Chicago Half-Marathon Runner Dies: Zachary Gregory Collapsed During Steamy Saturday Race

Zachary Gregory, a 26-year-old physical therapist, died on Saturday after participating in a half-marathon in the sweltering heat that day.

The young runner was described by loved ones as in excellent health and physical fitness, and had been training for months for last weekend's race, according to the Chicago Tribune. But the sudden onset of 90-degree weather and thick humidity may have been a shock to Gregory's system.

When the third annual 13.1 Chicago half-marathon began at around 7:15 a.m. Saturday, it was under a yellow flag, meaning that the steamy conditions were not ideal and that runners were advised to slow down and be careful to hydrate. By just before 9 a.m., a red flag was raised, meaning that clocks and timing devices are turned off so as to remove any incentive for runners to push themselves.

The race was cancelled by a black flag raised at 9:15, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, and buses were sent around the course to collect runners.

But many people had already been stricken by the heat. All told, eleven runners were sent to area hospitals, ABC reports.

Gregory went to the hospital in very serious condition, and was pronounced dead there at 9:52. An autopsy on Sunday was unable to conclusively determine the cause of Gregory's death.

His family, though, was trying to find some consolation in a tragedy seemingly beyond comprehension. "We take some comfort in knowing he passed away doing something that he loved," said his father, Bruce Gregory, according to NBC Chicago. "People lose children all the time, but it's never easy."

Comments

[Ann Wilson]

01:08 PM on 06/09/2011

I ran a marathon in South Bend, Indiana on Saturday. The weather there was also extremely hot and humid. Temps at the start were already in the 70s and climbed pretty fast once the sun came up. I live in Denver, Colorado (originally from Indiana) where the humidity is low compared to the Midwest. I ran all of my training runs in the early morning hours, just as the race would be. I trained at altitude, with hills, and the heat/humidity still got me on race day. I, on the other hand, knew it was something I wasn't prepared for. My body couldn't cool off. I walked/jogged most of the second half, even though my training runs were awesome back here in Colorado. The weather is out of my control. Sure, I was trained and conditioned to run a 4-hour marathon, but the weather conditions didn't allow me to run that. Next marathon, perhaps. People definitely do need to listen to their bodies when they're competing in any kind of endurance race. There's always another race down the road, but not in the above gentleman's case. My prayers going out to his family and friends.

[Lucida]

10:52 AM on 06/08/2011

The race organizers should have cancelled the race. It's human nature for people to believe that "it won't happen to me." Poor guy!!!

[frank day]

09:36 AM on 06/07/2011

Yeah, here in the Midwest we went from winter to summer in just a few weeks.

Not really enough time to adjust to hot, humid conditions.

Prayers for his friends and family.

[MidAgeDan]

09:07 AM on 06/07/2011

I asked a long-distance runner why this happens. Her belief is that too many folks don't listen to what their bodies are telling them . . . they focus on finishing the race, even if their interior "voice" is telling them to stop and rest.

[BestRepublican]

06:58 AM on 06/07/2011

It's all Al Gore's fault.

[smp276dp]

10:15 AM on 06/07/2011

For speaking the truth?

[Keyop]

06:34 AM on 06/07/2011

He should have stayed home and done some bong hits.

[johnjaft]

03:47 AM on 06/07/2011

Thankyou Huff- Commie-Post for deleating the posts from the last two hours, there was nothing wrong with them but you just scrap comments as you feel like it. You probably wont post this comment because your to liberal.

[smp276dp]

10:16 AM on 06/07/2011

Nice photo is that you? Of just the inner being of a repub?

[jpadorr]

01:26 AM on 06/07/2011

I suggest that these events have an alternate date when they are run. That way it will be easier to cancel them intil conditions are favorable.

[bighornman]

01:03 AM on 06/07/2011

Too bad. My condolences to his family. I think there shouldn't be a marathon during the summer. Not with the global warming still in process at this time. By the way, it is good to know that the marathon event workers were quick to cancel the race for the safety reason.

[debbeko]

12:33 AM on 06/07/2011

This is too sad. We lost another good one...as usual.

