Madison Marathon officials have canceled the full marathon on Sunday due to the predicted hot weather.More >> Madison Marathon officials have canceled the full marathon on Sunday due to the predicted hot weather.More >>
MADISON (WKOW) -- More than 5,500 people registered to run in Sunday's half marathon after an announcement that the full 26.2 mile marathon would be canceled came out on Friday.
Organizers said the predicted high temperatures would make it too dangerous for full marathon runners. In 2010, the runners were told to stop in the middle of the race because of the hot weather.
The 13.1 mile race kicked off at 7:00 a.m. Sunday from the Capitol Square.
According to race director Keith Peterson, six runners were taken to area hospitals. Three of those people had tried to run the full marathon distance.
People from all over the United States made their way to Madison this weekend to run in the full marathon.
"I've run marathons all over the world and I never thought, because it's only supposed to be 75 degrees here this time of year, so I never would have thought it would have been canceled," said Sundi Ford, a runner from Denver, Colorado. Sundi said she's been training for four months and has entered a marathon in South Dakota next week.
Wisconsin marathon runner John Schell said he's disappointed, but thinks it's a good decision. Schell ran in the 2010 marathon and made it to mile 19 before the race was called off.
Organizers said it was a tough decision to make the call and they may consider other options to avoid this problem in the future. "I think we're looking at every scenario right now," said marathon marketing director Scott Smith.
