Thursday, December 8, 2011

Must Be Something in the Water

I know I said I was done talking VEGAS. Enough already. But new info keeps emerging, and I think it needs to be acknowledged. If you got sick, please fill out this survey from the Southern Nevada Health District found HERE under “Hot Topics.” They are trying to find the common denominator in this whole thing.

There was an article in the Las Vegas Review Journal today about it. More and more people are pointing the finger at (and giving the finger to) the water pumped from fire hydrants at the aid stations as the reason why so many people got sick. I remember running by and seeing the hose up to the hydrant, but at 8 miles, it didn’t connect in my mind. Apparently using fire hydrant water is very common in races.

An excerpt from the article:

“The water tasted metallic and stale, but runner Charlene Ragsdale needed to replenish her fluids if she were to finish Sunday's half-marathon at the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon. Nerves twisted up her stomach, at least, that's what she thought. Suddenly, it wasn't just the taste that didn't seem right, it was the way her body was reacting once she was done drinking.

Soon, the 50-year-old Las Vegan was doubled over from stomach cramps "worse than childbirth." Violent vomiting and explosive diarrhea almost kept her from crossing the finish line.  As Ragsdale reached another water station, she saw water being pumped from a nearby fire hydrant with white hoses into a plastic lined garbage can. Event volunteers wearing plastic gloves would dip cups into the cans and pass them off to runners. It didn't look filtered or flushed, and it didn't look safe, she said.

Runners all around her slowed their pace as they, too, struggled and appeared to be in pain. People began throwing up all around her, she said.”

Now I do not feel so crazy. I could not physically eat for almost 24 hours following the race. I had an upset stomach and was queasy. I chalked it up to improper recovery and being cold. Turns out, it might have been something more.

I am not sure we will ever know if the water was the cause or not, but it certainly is a concern. Many times I have seen trash cans at races being filled with water from a hose. I always thought that water from such a source was not potable.

You may think, “So what. It’s over. Get over it.” True, it is over. Yet, if this is truly the reason for so many sick people and overflowing ERs in the Vegas area, then it is relevant for future races be them in Vegas or other spots. It’s inexcusable. When you sign up for a race you are putting yourself in the hands of the race directors, organizers and volunteers to keep you safe, at least with the elements that they can control (lighting, water, crowd management, etc). You should be able to expect that your basic needs will be met.

If you ran the race, I’d like your take. Do you think it was the water?

Have you ever gotten sick after a race and wondered if it was the water or food made available? This has never happened to me before. First time for everything!

I know many people are soured on the Rock and Roll races following this race. This is not the case for me. I don’t think this mishaps makes all Rock ‘n Rolls BAD. Yet, certainly, there are many, many lessons to be learned from this night race in Vegas. I’m curious to see the Competitor Group’s response, if there is one.

SUAR

82 comments:

  1. after following many RnR recaps this season, I am beginning to think the Competitor organization has compromised safety and quality for $$$
    I had a good experience but Someone died at my race! There was little water. No food at the finish..

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  2. I wasn't there, but I've never read so many race reports that included so many people getting sick...there had to have been something different about this race, and I bet it was the water. For as expensive as the races are these days, that's just not ok!

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  3. No doubt to me---something was in the water. I didn't drink after 17 or 18 when I caught a glimpse of the hose "connection site".
    So. Freaking. Gross.

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  4. I've done the last two Chicago RnR races and I swear I never saw hydrant water. If it was the case though I would not use it. I agree with others I really think they put $$$ ahead of the runners safety at this race. Last year the race and everything seemed to run really smoothly. This year it was a clusterfuck at the end and I nearly killed a snot nosed usher so something changed.

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  5. If they used hydrant water at other races I think it's horrible. I honestly can't believe they can get away with that. But also they said other races do it as well. Who? I've never seen it!

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  6. I had to leave work yesterday b/c i was still queasy, I really wonder if that's it. Coach barely had any water on the course, and seems to have recovered better. Hmmm.

