Chicago Marathon organizers this week defended their preparation for Sunday’s Chicago Marathon even as runners told stories of a tough, sometimes scary battle to stave off heat exhaustion during the 26.2-mile race that organizers ultimately cut short for many. About 300 runners were taken by ambulance from the course. One runner, a 35-year-old Michigan police officer, died after collapsing from a heart condition.
Organizers insisted they adjusted their plans for the heat and boosted the number of drink servings at the race’s 15 aid stations to 1.8 million from 1.6 million, as well as adding misting areas, extra ice and water-soaked sponges.
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“This is an unfortunate incident. That’s all it is.” – MAYOR DALEY [ defending the race organizers ]
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“We did feel we had more than adequate water supplies out there.” – SHAWN PLATT [ senior vice president of LaSalle Bank, the marathon’s sponsor ]
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“I ran six days a week for 10 months so they could not provide water?”
– BRIAN MABEE [ 43-year-old marathon participant ]
