I'm done with the Chicago Marathon. The weather is always to warm. not signing up for 2018

I'm the same way. Too crowded. Too warm.

Chicago isn't too bad if a person is in the A or B corral.

The port-a-loo lines in the corral area are 45 minutes long.

That is enough reason to not want to go back.

I've done Chicago three times; 2007, 2008, and 2017. The weather was too warm all three times (absolutely brutal in 2007 and 2008) and the 30 minute wait to get through security this year did not sweeten the deal either. I'm also done with Chicago.

I've only had one good weather year there.

Security is a joke and I feel less safe from them.

In the hobbyjogger corrals, bathroom lines are 20+ minutes.

Upside is that I get to see my sexy drag queens at mile 9.

"always to warm"...what? A cold heart? A plate of biscuits?

I forgot about the security line wait.

When I ran Chicago in 2002 there were no security fences. Everybody seemed to arrive at the same time and we walked into Grant Park into a very packed area. In that year family members were allowed in Grant Park. Anybody was allowed in. Walking from Buckingham Fountain to the starting area was difficult due to so many people standing around.

pnce was an A corral guy wrote:

I forgot about the security line wait.

When I ran Chicago in 2002 there were no security fences. Everybody seemed to arrive at the same time and we walked into Grant Park into a very packed area. In that year family members were allowed in Grant Park. Anybody was allowed in. Walking from Buckingham Fountain to the starting area was difficult due to so many people standing around.

Security is a joke. Monterrey is a "clouted" company who gets stuff because of contributions (they lost their license to practice in Minnesota for hiring unqualified people and ex-cons, and lost security duties for the Vikings.) They did half ass jobs at screening people and not thinking that the place to strike is in the crowd while you wait (not inside). Hell you could have pulled a Boston and left something bad and walked off no problem.

I too, have been too warm before. After talking to a friend, I realized that I had two shirts on. I took one off. I wasn’t too warm after that.

You must be a little slow on the uptake. I ran this race during the heat Armageddon of 2007. It's been hot for at least a decade. Skip Chicago.

pnce was an A corral guy wrote:

I forgot about the security line wait.

When I ran Chicago in 2002 there were no security fences.

Took 10 minutes to get through security this year.

Weather wasn't perfect but wasn't that bad.

Seriously, when did marathoners become such pussies?!

With the American victory in 2017 it would seem likely that the number of people who enter the Chicago lottery for 2018 will be the most ever.

not certain when but when training months and months for that coveted PR everything has to be close to perfect. When the temperature at the start is 15 degrees too warm then a PR is not happening that day.

once was a corral A guy wrote:

not certain when but when training months and months for that coveted PR everything has to be close to perfect. When the temperature at the start is 15 degrees too warm then a PR is not happening that day.

Srsly, am so so close to being done with this site. Temp at start time (7:30) was in the 50s. I was there.

I ran Chicago in 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. The only year with good conditions was 14. That's one out of five years. I swore it off after that

Sooo let me get this straight...

You made a conscious decision to pay, travel and run in a "super marathon" then you have the nerve to turn around and complain about heat, crowds etc.. like you didn't anticipate these things prior to...

You all sound like a a bunch of ___________!!

Don't like the crowds??? Run faster...

Don't like the heat?? Quit being a whiney little b!#¢&....

The road less traveled wrote:

I've had enough of this warm weather marathon. Chicago has one year out of 4 that the temperature is decent enough for a PR.

I won't be back. This decision is permanent. What's that ?

Don't like it ?!?

Then kiss my ass.

Why? The course is "terrific" and the crowds "amazing"?!

Seriously though, congratz: Chicago is a dog$hit race: garbage course even for hobby joggers and zero public interest.

There are more spectactors on any given mile of New York.

If you're a 2:09 plus guy looking for a tactical win, fine, Chicago has a place but to consider ita "goal" or anything "major" is totally ludicrous.

There are a dozen better marathon experiences in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin alone.

They need to move it back towards the end of October. The annual "is it going to be too hot" dance has gotten ridiculous.

One positive thing about the warm Chicago temps is avoiding the shivering cold at the end. That can be a drag.

I ran it twice in the 2010-2015 period and neither year was too hot, although one was pretty windy. I didn't think security was too bad and I was in the American development group so bathroom access and a place to warmup was great.

Does anyone have a better recommendation for the fall for runners trying to run in the 2:18-2:25 range? Not too many races out there that have a fast course and the depth to give you people to run with at that pace.

Yes, for people trying to break 3-hours there are many many other places you could go. The main reason I went to Chicago was to have competition around my level on a fast course. If I could get that competition at a lower key race (still with a fast course) I definitely would and save myself the hassle/money.