Why Chicago Won’t Host The Olympics

As I posted yesterday, I attempted to run the 2007 Chicago Marathon. By the time I was directed off of the course by the police, it was pretty clear Chicago can’t handle large events. I fully realize comparing the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon to the Olympics is a stretch, but hear me out.

As has been widely reported, temperatures were unseasonably warm for Chicago in October.  Watching ESPN’s SportsCenter this morning, they reported the temperature has passed a marathon record 84 degrees by 10am.  As early as Thursday, race officials were warning of warm temperatures and to plan accordingly. In an email to runners I got the morning of Oct 4, race medical director George Chiampas suggests:

• Dress appropriately – avoid cotton fabrics, long sleeves and long pants. Wear lightweight, breathable fabrics that will help to keep you cool.

• Wear sunglasses and waterproof sunscreen. With the amount of time you will be on the course, you want to be sure to protect your skin and eyes.

• Pay special attention to hydration. Drink plenty of fluids the day before and morning of the race. Drink enough fluids to maintain your baseline body weight, but be aware of overhydration. If you begin to gain weight above your baseline, you are drinking too much water and depleting your sodium level which is important to maintain.

• Be sure to stay hydrated during the race. Make note of aid stations and prepare to utilize them. You will need to drink more to compensate for the rapid depletion of your body’s fluids in the heat. [Ed: emphasis mine]

• Plan to adjust your pace for the weather. The humidity and heat will require more of your body so a slower pace than planned is recommended in order to get you to the finish line without overheating.

• Most importantly: PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR BODY DURING THE RACE. If at ANY time your body gives you signals to slow down or stop, abide by them. Be aware of your heart rate, body temperature and hydration. If you feel light-headed, dizzy or overheated or experience chest pain, visual disturbances, cramping, vomiting or headache, slow down or stop and consult the medical personnel on the course immediately.

So how well did that go?

The Race Itself

I arrived at the starting area around 6:40.  Through all my training I ran about an 11min mile, so I lined up at the 12min pace sign knowing I was going to need to go slower. One thing I found odd was that there was the distinct smell of body odor already - and no one had started running yet! The public address announcer was welcoming everyone to the 30th running of the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. He also went on to warn of the increased temperature and that extra fluids would be on the course along with misting tents and ice at certain aid stations.

The race started, and I crossed the starting line about 21mins after the start - I was hanging around the 5:15 pace group.  My wife staked out a great spot on upper Columbus Drive and I called her name out. She heard me, but couldn’t find me in the sea of people - I saw her banner and headed into the tunnel. While I was concerned about the heat at the start, I also knew I’d trained in much hotter conditions. I just needed to keep up on the Gatorade.  I hit the first aid station and was able to actually get a cup of Gatorade, and I also drank a cup of water.

The second aid station is where I knew there was a major problem.  All the tables were turned over, and all the volunteers were apologizing they’d run out of everything.  This station was near Lincoln Park and several runners found the water fountains right off of the course.  Others went so far as to drink out of the decorative fountains in the park. I sent a text message to my wife that I was going to need Gatorade.  I was carrying some in a hydration belt, but it was not going to be enough to complete the race if there was none at the aid stations.

The scene of depleted aid stations would repeat itself several times. Bless the souls of resourceful volunteers who were rushing water coolers into nearby restaurants and homes to replenish the water.  Bless common citizens and businesses who stepped up and were passing out water. Still with no carbohydrates on the course, people weren’t going to be doing well.

By mile 12 when I got a second supply of Gatorade from my family (who, while waiting for me, were begged by several runners for some water, any water), the sound of sirens was constant. I know it’s a common sound in any large urban area, but I’d been in downtown Chicago enough to know it was more than normal.

I crossed the halfway point and my split there was 2:46. I was still on a decent pace for me and felt strong. (bad camera phone pick of the half way point - lens is probably dirty from me being so sweaty.)  Tons of spectators had dragged garden hose out to the curb and were spraying runners down.  At least three separate people near Malcolm X college offered me ice.