[Robert Curry]

12:30 AM on 06/07/2011

Apparently, he had some health problem that was exacerbated by the stress of running in the heat. I have run further than that, FASTER than that, when I was over 30 years old, without incident, so I do know that if in good health, and conditioned to the heat/humidity, one can safely run 15 miles in less than 2 hours, in 90 degree weather, because I, and others, have done so-I am still alive, at the age of 64.-(NO, I do not reccomend running 10-15 miles in 85- 90 degree weather as a everyday form of excercise, I am just saying that SOME people can safely do it!)

[bch444]

01:08 AM on 06/07/2011

As many times as you have done it without incident thank God---that's how fast it can happen to anyone if they become even a LITTLE dehydrated. No one knows what life has in store for anyone every day they awaken. Good health to you for many years to come & my condolences to his loved ones.

[johnjaft]

03:39 AM on 06/07/2011

I work farm fields in the south and I'm 66, do it most of the summer when it's 100*-110*, but you have to watch the humidity, I think it was around 90%-94% in Chicago that day.

[Jason McManus]

12:16 AM on 06/07/2011

We had to run all the time in the military in extreme highs and lows, and I don't recall anyone ever dying. I don't believe it is the heat, but it's the runner not preparing properly. This is not news people die every year from running.

[casjane1]

11:29 PM on 06/06/2011

I just don't understand why intelligent people will abandon all senses and push themselves to the brink and actual death just for a sport. It's just beyond me. Where is the reason? I know there are a lot of dedicated people out there but this is expecting too much of the human body. I'm very sorry to hear of this tragic loss of a young person in their prime of life. My condolences are with his family and friends. Such a waste.

[caribindian]

12:15 AM on 06/07/2011

Not so fast...in the midst of the activity a person may not be aware of the immediate danger. I feel confident in saying he probably had no idea his body was in shock...

[skyeagle]

12:35 AM on 06/07/2011

It is something to brag about, you know, "Well I ran in the Chicago half marathon." It's a "macho" thing for men. As for the female runners, they'll have to come up with their own term.

[wendymaddy]

11:21 PM on 06/06/2011

This is the third or fourth time this year that I have read about idiots running a race in 80 degree weather or hotter. It is simply suicidal to start a race at that temperature! The organizers needed to postpone the race until the cooler night hours to save the runners' lives. anything over 72 degrees should be postponed to cooler times of the day or night or else cancelled outright. I also oppose marathons in general. nobody should put themselves through that kind of ordeal. it is not natural for anyone to run that long at one time, and they just shouldn't do it. That poor young man died at 26 years of age because he foolishly trusted the organizers of the race with his life. We need to use our own judgment and not trust public officials to make decisions concerning our individual lives and wellbeing. Everyone, make your own assessment of any situation, and do what your own judgment says to do. Never push your precious body beyond its limits and don't push it to its limits, either. When you step over that limit, you die. The parents are fools to have made their comments so mild. Sue the organizers and the city which organized it for the loss of your young, trusting son!

[sgtriker55]

04:46 AM on 06/07/2011

maybe they should advise medical heart stress test before running a marathon like this.

[Dawnfit]

03:07 PM on 06/07/2011

Anything over 72 degrees??? That would be the entire summer and most of the spring - come on! People run all over the world and it's a heck of a lot hotter than that! And how many landscapers and outdoor workers wouldn't be able to work half the year if this was the case? That's really an insensible comment. And lawsuit??? People have free will (thank goodness - this is America) who do races and they need to take responsibility for their actions, which includes getting proper training and learning about all aspects of an event. Perhaps this physical therapist trained at an indoor therapy facility? I felt sick after doing a couple running races in the heat and it was because I wasn't used to it. And I knew I was hot, but I chose to keep racing and then sprint to the end. I wouldn't ever imagine blaming someone else for the choices of my recreation and fun. And still, the race management did take measures to discourage competition before the death occured and then stopped the race when the death occured. They did plenty. No one's arm was twisted to run that day. Personal responsibility and opportunity are actually a beautiful thing. Considering your comments, I would bet a million dollars or more that you never ran a road race - unless you're from Alaska. Please don't make such strong statements if you are ignorant on the subject. That's the problem with all the mis-information and bias

[nofoolsteaforme]

11:14 PM on 06/06/2011

May he RIP.

On another note. Ther sure are a bunch of pathetic pricks comenting here.

[SuzeC]

11:51 PM on 06/06/2011

Totally agree - on both counts!