    I'm glad I didn't see the hose...

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  7. I actually was feeling yucky on Monday and Tuesday. Sore throat and upset stomach. I just chalked it up on the weather and traveling from the east coast This is the first time that I have ever taken water at just about every station. Hum... maybe there was something to the water stories.
    On some antibiotics so hoping it all clears up before my races this weekend :-)

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  8. The California International Marathon uses water from a hose outside of various buildings (like an Arbies at mile 9) and I think hydrants too ... they also mix their sports drink with the same water in lined garbage cans.

    I discovered this while volunteering one year and now will always run carrying my own handheld in most races. My stomach is too sensitive on its own never mind drinking unfiltered water out of a plastic lined garbage can!

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  9. I skipped the last two water stops after I saw a volunteer put her bare hand into the water to fill a cup. And it all tasted so bad. Every time I'd run away I felt funky and just tried to block it out. By the time I got to Gear Check I was down on the ground getting help like so many other people.

    My friend did this as her first race and brought Gatorade with her. She never tried the water ... and she never felt sick at all!

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  10. That's inexcusable. You don't expect to run a race and finish with food poisoning. It sounded so weird that there were so many sick after the race but this now makes total sense.

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  11. according to the internet, hydrants with non potable water have to be painted violet on top..unlikely.

    I would suspect the hoses used...do they disinfect them before using? Doubt it..

    Usually not a problem but could have been here...

    Yoikes!

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  12. I drank cytomax at all the stations except from 9 on... i was sick all of sunday and most of monday. I defiantly think it was something in the water.

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  13. That is unacceptable. This is the most expensive race I have seen and this many problems are ridiculous. I was wondering why I read about so many people getting sick. I have never seen anyone get sick and I have run many races. Makes me think twice about drinking at races.

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  15. I ran this race and started feeling weird around mile 10. By the time I finished and got back to my hotel room I had severe stomach cramps. An hour later, I was violently ill. I don't know if it was the water or something else, but the LV Health Dept is looking into it. They have a survey on their website now: http://www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/index.php Scroll down under "Hot Topics" to find it.

    I have certainly puked during and after a run before...from overexertion, from poor fueling, from dehydration. I was well fueled and hydrated for this race, though, and I certainly wasn't overexerting myself since I could barely run at all through the crowd. This was definitely not the kind of sick I've experienced before. Something seems fishy to me.

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  16. I don't know if hydrant water is potable or not, but it seems like it should be illegal to serve nonpotable water.

    I've never seen the trash can technique but I haven't done many races.

    I plan on carrying my own drinks from now on.

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  17. I wasn't there, but I will be carrying my own water/electrolytes at any races from now on. This is the only explanation that actually makes sense.

    Wow. So terrible.

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  18. GROSS..just plain gross and completely ridiculous! There is NO reason why they couldn't have had proper water for the athletes!

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  19. I have done many races in Ontario where the water comes from the fire hydrant and into clean garbage bins. I wasn't afraid of that but it did taste off and I had issues the whole night where I had to run to the bathroom A LOT. I was also sweating really bad and attributed all the symptoms to a developing flu as it was so freaking cold after.

    I loved my experience but feel bad so many people got sick like that. I only had 2 cups of water as I had my own as well so maybe why I wasn't too sick.

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  20. THIS MAKES ME SICK just reading about this :(

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  21. I was wondering about this today after I read yet another recap where stomach issues were a problem! I hope they do something to acknowledge and remedy this situation....

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  22. Wow, for the money you spent for this race, it amazes me that they couldn't afford bottled water.

    Never mind the whole common sense being flushed along w/ the hydrant water. Hope everyone's feeling better soon.