By the time I hit the 16mile mark there were rumors floating through the crowd that the race was canceled and all runners were being diverted to Grant Park.  Somewhere on Jackson, they blocked runners so an ambulance could cross the course.  Sure enough, at Jackson and Halsted where the course should have turned south toward Taylor St, it kept heading east. Halsted was barricaded and I could see over the spectators that it had to be recent as there was a large group of runners heading south.  I cut through the crowd and headed south.  Keep in mind I’d not seen any of the “increased fluids” or “ice and misting” at this point. Only stuff provided by the average citizen.

I met my family again at the turn west onto Taylor. They gave me more Gatorade and some water and a ton of encouragement.  My brother ran with me for about two blocks.  Right after I left him, my first cramps hit.  My quads had had enough.  I immediately chugged what Gatorade I had left and called my wife.  My legs let up, but police at that point were saying the course was closed.  There was no more first aid and the race had been shut down.  With the threat of more leg cramps with no fluids to speak of, I walked back to Grant Park with my brother.

The city in a failure

My wife talked to her mother and the news was reporting the city was swamped and could not get enough ambulances. The race directors were smart to cancel the race - not only because of the heat, but because they couldn’t support the runners.  And that is where the city broke down.  This is billed as a “World Major Marathon” and according the PA Announcer at the start there were runners from all 50 states and 150 countries.  They’d known since Thursday the heat was going to be an issue, yet it was obvious they couldn’t support as many runners as they let in the race (they’d opened registration to 45,00 of the first time this year). Not only that, but the city ran out of EMT’s and Ambulances.  If the city’s emergency infrastructure can’t support an event of 36,000 participants, how do they expect to support an event like the Olympics with millions or participants and orders of magnitude more in Spectators? 

The only highlight of this race were the volunteers and spectators who came to the aid of runners when the race organizers who’d taken our money could not Citizens of Chicago, you can be proud that you are filled with people who care. I feel sorry for the countless aid workers who were overwhelmed at conditions that should never have come about. 

Sure, I’m disappointed I didn’t finish.  I’m weighing entering another marathon to at least try and finish one (and take advantage of seven months of training). I’m most disappointed that I chose to run Chicago for my first marathon (I could have ran in either the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon, or the Twin Cities marathon, both were run on the same day). Several individuals told me it was the best one out there for first timers due to how well it was organized. Something obviously went wrong.  What is worse is organizers are denying any problem with aid stations. They’re even going so far as to blame the early runners for taking too much water!  According to the Chicago Tribune, Shawn Platt, a senior VP for LaSalle Bank is quoted as saying “We checked with all the aid stations and the amount of water was adequate.” They’ve obviously gone into “protect their own behind” mode.

There are accounts from medical workers work in the finish area who got yelled at for trying to bring water to those who finished and were near collapse.  None of the volunteers at Jackson and Columbus (the alternate ending for those diverted at the 16 mile mark) that were were collecting ChampionChips has any tools to remove them.  Mine luckily snapped off and my brother used his pocket knife to help a few others. Something as simple as giving volunteers some scissors!  Sure LaSalle Bank (soon to be Bank of America) Marathon Committee can blame the weather or other circumstances, but marathons in that sort of heat are not uncommon. They will find countless things to blame yet I will be surprised if they own up to the fact that they screwed up royally.

Thank You

I do feel a debt to those who got me to the starting line.  The crazy idea to start the race was put in my head by a former co-worker of mine, Eliezer Appleton. He kept in touch through all my training and gave me loads of advice.  I got additional moral support from other former co-workers and good friends, Jennifer J Schattschneider, Larry Kuhn, and Bob Zimmerman.  If it were not for my Mom, Dad and brother who drove down to Chicago from the Twin Cites, I would not have gotten as far as I did. Also, my brother made the 45min walk from Little Italy to Grant park with me in the stifling heat. I’d also be remiss in not mentioning the many online friends I made including Tom and Amy at Runners Lounge and LifeStudent.

Above all, none of what occurred for me would have been possible if not for my amazing wife, Amy.  She was there for me after every training run, put up with my soreness and crabbiness almost every Saturday. She selflessly managed to give me enough time to train this whole year.  Additionally she served as chief relief coordinator for me on course.  She wrangled everyone who was out to see me run and formulated a plan that had me able to see family five times on the course. She got to see me cry yesterday after it was all said and done. Above all she believed in me the times that I didn’t (and still does).

Amy, thank you so much.