Bottom Of The Barrel

Respect the distance

Yesterday's Chicago Marathon was halted midway through the event because of unseasonably high temperatures and humidity. At 10 am, the temperature had already reached 88 degrees, which was the hottest temperature ever recorded in the 30 year history of the race. Sadly a Michigan police officer died and 50 others required hospitalization due to the conditions. Additionally over 250 were treated on site, mostly for heat related aliments.

Of course the marathon is a grueling race but this kind of tragedy can occur at any distance. When I ran the Bay to Breakers race last spring, a 53 year old man died at the finish line only minutes before I arrived. It had been 4 years since the last death on the Bay to Breakers course and this is only a 7.46 mile race. I think Julie Deardorff of the Chicago Tribune said it best in her October 7 post "The marathon is an event that demands respect. Today's race was a good reminder for everyone."

posted by TheWino @ 11:42 AM