Sorry about the temporary pause in blogging.  I've still been running, though.   And now that it's only TWENTY SEVEN DAYS LEFT [begin panic mode] till New York, I'm back to my regular blogging schedule.   I'm sure this comes as great news to the entire escapevelocity.org audience (all five of you).  

Chances are you've heard about this morning's Chicago Marathon.  Because of the record high 90 degree heat, the race was shut down after three hours, and runners not yet at the halfway point were forced to turn back.  But it doesn't stop there - they ran out of water and Gatorade (!!!!), 300 people sent to hospitals, and a 35 yr old man died just before mile 19.   Read reports from runners and spectators at the Runner's World forum and the Chicago Tribune.  

I think it was the right decision to close the race.  Whether the failure was mostly due to the heat or bad planning by race officials (heat advisory = bring more water/gatorade, no??), clearly lots of runners needed medical attention.  But I can imagine the huge disappointment it would be after months and months of training.  People are reporting on the forums that they were anywhere between mile 21 and the finish when cops told them to stop.   If I'm past mile 21, and someone tells me to stop after months of training with bootcamps, TLTs, Yassos, bat guano-scented runs and other forms of voluntary torture….well, let's just say there'd be trouble.   Sure, I'll probably be in pain and shuffling along at that point….but that's what makes crossing the finish line so important.  

Update:  Randi, fellow Memorial Park SMARTie, finished her first marathon at 4:43:15!!!!!