentive...
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