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Race Reports for Chicago Marathon 2008

[1]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This was my first marathon and was very impressed by the crowds. It did get hot toward the back half of the race. There was a bit of a scary moment before the race started. They had closed off the walkway (when they said they were going to) and many people were on the wrong side of the fenced off area to get to their start corral. People started climbing over the barriers (6 foot high chain link fencing). I thought people were going to fall and hurt themselves. All I can say is people need to be more prepared and get to the race earlier. There was also some corral jumping going on, but I expected that. Some people.... Anyway great race and will be doing it again in 2009 with my wife and several of her friends
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[2]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: A "mega" race with 30,000+ runners in a big city. Very organzied, even with the heat, it seems they had their act together and planned accordingly this year... Nice and flat. Could see how a cool day and training could shoot for a PR someday..
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[3]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Absolutely a wonderful race all the way around. I know they had problems last year, and to be honest I got REALLY tired of hearing podcasters and reading blogs blasting the Chicago Marathon organizers. Mistakes were made that shouldn't have been made, but it got old. This year they appeared to fix it all. Not only was there more than enough water at every stop, but they even had emergency trucks pulling up with MORE water (in bottles) between stops when the Danger Level went from yellow to red. Every water stop (there were 21) had water and gatorade, some first aid options (some more than other), and a flag that indicated the danger level. We started at yellow, "Moderate" and it went up to red, but after mile 20 I noticed it had gone back down as a breeze was coming through and it did cool down a bit. I don't know if I want to repeat this marathon because it was SO far away, but if I were able to I definitely would. I love Chicago, in fact I love it so much that on Monday we walked
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[4]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I think the Chicago Marathon is an amazing race. The number of volunteers and specators make it so successful. I would like to keep doing this race every year and hope for decent temperatures eventually.
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[5]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: LOADS of aid stations. It was awesome. Plenty of water. Plenty of Gatorade. Plenty of everything. Hoooray for the Chicago Marathon 2008. One of my favorite events, ever! Thanks for coming out, Trix! It was hot out there... And there's no shade on the second half of the course! FYI... Photos are located here: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/photos/photo-thumbnail...
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[6]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: This was an amazing weekend. Chicago really does this right. I am glad I did the marathon, but not sure I want to do this again. For not training, I think I did pretty good. I only walked through the water points, kept a consistent pace and I'm fairly proud of that.
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[7]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: Brilliantly organized--huge, well-stocked aid stations with full medical care at every one; announcements; the new Event Alert (which went to Code Red or something partway through the race). I know they had lessons to learn from last year and they clearly did. A major mob scene but a great way to see the city. Worth experiencing.
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[8]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Great marathon! Tons of volunteers, frequent aid stations, and good post race activities. They certainly improved on last year and were ready for the conditions.
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[9]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: The Chicago Marathon is world class. One of my favorites, and I will do it again. The city is alive with energy. Weather is always the x factor. I ran the race in 06, with a high of 45 degrees. Highly recommended for any runner who loves the Marathon experience.
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[10]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: They really improved things this year. I even got water from imprompt water stations that handed out water bottles. They really seemed to be on the ball this year. Last year was a shame but if they keep up what they did this year then it is worth it for the runners. This year was really a testament to how last year could have been like if they did there job.
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[11]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I have to say, this was the absolute best run event I have done in the 3 years of doing endurance events. My own silliness aside, this is the best race for a first timer to get started. My profound thanks go to all the volunteers, they rock - period.
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[12]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: sooooo many people! fun to run in - but not to get around. proud i did the distance...lucky i have supportive kids, husband, family, friends.
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[13]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Great event, if I'm still in Chicago next year I will do it again.
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[14]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Great race overall but the past two years have been brutal in the heat!!! I'm pretty happy considering in the past five weeks I did a half ironman (Great Illini HIM, Sept. 6) and two marathons (Omaha, Sept. 28 and Chicago) and didn't die or give up during any of the three.
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[15]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Wholely cats, the crowd was amazing. It was like 3 deep most of the course. It was such an awesome experience. I did not come close to PR'ing this race, but I did not care. It felt really good just to be out there racing. God bless AMERICA! :)
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[16]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Tons of volunteers and aid stations...great signage to tell you an aid station was 100m ahead; more frequent aid stations the last 3 miles, which is where almost everyone seemed to be struggling.
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