Chicago: Gallowbussing

Be Smiz · #1 10-08-2007, 06:52 PM

Here's a report from a DNF'r.

I saw 77 degrees somewhere as I was walking to the start..at 5:30 a.m. I was really quite scared. Went to the tent to meet up with my team. Everyone in great spirits and ready to go. Several first timers.

I lined up at the 4:45 with 5 first timers. One was particularly nervous. I told her I was planning on sticking to her like glue and that we would take things extra slow due to the heat. Four of us stuck together through to mile 17. The other two went out a little faster.

I'm a bit alarmed when we get to the first aid station and there is no gatorade. I knew we were going to need the electrolytes to get through the race. I became fully unnerved when they were out of both water and gatorade at the second aid station. Saw my family at mile 4 and told them to go buy supplies for us. I was feeling the effects of no water/heat already with early quad cramping. Too early.

The next aid station has no water, only highly concentrated gatorade. Nearly undrinkable. Unbelievable. After that most of the aid stations had both water or gatorade, but sometimes
both, but no cups. All of the stations were a mass of people clamoring for liquids. Hardly any of them could keep up with the demand and have cups poured and ready so you could just swipe a cup and go. You had to wait first for a cup, then wait for the pour. People were just totally unorderly because people were in a panic. Water stops were taking several minutes.

Personally I was feeling hot, but pretty good once I got some hydration from my curb crew and the stations that had supplies. I was concentrating on my teammates, wanting to make sure they were getting hydration, feeling ok etc. Having others to care for was a nice distraction from worrying about myself.

Up until about the halfway point we were in and out of shade. In the shade it was hot, but I was tolerating it way better than I would have expected for myself. Once we turned the half way though there was a dramatic change in shading and temps. Or so it seemed. There was absolutely no shade and it had warmed considerably by then. One of my girls started getting goosebumps and was chilled so we took a long time through that aid station to get lots of liquids in her.

Somewhere around mile 15 or 16 one of the girls told me that another needed to walk. Two went ahead and I stopped to wait for the walker to catch up. I never found her. And I have lost the other two. At this point I'm really starting to feel the heat. I see my curb crew at 17 and take Advil and drink as much as I can. My stomach is feeling crappy from so much gatorade. I'm alone now, my once quiet ITB starts to twinge a bit, it's oppressively hot and sunny and I'm starting to feel a bit weak. People are dropping/have dropped everywhere around me. Ambulance sirens are non-stop.

Stumble along for another mile and a half and at that point the cops start telling everyone the race is canceled and that we have to start walking. They are telling people that the clocks have stopped, that there won't be aid ahead, even that they will be ticketed for running. So I stop and start walking. It was so surreal. It felt like being in a movie about post nuclear or natural disaster survival, where the survivors are just trudging along a road and sirens are going off all over. Just unreal.

I'm at about 20 miles when a bus comes along picking people up off the course. I'm hot, feeling shaky, alone and without water so 6 miles more of just walking seems impossible. The bus is fully packed and hotter than outside. Twice they stopped to call for an ambulance for people on the bus. I have a major meltdown as I start to feel prickly sensations in my hands and feet, not sure if I'm going to be next in the ambulance queue. Someone hands me a large block of ice and I sit with it on my neck, told myself to breathe and after that was fine. Made it back to the tent area and watched one by one for the rest of my team. Everyone makes it back eventually, everyone is fine...each with their own story of survival. Amazing.

I didn't bother to go and cross the finish line. I think some people who were bussed in did that. If I had, I would have had a PR. But now I have a chip that I need to get back to the marathon folks so I don't get charged.

The spectators and residents of Chicago were heroes that day. I'm convinced they saved many more runners from collapse with their generous offers of water, food and hoses.

It's a marathon experience I'll never forget.

toe jam on crusty feet · #2 10-08-2007, 06:54 PM

wow! I am proud of you BSmiz...Great report!

sauconRunner · #3 10-08-2007, 07:01 PM

Amazing report. I had tears in my eyes for you and everyone else you were with (on the road and in the bus).

I'm glad you are ok.

Korbel · #4 10-08-2007, 07:02 PM

Holy crap...you did all you could. We cannot beat weather not matter how badly we may want to. Glad to hear you and your team is safe.

dg1 · #5 10-08-2007, 07:10 PM

Wow! Glad to hear you're alright!

jebba · #6 10-08-2007, 07:12 PM

Unbelievable. What an experience. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Theia · #7 10-08-2007, 07:17 PM

Thank goodness you are OK!

sistergoldenhair · #8 10-08-2007, 07:21 PM

Excellent report. What a surreal and frightening sounding atmosphere, more like being part of a natural disaster than a race.

