Angry Mr. Bunny Man!So a week has passed since the race debacle I call the "Chicago Marathon". I think it was the right thing to do to cancel the race, but don't really agree how the Race director and Mayor were trying to put the blame on the volunteers and then the runners themselves for the shortage of water.
YES, we have to have some sort of responsibility as athletes to our own health. But when you pay a race fee, I would like to expect some sort of adequate support for our basic needs.
You think?
So as the news fades on this issue and the fingers become less pointed I will put away my "angry" bunny ears for now and see what I will do the same time next year.
But you know what, it did help me get off my ASS and start to do some descent training again.
With the Lakefront 50 mile/50k still looming on the race schedule and going back and forth on why I want to even consider running a 100 mile UltraMarathon in early '08,
I really need to start Running longer again!!!
So with a couple of sessions on the treadmill, my floppy feet are running again and for the most part enjoying it. Hopefully getting close to my weekly goal of running at least 50~70 miles a week. (Crap, Did I just say that?)
But concerning eating more carrots instead of eating a carrot cake, that still is a work in progress.
posted by RunBubbaRun at 4:18 AM
12 Comments:
So now you're RunBunnyRun?!?! LOL
It's concerning. I read that the race director says there is nothing they could have done better. That would make me concerned to the the race in the future - I'd think there must have been SOMETHING they could have done better - SOMETHING that they would do differently in the future.
Guess it's time to move on...
Ummmm, basically, you're NUTS!! 100 miles?!?!
If the ears make you train maybe you should keep them. I was just thinking about wearing a sombrero for my ultras this year.
I have never been in a race where aid stations were not adequetly stocked. And that includes races over 13' passes in the middle of nowhere in Colorado. This was just poor race planning.
home health supplies
We're never going to get our apology. Other race directors will give us free entries to prove they are prepared but unfortunately our fine city's marathon has been tarnished. We can only hope that Carey Pinkowski will redeem himself next year and the marathon will once again shine the way it should.
In the mean time have fun running all those miles! :)
Don't overdo it on the carrots or you'll be running to the bathroom all the time! I think Chicago's impact is being felt here too. It was nasty weather Saturday and far more people than expected turned out to train in it because if we learned nothing else, you train for the worse and hope for the best.
You mean they implied runners are to blame for there not being enough water?
I guess runners will think twice next year before signing up for that marathon.
I was planning on signing up for the Chicago Marathon this year, but it sold out before I got to it. I guess I was the lucky one. I read an article from the Chicago Tribune by Mike Downey that was appalling - blaming the runners and such. How pathetic. Way to make the most of the day, as you did, though.
100 miles???? O.M.G.
Daisy got a pair of those ears and I am thinking about wearing them in San Fran. A pacer should have a schtick I think and the bunny ears seem appropriate :)
I'm saving my b-day run for Sunday when I can share 26 miles with many 3:50 hopefuls!
Glad you are getting back on the horse. I cannot fathom a 50k/50 mile on pavement! That is hard core!
How can they blame the runners? For tossing water on their heads in addition to drinking 3 cups intead of 1? Hello! They were overheating! They weren't tossing water on their heads to look good! If the early runners hadn't been tossing water on their heads to cool off, then maybe 500 MORE athletes would have gone to the hospital.
You can't blame the athletes.
The forecast was the forecast. You buy extra pallets of water and return what you don't use if necessary. You don't expect the overheating athletes to conserve their intake. Athletes are nice people, but when you are that overheated, you just aren't thinking about whether or not you are leaving enough water for the people behind you.
Maybe 40,000 people is just too many to safely try to "host".
About getting refunds, the athletes shouldn't expect them. That $85 you paid was already spent. On cups, water, volunteer shirts, police, road barricades, Powerade, salaries of what must be a good number of clerical people etc. You can't expect the race director to give it back. And if he gave everybody a free entry next year, where would the money come to pay for next year's police, barricades, water, cups, expo, medals, etc.?
It's a bummer for the athletes, but it just is what it is. IT's written on the waiver that all 40,000 signed. An apology is all they should expect, but it's too bad the race director isn't giving it.
Glad you survived it, Bubba. I think it's just one of those rare things that you just can't fully prepare for, even if parts of it (like amount of fluids) could have been done better. Every body lives and learns.
I'm loving the possibilities of monty python references with the angry bunny ears.... THAT RABBIT IS DYNOMITE!!! :)
I hear ya on the carrots/carrot cake issue.
I agree. The heat was freakish. Btw, we're doing Chicago next year! It will be my first marathon.
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