Other Resources My Cup of Joe » WWCOJD/ WWCOJS Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, the bear, DerekL, alicefoeller Reply
WWCOJD/ WWCOJS
OptionResults
Would not go1 Votes - [5.88%]
Would go but keep my mouth shut1 Votes - [5.88%]
would go but ask a question15 Votes - [88.24%]

2007-11-18 7:48 PM

User image

Champion
6993
50001000500100100100100252525
Chicago, Illinois
Subject: WWCOJD/ WWCOJS
Looks like my running clubs next guest speaker is race director of the Chicago Marathon.
I guess its apart of Chicago marathon registration is now open so go and register now campaign.

I am am not ready to forgive them for what happened and I still want blood. No I do not blame them for a hot day. I blame them for not even being close to perpared for it.

Question is since I probably ask a really attacking question I first must ask.

Should I go and see him speak? If I do not go it makes a sort of protest since I go to most of the meetings and tend to be quite active.

If I go and ask him a question what should I ask him?

Also if I did go should I wear the Chicago fun run shirt?

So many questions and so many people on COJ who I bet who would love to answer them.


2007-11-19 12:59 AM
in reply to: #1059558

User image

Champion
6285
50001000100100252525
Beautiful Sonoma County
Subject: RE: WWCOJD/ WWCOJS

I doubt you're the only person who is still upset about the way things went down.  Go, listen to what he has to say, and if he doesn't address your concerns, call him on it. 

I'm not sure how NOT going would be perceived as a kind of protest by this guy, who doesn't know you.  The only people who might even know that would be the people in your club.  And they can't answer your questions for this guy. 

2007-11-19 9:19 AM
in reply to: #1059558

User image

Champion
4942
2000200050010010010010025
Richmond, VA
Subject: RE: WWCOJD/ WWCOJS

all morning, I've been protesting this thread by not responding and you didn't seem to get it.  hence, you're not showing up will have the same effect.

Go - ask questions.  By virtue of the RD coming to speak shows a willingness to address the issue head on, so let him address it head on.

2007-11-19 9:39 AM
in reply to: #1059558

User image

Champion
6993
50001000500100100100100252525
Chicago, Illinois
Subject: RE: WWCOJD/ WWCOJS
My club worked with him since the beginning he took over the chicago marathon. There is a long time standing friendship there. It was interesting reading what alot of club memebers who ran it or were in charge of water stations had to say. not sure if I would want to potentially embrass the club which has had a good relationship with the chicago marathon for all these years.

Its not like I not met the guy. I had drinks with him and talked to him on many occasions. You are right he would not notice unless someone commented how I was not there. IT am sure that would be said more in whispers than directed at him.

You are right. Not sure what to ask about or even say. The whole lack of water., or people were wasting the water then why did we not have gatarade.

I think he he announces there are going to be shorter finishing time limit I probably go off on him for that because it would been just another insult made to us bopers.

Chicago Marathon is the reason I am here with you guys today. ITs why I got off the couch in the first place. I guess that is why I feel so strong about it.
2007-11-19 9:40 AM
in reply to: #1059558

User image

Master
1420
1000100100100100
Running trails in S. Ontario
Subject: RE: WWCOJD/ WWCOJS

Definitely go! Wear the shirt, and report back to us with all the details

In all honesty though, listen, respond with your concerns in a respectful way.  I think it would be kinda neat if you went into the meeting with a list of serious questions from the BTers, and identify them as such.  Maybe he would be more interested in criticism that is coming from a "community" not just from one individual.

My question would be: Would this year's participants be possibly eligible for a discount, or a special bonus on the 2008 Chicago registration? That would seem to be fair.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

2007-11-19 9:46 AM
in reply to: #1059558

User image

Champion
16151
50005000500010001002525
Checkin' out the podium girls
Subject: RE: WWCOJD/ WWCOJS
Send him/her a letter with concerns or what you want to hear. If possible, send it FROM your club/team with the blessing of the board of directors. Craft the event to what you want to hear. Personally, I'd want him to address WHY he deserves your future loyalty and support. If I were him, I'd want to hear what they could do to retain it (entry limits, time limits, waves, alternate weather days planned in advance, whatever you think would make it viable in the future).

Don't make it an ambush when he shows up; let him know ahead of time.


2007-11-19 9:57 AM
in reply to: #1059558

User image

Champion
6993
50001000500100100100100252525
Chicago, Illinois
Subject: RE: WWCOJD/ WWCOJS
Well the club as awhole would not ambush him I think. I think that would be left up to me. Though you never know. We handle first 2 water stops every year and couple of our usual voluntineers already said they would not do it again.

Not because of some of the rudeness of some of the runners but because of how the marathon handled it all.

Honestly I do not think this could happen but I would love the RD to join the BOP just to see what things are like and better understand.

