Saturday, October 08, 2011

Warm Marathon Day

Most readers remember 4 years ago when a freakishly warm October day caused the cancellation the Chicago Marathon. This Sunday, it's supposed to be warm, but not nearly as humid:
  • With the temperature expected to reach 80 degrees, extra precautions are being taken to keep runners safe during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Sunday, race officials said Friday.

    “There will be more resources out on the course, as far as ice and fluids,” said race medical director Dr. George Chiampas. “And we’ll probably open hydrants so we can create some hoses to cool runners down. We have some cool sponge stations on the course as well and plenty of buses for runners to hop on if they want to cool off.”

    Temperatures are forecast to be in the low 60s when the race starts at 7:30 a.m. and could reach 80 by 2 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

The 2007 Marathon rapidly became an example of how not to run an emergency response. While individual police and fire personnel performed admirably, the overall command situation deteriorated as fast as the race itself.

Good luck to the runners tomorrow.

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22 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

It was only about 80 degrees when they shut down the lakefront the beginning of this summer and CFD turned on the two-inch hoses because all those people were feeling dizzy at the breach and were falling down.

The difference?

The marathon is not at the cool beach. Bank of America and big money involved so the show must go on!

10/08/2011 12:17:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maybe the organizers should decide to have qualifying times for the Chicago marathon, so people won't still be on the course at 2 p.m. after a 7:30 a.m. start time. Honestly, how did they manage to turn what should be a serious athletic event into the world's largest fun run?

10/08/2011 12:23:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you can't hit the finish line after 5 hours, you need to hail a cab. Runners should be fine. I ran it once when it was snowing like hell by the time I hit Chinatown. Had my police i.d. in my pocket and decided to take the train back to my car...no matter what happens, runners, there is always next year. Good luck to all. It's a rush!

10/08/2011 12:32:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was working the day of the race when they called it due to heat as you're talking about. I seriously thought there would be numerous people dead. Thank God it turned out so well, despite poor planning.

10/08/2011 12:35:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Rode my bike (90-pound weight/load) for eight continuous hours today, 12 noon- 8 PM. Musta covered 50 miles. Couple of water bottles with some salt and potassium, some odd bits of food, I'm fine.

Do it all the time. Done this when it was 105 deg. Also walked miles with 50-pound pack at 105 deg.

What's the big deal?

I'm over 50. That must make the difference, huh?

10/08/2011 12:44:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a fucking mess 4 years ago, but hey, I made time and a half for about 10hrs....Lets do it again.

10/08/2011 04:28:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

And good luck to us volunteers that are out there at 4 am....(sorry, no sleep makes me cranky)

We run on Dunkin'.

-No Cop Here

10/08/2011 06:24:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Guys have been bragging that they volunteered to work the race for time and a half. It is now that we should stick together. Nobody should volunteer to work anything extra. Tiny Dancer and Mctool say that they don't need to hire any more police then they should have enough to man these events without volunteers. Lets see Tiny Dancer and Mctool do that. If we don't stick together Tiny Dancer will surly divide and conquer. Lets not help him.

And for all those who say the money is too good and they have bills to pay take a look at SCC's post on the pensions. In the long run you’re only hurting yourselves.

10/08/2011 08:10:00 AM  
Anonymous 025 3rd watch said...

Hopefully a lot of liberal fucks will b dropping like flies in the heat...oh wait, u think McDouche will close the race cause of the heat like he did the beach this summer???

10/08/2011 10:20:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Who cares? nothing will happen everything will be fine, nothing to see here move along.

We have enough Officers, more then enough, that's why we have to hire them back to block traffic at time and a half for this fun run... Now there's tax dollars and bailout money at work! Great Job Rahm, can't wait for that G8 & NATO action, I just know you are going to back the department and make sure we have the best training, equipment and are properly staffed for such an event, now aren't you?

Instead of cancelling all time due and furlough's in May why don't you just offer to hire back Officers at time and half for this nonesense as well? Then you'll for sure get the best of the best and the hardest working Officers in the city to handle the G8 & NATO... Just an idea from a guy who appreicates saving's and a good value just like you do

10/08/2011 11:01:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

They open special employment at time and a half for this why not do the same for the G8 and NATO?


Not a half bad idea...