Congratulations on surviving!

Arrojo · #9 10-08-2007, 07:30 PM

Ticketed for running! That would be a badge of honor, I think.

Dylan McKay · #10 10-08-2007, 07:44 PM

Glad to hear you're okay.

Notey · #11 10-08-2007, 07:45 PM

Wow. I'm sorry it turned out to be such a crappy day, but you did incredible given the circumstances. Thanks for sharing with us. Go Team CdLS!!!

Gingerbread · #12 10-08-2007, 07:49 PM

I'm so glad you're OK, Beth. That must have been really scary on the bus, and it can't help your nerves that people around you are also suffering. I'm glad your teammates were OK, too.

Timr1 · #13 10-08-2007, 07:50 PM

I'm glad you survived. Thanks for posting your story. I can't imagine what it was like to be there.

wyrillco · #14 10-08-2007, 07:50 PM

Beth, I'm just glad you came out of it ok!!!

jcumming · #15 10-08-2007, 07:56 PM

And of course, this will now become your most remembered marathon.

I'm glad you and your homies all made it back safely.

I ran in the heat in Boston in '04 and you can go from thinking you are just fine to being a real mess in a very short time frame. I took an "ice break" at the med tent around Mile 10. I was just coasting by that time and still was overheating. I hope I understand when it's time to shut it down and live to run another day.

Be Smiz · #16 10-08-2007, 08:01 PM

You know, from a running standpoint it sucked and yes, there is a tinge of disappointment to not finish. But it was really an amazing experience to be part of and witness. Witnessing the acts of kindness all around me, surviving really tough conditions with your team and the bond that created. I ran with some really amazing...really amazing...young women. It was the first time I ever met them and we really bonded through that ordeal.

So yeah, there were times of discomfort, I don't get a shiney new medal and I have to face the "walk of shame" for my DNF, but I am actually glad that I got to be part of that memorable experience.

We had an awesome team with some truly amazing people. I feel privileged to have met them and raced with them. We did an outstanding job of raising awareness and also of raising money for the Foundation. Over $41,000 as of Friday afternoon. I'm proud as heck of my efforts and the efforts of my team. And that's really what this was all about.

I just had to check my ego at the end in favor of my health.

jcumming · #17 10-08-2007, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Be Smiz

and I have to face the "walk of shame" for my DNF,

I really hope that is being said with your tongue firmly planted in your cheek (or whatever the keyboard equivalent is).

I look on some races as wars and I am a soldier in them. I know the first rule of any soldier is to stay alive as dead soldiers are really no good to anyone.

Jensparks · #18 10-08-2007, 08:14 PM

There should be no shame in surviving such an ordeal. Had you tried to continue on, who knows how bad it could have been. Kudos to you for looking out for your team mates as much as you could.

Glad you are OK!

SemiSpeedy · #19 10-08-2007, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Be Smiz

Here's a report from a DNF'r.

It was so surreal. It felt like being in a movie about post nuclear or natural disaster survival, where the survivors are just trudging along a road and sirens are going off all over. Just unreal.

Holy carp, I can totally picture it!

Your perseverance through the utter logistical train wreck that was the 2007 Chicago Marathon is inspiring. I say, well done.

SS

clb · #20 10-08-2007, 08:20 PM

And for this non-marathoner, total admiration to you, Beth! No reason for shame; good grief. You are an inspiration, year in and year out.

This is a fascinating race report!

torque · #21 10-08-2007, 08:20 PM

Wall of shame? Fagetaboutit

altoids · #22 10-08-2007, 08:24 PM

Bless you, beth. I am so glad you are okay!

That must have been surreal.

Road hawk · #23 10-08-2007, 10:06 PM

You can print. " I survived Chicago 2007" Wear it to races everyone will know and be i awe of you.

anachrotech · #24 10-09-2007, 01:38 AM

Very descriptive report. What you had was what I would consider a run in he77. Unbelievable. Congrats on surviving.

solarpowered · #25 10-09-2007, 02:17 AM

Wow. Thank you for the insider's perspective. I was running an 18 mile race Sunday and missed all of the Chicago reports as it was happening. I can agree with you that the spectators were the ones who prevented more mishaps from taking place at my race, too. Ice buckets from their fridge, hoses, you name it. Congratulations on your effort, and your fantastic fundraising. No walk of shame here. Hold your head high! Well done.