Chicago Marathon - RunMarathon

I was running this race with my brother. It was his first marathon post cancer treatements. He is from Houston Tx. and runs with a group called Houston Fit. Several members from that group were there as well. We had planned on taking it easy because he wasn't sure how he would do. We wanted to run 10:00 miles so he could be comfortable. After about 7 miles we had to start walking a little because his heart rate would shoot up. We ran/walk until the halfway point and he told me to go on my own because he would be walking more. I said fine. I ran until the cancelled the race. I walked the last nine miles. It sucked out there. People were dropping at an alarming rate. I had developed very painful blisters on the bottoms of my feet from them getting wet from the open fire hydrants. I made it to the finish line and found my brother who finished about 25 minutes after me. He was just as miserable as I was.

This was bizarre in terms of the water stations. I think it was the second water station had no water. I don't know if the people didn't have enough water poured out into cups and fell behind as runners approached or just ran out of water. But then towards the end of the race you would see stacks and stacks of gatorade and water. I know one water station shut down just after the halfway point. Some old man was having his family members bring water out of his business. I thanked him and his family members and told them they were very generous.

Lack of water at some stations.


I won't ever do this race again. I have never liked large races. I only did this race because my brother had asked me to. It was an emotional day for the both of us. We both raced together for the first time and we endured quite a bit on the race course.

I really don't anything else to say other than the volunteers and the crowd were great and supportive and I tried to thank every volunteer who was out there and gave me something to drink and encouragement. Without your help I would not have finished this race. I thank you for standing out in that heat all day with nobody cheering you on. I only wish you all know how important you were to me during this race.