10/08/2011 11:02:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was working that Sunday 4 years ago. it was amazing to watch all the ambulances headed into the city from the suburbs. Meanwhile, I ate my reduced price lunch in an air conditioned restaurant on Halsted. It was very good!!!
Got to give the runners credit but most are as out of shape as me. And down they go....

10/08/2011 11:15:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So this is why BofA raised those debit card fees

10/08/2011 12:23:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I ran that year and thought it was over when I got to mile 21 and they turned off the clock. I knew it was over when I saw a PO standing next to his squad... no working PA speaker…yelling through his cupped hands at 40,000 people to, “Stop running! The race has been canceled!!” He was trying his best, but it was pretty comical... like Kevin Bacon in the parade scene in Animal House. Yep I thought, that’s fucked up... that’s my CPD right there!!

10/08/2011 02:33:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you think you might have a problem running in this hot weather...STAY HOME. Common sense prevails!

10/08/2011 09:45:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

who cares? what a waste of time running is..

10/08/2011 10:52:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Get ready for monday boys n girls ten oct at four pm protest at the mba conf...

10/08/2011 11:52:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"We have runners down! I repeat, runners down"

CFD Chief requests an EMS Plan 1 for 8 ambulances. Runners are dropping!

Superior Ambulance loses this race once again.

10/09/2011 02:20:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If anyone other than a clouted corporation were to suggest that they wanted to hold an event in the city of Chicago that would result in 54 people, as we had today being sent to emergency rooms across the city, you would be made a mockery of and laughed at.

It's not that I'm against the personal freedom of running a race like this one today -- and yes we can create all kinds of excuses and call the deaths and injury's flukes to justify them. Nevertheless if it were anyone other than a corporation these issues would be used to quote "stop the madness" unquote is all I'm saying.

Playing the devils advocate one might also say:

Seriously, and don't the ER's have enough problems on their hands right now handling the dozens of gunshot victims this weekend? Let's pile it on and give the doctors more work to do!

Like we are overflowing with resources to be wasting on this.

The corporate funded media never addresses the story from that angle though.

A fireman ran himself to death today in this race running to raise money for burn victims. He was only 35 and 500 yards from the finish. It will be portrayed as an unfortunate accident although some will call it stupidity to be brainwashed into pushing his body to such an extreme.

Was it worth it for his friends and family? Was it worth it even for the burn victims?

Yeah it's only one out of thousands of people and accidents happen many will argue..yet when it comes to seat belt violations and talking on the cell phone while driving and motorcycle helmet laws to name a few those personal freedoms need to be view with a completely different lens.

Why do we try and legislate common sense in those areas and throw common sense to the wind because a corporation can monetize am activity that has proven time and again to result in mass injuries.

I'm all for fitness but these marathons primarily sponsored and promoted as a good and noble thing is like an offshoot to the kool-aid drinking Jim Jones massacre in my opinion.

You won't be able to convince any of the cult followers that they've been brainwashed however.

I find it so bizarre that we pass laws using the mindset that if it saves one life that it's worth it..and then we have corporations sponsor, promote and encourage events like this. Glorifying the behavior and stressing the first responders.

If a corporation can monetize an event that sends hundreds of people to the hospital and even results in deaths that's okay because it generates money that can be used to award those political campaign contributions.

Isn't that the only difference?

======

"The course flag was yellow all day meaning less that ideal conditions, officials said. The last Chicago Marathon death was in 2007. At least 54 people were transported to local hospitals today compared to 100 last year. In 2009, 85 runners were taken to the hospital." via >> http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-man-dies-running-chicago-marathon-20111009,0,7851485.story

10/09/2011 05:43:00 PM  
Blogger Ray said...

I got hired by the marathon event and got to watch the elite runners and just about everyone else run past me. I really never would have thought that it would be fun watching people run but it was a exciting and fun. And the day was absolutely beautiful.

10/10/2011 09:08:00 AM  
Blogger Ray said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...

And good luck to us volunteers that are out there at 4 am....(sorry, no sleep makes me cranky)

That was the only part I did not like as well, being there at 4am. But would do it again.

10/10/2011 09:09:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Okay, you're a volunteer, or you got hired? Which?
I guarantee, I'd only be out there at 4am if they were paying me. ;-)

10/10/2011 09:05:00 PM  

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