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  23. I read that article. Made my stomach queasy. I didn't notice the hoses at the race. The days leading up to the race i did notice how awful the water tasted and it actually didn't settle well with me so I tried to drink bottled water.
    I felt fine during the race but after I started to feel a little dizzy, we were in the Mandalay Bay trying to get on the monorail and there were hundreds of people so it could have been that. When we finally made it back to the hotel the toilet was calling my name but after I did my business I felt better and had my appetite back.

    I think the whole thing is just wrong and unsanitary and asking for diseases to be spread. I heard the interview the CEO of Competitor group did over at The Marathon Show. Look them up and listen to it if you haven't already. Was interesting to hear.

    I have ran one other RnR event and that was Seattle RnR marathon. I had a great experience and plan to run it agian next year.

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  24. I had tummy issues after the race, as did many people. BUT---I did NOT drink the water...nor did I drink it all day. All day I either drank juice in the restaurant, or my own Gatorade. I'm not saying the water was not to blame...but I was sick without touching the water.

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  25. I had some icky tasting water at the Eugene Marathon this year and felt terrible at that race. I didn't make the connection to feeling that way with the water until a friend who ran it told me she dumped hers after tasting it and refilled at another water station. Now I think it may have been due to the water at that station. I drank 20 oz of that crap!

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  26. So it sounds like the water was non potable water from the hydrants. Sounds like mass ecoli poisoning. Can you say lawsuit?

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  27. Yup I read this a little bit ago today.. totally thought of you! HORRIBLE!

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  28. I am completely with you and every time I read something else I shake my head. I too did not get crazy sick but my stomach was so painful after. It was awful. I made myself eat because I thought that was the issue but now I just wonder...I really never thought this was how they got water from barrels and hoses and it needs to change

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  29. Still feeling 'not right' after 4 full days. I blame my pit stop during the race on my own issues, but think that my continued yuck feelings might be due to the water. I drank at every stop...trying to make up for dehydration caused by what happened at Denny's.

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  30. It was a miserable experience just looking to do another half to get over the bad memory of this one.

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  31. I ran (well, propelled myself forward...I was on a walk/run program) the half-marathon and brought my own electrolyte/water mix. I didn't feel sick after the race (just very cold!). My best friend ran with me and went to almost all of the water stations and didn't get sick (though she fainted later due to lack of food after the race). My husband also ran, went to almost all of the water stations, and didn't get sick. I'm not sure if an N of 2 people drinking the water and not getting sick proves anything, but we didn't have nearly as bad of an experience as some people.

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  32. Oh man, this is baaaaaad news for Rock 'N Roll. I just learned about this water situation today and it's kind of creeping me out. I'm glad I didn't drink the water but I hope you're feeling ok now.

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  33. Amazingly, I didn't take the water at that particular water station and I uncharacteristically took the Cytomax (or whatever electrolyte drink it was) instead. Like you, a lot of my friends who became ill chalked it up to timing their eating wrong on race day, but so many had the same symptoms and pretty much right after that water station. Dollars to doughnuts, it was the water.

    Can you say "class action lawsuit?" It's just a matter of time.

    This won't keep me from another RNR event, though. I've done several, and the first two LVRNR events were great. There are glitches at every race, though, but what happened over the weekend was inexcusable.

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  34. Pikes Peak Marathon uses hose water, I'm guessing that's the same as hydrant water? Not sure. I think it's just shameful that they ran out of medals and shirts...and no indication they are going to get them. It's all so sad!

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  35. As a kidney transplant recipient, this is VERY concerning to me. These runners might just get cramps and be really sick: but this could kill me, for real.

    I will have to rethink the whole running races thing....

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  36. Irene: I may be wrong, but I think the Cytomax (powder) was mixed with the water. In any case, glad you did not get sick.

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  37. Wow, I am really sorry for all of you who were sick. Obviously there was a contaminate somewhere. The water source was probably clean (as the water dept attests), but what about the vehicles for transporting the water (hoses, etc.); and into plastic-lined trashcans - EW! It says right on the box of hefty bags NOT FOR FOOD STORAGE. And bare hands in the water? What if someone had a communicable disease (can you spread hepatitis this way?)?

