Runners certainly were not at fault

I attended the Chicago Marathon in support of my nephew, a first-time marathon runner. He ran a respectable pace and was by no means at the end of the pack. We waited for him just before the 6-mile mark, where runners were already asking bystanders where they could find water. We were told that some had not been able to get water since the beginning of the race, as the first few aid stations had already run out.

Participants ran into Lincoln Park in search of fountains. We then went to Wells and North Avenue, the 10.6-mile mark and the location of the fifth aid station. We watched race organizers run out of fluids and simply fold up their tables and leave while thousands of runners were still on their way. We ran into Walgreens to buy water for my nephew and watched runners gratefully get hosed down and fill their water bottles from a hose that was supplied by a local business. A number of others were going into Walgreens and Einstein's Bagels and other stores to buy their own drinks and they were extremely frustrated. When we met at mile 15, we heard the same complaints - the aid stations did not have sufficient fluids for them. Many looked awful and sick. After the 19th mile, my nephew had been stopped and re-routed back to Grant Park - another two-mile walk with no water. It was utter chaos.

This situation was disastrous to be sure. Marathon planners should not have been surprised by the weather or the need for additional fluids. But I am even more shocked by the arrogant manner that Director Carey Pinkowski has handled the aftermath of this event. He first insisted that there were plenty of fluids and later blamed the runners themselves for using too much water to cool themselves down and depleting supplies. Honestly, did they not expect overheated runners to pour water on themselves to cool off? Shouldn't they have anticipated that?

There clearly was a problem in planning and logistics. Now is not the time to cover up or point fingers at the runners. Now is the time to sit down, acknowledge the problems, take responsibility, and determine how to prevent this from happening in the future. I believe it's also the time for Director Pinkowski to resign - the Chicago Marathon does not need this kind of leadership.

Joyce Mason Davis

Gurnee