Med-City was the "I need a Medic" City Marathon this weekend. Temp was 80 degrees and 80 percent humidity at the Start line at 8 AM. The temp measured at the Airport reached 94 which was a new record by 2 degrees. The medical advisors from the Mayo Clinic advised the Race Director to shut the race down after half of the first 50 people (including 2 or 4 person relay teams) ended in the Med Tent. Even with 34 medical volunteers they just couldn't keep up. So, we got word when we were at the Mile 18 Water Stop that the race had been officially called off and were encouraged to wait at the water stop for a shuttle bus, or continue at our own risk.

Joe, & I were prepared for the worst with salt tablets, a spray bottle for "extra sweat" and a support crew to provide us extra water & ice. Although we initially took the recommended "detour" to the finish just before Mile 22 ... we decided when we got to the "26 Mile" mark to backtrack to the "real course." So, we finished our ~28 Mile run at 5:08:40. The volunteers who continued to staff the Water Stops after the course had been official shut-down were awesome. The "Lead Biker" even came and checked up on us on our loop around Silver Lake between Mile 24-25. By the time we finished, there were only about a dozen people left out on the course. So, on a day when many people didn't even show up at the Start Line, and most runners over 4 hours took the Race Officials' advice and DNFed or shorted the course, we turned it into a ULTRA.

Waved "Hi" to Amy Yanni who was only about half a mile from the Finish as we were headed back to the "real course". She managed a 4:04 without the "detour." She was the only other Maniac we saw.

- Bekkie Wright, Manchester, CT -- Maniac #244