Marathon Registration Delayed
Feb. 1 | Gives race time to sort out its water issues

Chicago Sun-Times, December 31, 2007
By Kara Spak, Staff Reporter (kspak@suntimes.com)

Registration for the 2008 Chicago marathon has been pushed back until Feb. 1—but there should be plenty of room for runners hoping to go the distance in the coming year.

Despite questions about the ability of organizers to handle a big race after 2007's chaotic event, there will be 45,000 slots open for runners in 2008, said Marianne Caponi, spokeswoman for the 2008 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, scheduled for Oct. 12.

While the Chicago marathon traditionally opened registration on Jan. 1, Caponi said organizers pushed the date back so runners wouldn't have to commit to running 26.2 miles 10 months ahead of time.

"The race has been closing out earlier and earlier, so runners are making the commitment earlier and earlier," she said, noting that the 2007 race reached capacity on April 18.

Bigger isn't better?
Record heat during the Oct. 7 marathon led organizers to cancel the race while it was in progress. One runner died, hundreds received medical treatment, and many more complained of inadequate water and Gatorade supplies. Postponing registration gives organizers additional time to sort out issues with water stations and communications, Caponi said.

Dave Watt, executive director of the American Road Race Medical Society, said the 2007 Chicago marathon sparked discussion about whether marathons are getting too big. But he hasn't heard of any marathons actually scaling back. The events pump millions of dollars into local economies.

"Is it reasonable to increase the number of participants because the demand is out there?" he said. "That's the question you could still ask."

Alan Headbloom, spokesman for the 2007 Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon, said feedback from runners in his race indicates bigger isn't always better.

Runners told Grand Rapids organizers they loved the race's easy parking, quiet course along the river and race director who hugged every finisher.

"Ultimately, everyone has some kind of cutoff," Headbloom said. "For us it would maybe be 2,000."