![]() ![]() “There were many points where they could have averted the course to have accounted for that half mile.”ĭao’s GPS watch showed the discrepancy was at the turnaround, close to the 8-mile point other runners said their trackers showed the same. That was one of the appeals of this race to me,” said Dao, of Hyde Park. “I run on the Lakefront Trail all the time. The HOKA event was supposed to be part of his training when he realized his half-marathon times were not as spectacular as he thought because its length was changed, it “crushed” him, he said. ![]() “I truly feel cheated from an accomplishment I was looking forward to achieving for months.”ĭickey’s Apple watch was on track with the half marathon’s mile markers until she passed the 9-mile sign, which her watch clocked at 8.5 miles.ĭao is training for the Chicago Marathon, a full marathon that runs Oct. “I am disappointed to hear that the race was cut short and that this wasn’t a decision communicated to the participants before the race,” Dickey said. ![]() Megan Dickey traveled from Springfield, Missouri, a seven-and-a-half-hour car ride, for the half marathon. Tam, who prepared for this half marathon - his first - for 18 weeks, disputed the charge on his Amex card “because the race was not what the distance promised.” Tam said Amex agreed and has processed the chargeback. Some runners, including Gene Tam, of Logan Square, are working to get refunds. “No one plans on this happening,” said Bradley, who didn’t run the race but had several club members compete. Tim Bradley, interim executive director of Chicago Area Runners Association, said distance errors can happen at any level of racing. We apologize for any inconvenience as we chose to prioritize athlete safety.”Ĭhicago Half Marathon and Life Time did not respond to requests for comments. “The impact of this change was a reduction to the overall course distance. “A required, last-minute course change was implemented due to unforeseen circumstances in partnership with the City of Chicago,” marathon organizers commented in response to complaints on Instagram. But runners said they used GPS on their phones and watches to determine the race cut a half-mile short - which was later confirmed by a Life Time email. The race is typically 13.1 miles to qualify as a half marathon. It had an All Things Chicago theme, which included Chicago artist NNAMDΪ performing at a post-race festival. This Sunday was the 25th HOKA Chicago Half Marathon, which runs along the south lakefront and is organized by Life Time Fitness. “Maybe it seems silly, but I poured everything into this race emotionally and physically, and I remember seeing this and feeling so disappointed like I failed at my goal to honor my mom, even though I didn’t do anything wrong.” “The fact that they cut the race short meant I didn’t even run the 13 miles that held such a huge personal significance to me,” Fletcher said. Many of the runners - for whom the sport is a passion and the race details very serious - have posted complaints and concerns on social media. “It just felt like something I could do to honor her and to raise money for lung cancer research and support.”īut the race was altered at the last minute and shortened by half of a mile - without runners being notified. “My goal was also to complete this under 12:13-mile pace as that is her birthday,” Fletcher said. He dedicated his run to his mother “because it’s 13.1 miles and her lucky number is 13.” The race was the first half marathon in three years for Fletcher, of suburban Evergreen Park, and he fundraised for lung cancer research. CHICAGO - Joe Fletcher signed up for Sunday’s HOKA Chicago Half Marathon to honor his mother, who has lung cancer. ![]()
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