When I was competing, I would run 120 mpw in the Texas summer heat during my buildup. I would meet up with my team at 7am and knock out 18-22 mile runs that started out 80 degrees all the time.
Yet...I completely agree with this decision to cancel.
6 years I ago my now wife was racing in a marathon in conditions very similar to the ones forecast to today. She is very good about taking her water and nutrition breaks, and that day was no different. The race started in the high 60's and felt quite cool to us at the start. She felt great and was stopping regularly at water stops. However once the sun came out, everything went south and before she knew it, she was feeling dehydrated and lightheaded.
The last thing she remembers from the race is seeing the finish line in front of her and then everything went black and she woke up in the hospital. She was experiencing rhabdomyolysis, and her temperature had gone up to 107.5. She was touch and go on her way to the hospital (EMS called her father to tell him she might not make it), and we spent the next 3 days in the hospital before she was discharged.
A single person's life is much more important and valuable than a wasted plane ticket, or the inconvenience of spending money on a hotel while taking time off from work. If the medical team Twin Cities was working with decided conditions were dangerous, then the race organizers made the right call. They most likely saved lives today.
But this can literally happen at any marathon. Same thing happened to a guy at CIM last year. It was 48 and rainy at the start. So if the standard is "we can't let people get rhabdomyolysis," then we should just ban marathons all together.
Yes, but heat also causes muscles to break down more quickly. It was a perfect storm between the effort that was being given that day, the cool starting temps that quickly increased, and the humidity. Today's forecast was very similar, meaning that the likelihood of heat related maladies would be increased.
If people want to go run that 26.2 miles on their own (which it sounds like many did anyway), that's fine. However, if medical personel are advising race organizers to cancel the event, then it's irresponsible and negligent to hold the event.
In a sane world they would let people decide for themselves if they wanted to take the risk.
Unfortunately we don't live in that world. Allowing people to run in this weather is a legal nightmare.
Don't people have to sign waivers when they enter a race, accepting the risk? I'm not a lawyer obviously, and I also realize people will sue for literally anything..but if a person signs a waiver upon entering a marathon isn't the onus on them to decide whether or not the risk is acceptable?
Allowing people to run in this weather is a legal nightmare.
No it's not, and I don't know why people keep saying this. You sign a waiver. The level of negligence required to prove any liability on their end is enormous. As soon as a race is black flagged it's "shut down". Meaning, the race is over and you're entirely on your own. So there's just no reason why the race(s) couldn't have started and as soon as conditions required it, it would be black flagged.
Allowing people to run in this weather is a legal nightmare.
No it's not, and I don't know why people keep saying this. You sign a waiver. The level of negligence required to prove any liability on their end is enormous. As soon as a race is black flagged it's "shut down". Meaning, the race is over and you're entirely on your own. So there's just no reason why the race(s) couldn't have started and as soon as conditions required it, it would be black flagged.
It absolutely could be, if coverage is denied and there is therefore no subrogation.
All it takes is a colorable claim, a denial of coverage, and the marathon is sunk.
I live in Minneapolis, I was out on the course this morning doing my long run along the course, starting at about 8:30. I ran for just under 2 hours and the weather was downright nice. No reason the race couldn't have been run. Although it did get warmer as the day went on it was still very run-able. It was great to see people out still running despite the cancellation.
Looking at the forecast, it looks like it is expected to be 73 at 10:00 a.m., but 80 at 12:00.
The ten miler could have been safely run with registered ten milers participants only (warm, but not unlike many Spring ten milers) but the Marathon would have been a sh!t show.
And USATF thinks it’s fine to run the Olympic trials marathon at 12:20pm in Orlando where it will likely be 80 degrees
Allowing people to run in this weather is a legal nightmare.
No it's not, and I don't know why people keep saying this. You sign a waiver. The level of negligence required to prove any liability on their end is enormous. As soon as a race is black flagged it's "shut down". Meaning, the race is over and you're entirely on your own. So there's just no reason why the race(s) couldn't have started and as soon as conditions required it, it would be black flagged.
Regardless of liability for being sued by an individual who suffers an adverse outcome, in 2007, the year Chicago shut down at 3.5 hours, they had over 300 participants taken by ambulance to the ER - a tremendous burden to the medical system. I realize runners are better than other people and all, but from the standpoint of the impact on the rest of society, it was not altogether unlike if 300 morons had to be taken by ambulance to the ER because they overdosed on recreational drugs at a concert - the "fact" that in one case they were doing something "virtuous" doesn't really count for much.
They could probably more nearly get away with it if they had no medical team. Allowing the race to be run <i> against the advise of the medical team</i> would really set them up for some legal trouble.
What a joke of a race! They just posted on their IG page, see above, a video congratulating all of the marathon and 10 mile finishers.
"Congratulations to all the runners who crossed the finish line, and thank you to all the supporters who made today what Saturday Events are all about: family, friends, and a connected running community. Who’s ready for Day 3??
#TC10K #TC5K #TCkids
This was the message attached to the video that IG link led to. Looks like a congratulatory post for people that ran the 10k, 5k, or kids run yesterday rather than a post congratulating marathon or 10 mile finishers.
Allowing people to run in this weather is a legal nightmare.
No it's not, and I don't know why people keep saying this. You sign a waiver. The level of negligence required to prove any liability on their end is enormous. As soon as a race is black flagged it's "shut down". Meaning, the race is over and you're entirely on your own. So there's just no reason why the race(s) couldn't have started and as soon as conditions required it, it would be black flagged.
I have organized quite a few races. Legal advice has always been 1) you must have participants sign a waiver, and 2) the waiver will not protect you if you are subsequently deemed to have been negligent. Holding an event under conditions when medical and public safety officials feel they might be overwhelmed is in fact negligent.
LOL. Ironman Hawaii athletes start the marathon in the middle of the afternoon after swimming and biking 112 miles in actual heat. Why are running races so soft? The only reason to cancel this race is incompetence from the race director.
There are few outstanding marathons in the North America in the first half of the year., basically Houston in January, Boston in April, and Grandma's in June. The fall, however, is loaded with alternatives to Twin Cities that all occur within six weeks of TC, most within four weeks. Besides NYC and maybe Marine Corps, they are all flat (or downhill), fast BQ-type courses. People will begin to shop elsewhere because the options are available.
October: Chicago, Indianapolis, Columbus, Portland, St George, Toronto, Detroit, Marine Corps
I'm sure Grandma's had had years with similar weather...
As someone from Minnesota, Grandma's has not had this kind of weather. Duluth has a much different climate than Minneapolis. Average temp during the marathon is high 50s. This year the high was ~65.
We've updated our BetterRunningShoes.com web site to make it easier to find good deals on the best shoes. To keep it great we need new shoe reviews from you.