Frankly to me its not about getting my money back or a discount but for them to understand and to prepare better for the future.
2007-11-19 12:29 PM
in reply to: #1059558

User image

Champion
6962
500010005001001001001002525
Atlanta, Ga
Subject: RE: WWCOJD/ WWCOJS

Correct me if I'm wrong here: 

I was at the start line for the Chicago Marathon and I specifically heard them announce that since the temperatures were higher than normal that they added 4 water stops to the course. 

I think they did what they could on short notice.  It wasn't like they have had a history of hot weather.  This is an endurance sport with personal responsability as part of the formula.  I, as I'm sure we all have, gone on a run without water.  So even if there was absolutely NO water on that course for the first 5, 6, 7 miles, a smart runner could have not had a major issue. 

I was not at the BOP, I will admit, but every runner should be smart enough to adjust their pace for the conditions.  Case in point, there was a group of 30 guys and 23 girls trying to make the Olympic Trials.  All but 5 of them pulled out or slowed down around the 1/2 way point because they knew it wasn't smart to continue at a break-neck pace.

The Athletes were also at fault here.  Keep that in mind.

I think they did what they could and it should be treated like what it was, an anomoly.  Ask him what lessons learned he pulled from it.  But also ask him what lessons the athlete's should learn from it.  It's a two way street.

Just my 2 cents.

2007-11-19 12:54 PM
in reply to: #1060604

User image

Champion
6993
50001000500100100100100252525
Chicago, Illinois
Subject: RE: WWCOJD/ WWCOJS
Marvarnett. you are wrong. They cut out 2 water stop this year actually. If they had there normal amount and added 4 more that would been useful and I would not be as upset. It is the lack of any effort shown to handle the condition. As one of the water stop captians (well maybe not a captain but is on a level of command) complained how it was completed designed as business as usual.

Problem is I did not see any effort other than an email saying it was going to be hot. Boston doubled the water stations, I think LA moved the race earlier so it would not be as hot, and London brought pastic water bottles that they handed out to insure everyone had something.

A friend of mine said all you needed was a water bottle which I would agree was important that day but when you have no way to fill it that is bad. Even with a bottle if you keep seeing empty stations its hard to manage your bottle since you do not know how long you have to go without any.

I do agree you have to have some personal responiblity, but over 26.2 miles its almost impossible on a hot day like that to carry everything you need and if your from out of town you may not have a local crew to help you out.

If they gave everyone a water bottle in there goodie bag with a note saying to bring it for the heat so you can have water at all times I think alot more people would have gotten an idea of just how hot it was and what to perpare for it. Even hammer tablets would helped. Problem is not everyone knows that much. I know when I did my first marathon I was completely clueless.

I will admit one nice thing being in a training program or in a running club is you have that support. You learn things that may not help you at this time but will help you for the next time.
Having ran des moine in simular heat helped alot because I already learnt what not to do. I also knew from that race is that a marathon is completely doable you just have to expect a bad finishing time.
2007-11-19 1:24 PM
in reply to: #1060650

User image

Champion
6962
500010005001001001001002525
Atlanta, Ga
Subject: RE: WWCOJD/ WWCOJS

So let me get this right:

You are saying that with less than a weeks notice, the RD should have placed a water bottle in each goodie bag (which are made up by a company and delivered intact to the expo ahead of time).  Plus I'm sure one can find 30K water bottles in a couple of days.

Plus you're saying that the announcement they made about adding 4 water stops due to the SUDDEN heat wave was a lie to cover up that they actually removed 2 water stops on race day.

None of the 30K+ runners out there had ever done a training run in the heat.  None of them knew how their body would respond on a long run...or at least have a clue?

And you're also saying that in the 30 yr history of the Chicago Marathon, this has happenned so frequently that they should have expected it.

Just out of curiosity.  How many aid stations did you pass that had NO, absolutely NO fluids?  And along with that, how many DID have fluids?  Mile markers would be nice too.

2007-11-19 1:35 PM
in reply to: #1059558

User image

Champion
8766
5000200010005001001002525
Evergreen, Colorado
Subject: RE: WWCOJD/ WWCOJS

Blood isn't going to do you any good at this point.  The poor RD has bled enough.  I'm sure every time he goes to speak he ends up having to answer the same stupid questions over and over again from inconsiderate individuals who want to keep harrassing him about a very bad day.

Go and keep your mouth shut.  But one poster DID have a good point that you could press the question of a possible discounted entry fee for 2008 participants.

Seeking blood at this point is immature.  Don't ambush the guy who is taking time out of his busy schedule to come talk to your runners club.



