This week's Sympathy Award goes to ...

[Chi City 81]

Mike Downey of the Chicago Tribune. I agree with him to a point -- the fun-runners should have been better prepared given the 90-degree heat -- but, damn. Show a little compassion. (If the mods feel this belongs on the JTO board, feel free to move it.)

Hey, don't blame the city of Chicago if you were too tired and too hot Sunday while running a marathon.

And don't blame sponsor LaSalle Bank if you were weak from thirst and couldn't get enough to drink.

You've got nobody to blame but yourselves.

If you are foolhardy enough to run a marathon when the temperature outdoors is up to 88 degrees, then it is your fault, no one else's.

Nearly 10,000 of the people who filed entries for this 30th annual race were smart enough not to run it.

It is as idiotic to run more than 26 miles in a brutal and potentially lethal heat as it is to play golf in a thunderstorm.

No one made you run. No one bought tickets to see you compete, so you were under no obligation.

This wasn't a football game, where paying customers have a right to expect athletes to play whether it is in 100-degree heat or in fog or snow.

Of the 45,000 who intended to take part in the city's marathon, only 35,867 actually showed up to run. The ones who did not showed good sense.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/cs-071008downey,1,1744428.column?coll=cs-home-utility

 

[Dan Rydell]

Typical Chicago.

Decent point, but the big boys are always in charge.

"You died here? ****, you must be a *****."


And don't never blame Chicago for nothing.

 

[markvid]

That still doesn't explain the lack of water.
Heat or not, runners need liquids during, even if to just throw it over their bodies.

 

[DanOregon]

When I run and get really tired or hot or feel sick, I stop.

 

[BYH]

This is why I don't run marathons

no one's ever died of dehydration while driving.

That said: This column will not end well.

 

[markvid]

I think the column is on point.
However, the dead runner's not been buried yet.
Take a little time.

 

[JackyJackBN]

A while back I was down on Hilton Head covering the Heritage. I met a big strong kid and his wife in the gallery; very nice people, and we set up a get-together for the Monday after the tournament. That day the wife called me in tears. Her husband had gone jogging in the early morning heat and humidity; his heart failed and he dropped dead. Turned out he had a defect of some kind that they didn't know about. She didn't know anyone else on the island, and was looking for solace; what a downer. I spent about a half hour on the phone with her, at which point one of the in-laws showed up and took over.

My point is: given that experience, I may have written a similar article, but not until after the funeral.

 

[zeke12]

What a ****ing ****.

 

[D-3 Fan]

That still doesn't explain the lack of water.
Heat or not, runners need liquids during, even if to just throw it over their bodies.

The same thing happened (luckily no one died or ended up in the hospital) at the annual diabetes walk I volunteered for this past Saturday. We ran out of water in 20 minutes. We had to get 20 more boxes of water to keep up.

We didn't expect it to be that humid on Saturday, but we sure as hell will be prepared next year if the weather heats up like this again. Who would have thought it would be 85+ degrees on the first weekend of October?

 

[markvid]

What a ****ing ****.

Where is he wrong, Zeke, except for the timing of the article?

 

[zeke12]

What a ****ing ****.

Where is he wrong, Zeke, except for the timing of the article?

That isn't enough?

But I'll answer your question with a question.

Do you check the batteries in your smoke detectors every month?

 

[Mayfly]

Must not explode about this topic. Must resist temptation...

 

[markvid]

What a ****ing ****.

Where is he wrong, Zeke, except for the timing of the article?

That isn't enough?

But I'll answer your question with a question.

Do you check the batteries in your smoke detectors every month?

I see the point, but let's be blunt. It's not like these people didn't know there would be trouble.

 

[zeke12]

Hey, I wouldn't have run. And I have no doubt that there are good intentions in there about defending his town and defending the organizers.

But it's still a **** column. You can be right and be a ****. Lord, don't I know it.

 

[markvid]

Well, I think no one would think he's a **** had he waited a few days.

 

[zeke12]

And if JDV were just a little less interested in himself...

 

[markvid]

And if JDV were just a little less interested in himself...

Nooooooooooo he's just another genius who is misunderstood, that's all!
We're just haterz.

 

[zeke12]

And if JDV were just a little less interested in himself...

... he'd be your uncle?

No.

If he had balls, he'd be someone's uncle.

 

[markvid]

Do roid raisins count?

 

[zeke12]

Do roid raisins count?

Not according to the girls I go with...