Chicago: Cubs Down, Marathon Out

The Cubs didn’t last past the first 3 games of the baseball playoffs and the Chicago Marathon only lasted 3.5 hours until it was called. Running in the heat is extremely dangerous. There is precedence for closing a race early. The Madison, Wisconsin Marathon in 2006 was closed app0ximately 2 hours early for reasons of temperature. I’m not sure the authorities had any other reasonable choice. One person died, approximately 49 were hospitalized and about 250 people were treated online for presumably primarily heat related illness. Here in Washington, D.C. one person died in the Army 10 Miler. The latest news states that the runner who died in Chicago, Chad Schieber, had Mitral valve prolapse and that was the cause of death. Mild mitral valve prolapse is a fairly common condition and is not usually considered to be a reason to not exercise. Exercise induced mitral valve regurgitation, however, is a reason to not exercise. The condition is thought to occur in 4-7% of the population. Those with Mitral Valve Prolapse usually will need antibiotic prophylaxis for procedures as ordinary as dental tooth cleaning and scaling. If you have this condition, you’ll need to check with your internist or cardiologist on what exercise is safe and suitable for you.

There was advance notice of the ensuing heat. Should there be terms placed in marathon literature detailing under what circumstances the race will be canceled? Should other arrangements have been made? Were all of the runners properly evaluated including those with suspected heat illness with rectal temperatures? What recommendations and guidelines should marathons have for the future? Should the Chicago Marathon be shifted later in October?