2007-11-19 1:39 PM
in reply to: #1060369

User image

Buttercup
14334
500050002000200010010010025
Subject: RE: WWCOJD/ WWCOJS

chirunner134 - 2007-11-19 10:57 AM

Frankly to me its not about getting my money back or a discount but for them to understand and to prepare better for the future.

I think that with this attitude you can't go wrong. Go and hear the man and ask questions if you feel they are warranted.



Edited by Renee 2007-11-19 1:39 PM
2007-11-19 2:24 PM
in reply to: #1059558

User image

Champion
6993
50001000500100100100100252525
Chicago, Illinois
Subject: RE: WWCOJD/ WWCOJS
Station 1 mile 2, water
station 2 mile 3.4 nothing
station 3 about 5.8 nothing
station 4 mile 8 water
station 5 about 11 gatrade and water (found out later they recruit 15 fans to help out)
station 6 station mile 14 nothing and they annouced there was no more water on the course and the race was shutting down.

station 6 was my last station.

I might missed one but I think I got them all.

out of 6 stations listed 1 had gatarade and 2 had water.

my friend who is alot faster than me got nothing until station 5. being slower actually helped in some ways.

As for bottles. London uses I think bottle or bag or something. It would been a good back up if there normal supply ran out on the course.

it would be be hard to pass out a $3 - $4 bottle when people got there bags. They do not have to be fancy or something. just have to be able to hold water. Atleast it would been something.

16 other marathons had the same heat and the heat was focasted long before the race even started.

as for record heat your right it was record heat by 3 degrees. here is all the temps since it started. Chicago been blessed with near perfect weather for most of there races which is not always a good thing.

year high low rain
1977 78 55 .028
9-24-1978 80 50 0.00
10-21-1979 84 70 0.00
9-28-1980 69 53 Trace
9-27-1981 72 49 0.00
9-26-1982 63 49 0.00
10-16-1983 72 41 0.00
10-21-1984 55 37 0.37
10-20-1985 57 51 0.00
10-26-1986 59 52 0.02
1987 - No Marathon
10-30-1988 45 21 0.00
10-29-1989 74 54 0.00
10-28-1990 50 32 0.00
10-27-1991 53 47 0.01
10-25-1992 62 35 0.00
10-31-1993 44 Halloween 25 Trace
10-30-1994 61 36 0.00
10-15-1995 56 36 0.00
10-20-1996 59 31 0.00
10-19-1997 66 33 Trace
10-11-1998 69 42 0.00
10-24-1999 51 28 0.00
10-22-2000 69 48 0.00
10- 7-2001 52 29 0.00
10-13-2002 50 33 0.00
10-12-2003 69 46 0.00
10-10-2004 62 42 0.00
10- 9-2005 59 46 0.00
10-22-2006 49 34 0.08
10- 7-2007 87 67 0.00
2007-11-19 2:37 PM
in reply to: #1060851

User image

Champion
6962
500010005001001001001002525
Atlanta, Ga
Subject: RE: WWCOJD/ WWCOJS

So you had water or gatorade at half of the stations you encountered.  I know for a FACT that there was at least water from the 22 mile marker on.  And this was not with the "fast" people either.  I helped people that were 4:30 - 4:45 run in from that point.  I grabbed water and gatorade at the aid stations so they wouldn't have to stop running to get it.

So, since I was actually at those mile markers, I can tell you there there was PLENTY there.  And when I say plenty, I mean tables that were stacked 4-5 high waiting for people that did not come. 

And before you even mention it, NO, they could not have moved it from there to the beginning.  It's called pre-race logisics. 

16 other marathons had the same heat and the heat was focasted long before the race even started.

Yes, I'm sure those marathons were prepared because "FORCASTED LONG BEFORE THE RACE EVEN STARTED".  Like a marathon in June will have more water than one in December.  But if you have june weather in december with little notice...the athlete should be smart as well as the RD.  I think the RD did what they could.  Did the athletes?

2007-11-19 2:53 PM
in reply to: #1059558

User image

Champion
6993
50001000500100100100100252525
Chicago, Illinois
Subject: RE: WWCOJD/ WWCOJS
Well maybe there was at mile 22. I do not know I was not there. We did not know if there would be since it was very hit or miss. Alot of the water you basicly had to fight for to get. It was a mad house. We thought we were maybe away from the storages but we were wrong.

table 4 or 5 high is interesting since stop 1 and 2 only put them 3 high. Not that they had the water to fill. MY friend bought $300 of water for stop 2 to try to have some.

I do agree you could not move the water because it was too late at that point. You can move unused to a latter stop but you can not move from the back to the finish. not enough time.

I would have risked getting arrested to have gone on but I had no idea what waited beyond that point. If there truely was no more water because that was what we were told it would been extremely dangerous that day to do so.

New Thread
Other Resources My Cup of Joe » WWCOJD/ WWCOJS Rss Feed