Lack of water blamed in Milwaukee runner collapses

MILWAUKEE — Sweltering heat and a shortage of water marred the Milwaukee Summerfest's inaugural Rock 'n Sole run on Sunday, when several runners collapsed and were taken to hospitals.

Runners in the half marathon and 10K collapsed after the early hydration stations on the course that included the 2.5-mile-long Hoan Bridge ran out of water and cups amid 85-degree heat and 60 percent relative humidity Sunday morning. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that 10 runners were taken to local hospitals.

Because so many people were affected, officials called off the race, Deputy Fire Chief Jack Christianson said. Several runners told the newspaper that the race was halted around 10:30 a.m. when they were at the 12-mile marker.

Race director Tom Schuler acknowledged the stations lacked enough water. He largely blamed the short time his crew had to prepare between when the bridge was closed to traffic at 7 a.m. and when the half marathon began at 8 a.m.

"I think, overall, there are 10 different things you need to focus on (when organizing a race), and I think we got one very wrong, and that was water on the course," Schuler said.

John Boler, vice president of sales and marketing for Summerfest, said the start for the 10K was pushed back 15 minutes to 8:30 a.m. to accommodate the large number of participants in the 8 a.m. half marathon. Despite the extra time, the large number of half-marathon runners meant that the hydration stations were out of water before the first 10K runners made it to them.

Several runners complained that not just water but medical help was missing on long stretches of the course.

The fire department sent 16 units to the race, including 13 medical units that tended to runners who collapsed or were dehydrated. Firefighters also set up a fire hose to spray runners around the 13-mile marker to cool them down.

Tim Heyse, of New Berlin, told WTMJ-TV that he saw 10K runners falling down on the bridge.

"I had to stop in the middle of it to help someone who collapsed in front of me," he said, adding that water was hard to come by around the finish line.

"I've never seen one as disorganized as this," Heyse said. "People can't even get through at the end to get the refreshments they need. This is terrible."

But faster, early finishers told the station they found water easy to come by along the route.

"Water's good," said Neil Gollhardt, of Fox Point. "I didn't see a water station that didn't have water."