    Could it also have been an outbreak of Norovirus? It happened in Vegas a few years ago at the California hotel.

    This just reaffirms that I will continue carrying my own hydration (HEED and water) - I do it anyway because they usually offer Gatorade which I don't drink anymore.

    Never thought about it on this grand scope - but obviously it was inevitably going to happen at some race.

    Glad I pack a post-race snack, too, although it sounds like I wouldn't have been able to get to it in a reasonable amount of time at this race.

    I thought it sounded like fun, but I think I'll pass.

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  38. I honestly expected lots of sick runners due to pre-partying too hard...

    But what happened at that race can't be explained by poor pre-race habits.

    Plenty of people skipped alcohol, ate sensibly, and STILL got sick. Something went terribly wrong. Maybe it was the water? Maybe it was some food/drink sample at the Expo? Maybe one of the hotels had norovirus like those cruise ships did a couple of years ago...

    Whatever it was: I just hope everyone who got sick recovers quickly!

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  39. Omg!!! Horrible, keep us updated we aren't 'sick' of your Vegas updates!!!

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  40. If you ran the Las Vegas Marathon and became ill, the health department wants to hear from you. Please fill out a survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SNHD_marathon_illness_survey

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  41. For my first Marathon this past Oct. I carried my own stuff. I wondered if I looked weird, but everything I read said not to try new stuff on race day and since what they were serving wasn't what I trained with I took my own.

    Now I'm thinking that might be the way to go everytime.

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  42. i got sick after my last half from eating a raw hamburger from the post race cookout. i puked the whole way home!

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  43. I wasn't at LV, but I am signed up for the Phoenix RNR. I hope this company has its shit together before that race.

    You know, all race waivers say pretty much the same thing, and I've never seen one where runners agree to drink nasty, unfiltered stank water.

    If you haven't heard/seen enough comments on this race already, check out marathonguide.com. WOW.

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  44. I ran the full, drank the water at some of the later water stops (mile 20+) and felt quite queasy when I finished. Granted, I ran my fastest marathon ever and I was salted up like crazy afterward but I think I was decently well hydrated.

    I felt totally hung over on Monday but that may have been the wine I drank after the race....

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  45. Ho.Ly. Crap. This is awful. And scary.

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  46. I didn't run it, but I felt like something shady was going on. It's not just the reviews of people feeling queasy after. But also the reviews talking about people throwing up all over the place and passing out. It couldn't just be from the cold, because there are plenty of colder races happening out there.

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  47. What's worse is this race benefitted the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. There were plenty of "suffers from" bibs out there...can you imagine what the water could have done to them? I was sick post-race but did not drink the water on the course...just had bottled water at the finish with a few bites of a green banana, a few bites of a bagel dumped out onto a table, and two Go-Gurts (bad idea).

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  48. I didn't drink any of the water and wasn't sick. So glad I brought my own. So yucky! I didn't know that other races do the trash can thing - nasty!! How can you be sure that people aren't sticking their hands into the water?

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  49. Man this is a tough race to read about! I am so glad I chose CIM instead. I agree that it doesn't make all Rock & Roll races bad, but they definitely are a certain type of race with a certain attitude and it's not for everyone. But some of these lapses are completely inexcusable!

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  50. Most hydrant water ins non-potable (i.e. non-drinkable)-

    Which is why I run with my OWN h20 in any race I participate in. Why take the chance?

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  51. This is good you are following up. I had been wondering myself if any media reports would arise out of this debacle.

    I'm guessing folks who brought their own hydration belts fared fine!

    What a mess. And I agree this needs to be discussed so this doesn't happen again in Vegas or at any race for that matter!

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  52. I think it was the water. Too big a coincidence for it not to be. I think that is pretty bad and I hope it gets addressed so that doesn't happen again. But I think that you are right about not all RnR's being bad. I don't know about your experience at the Denver RnR but I thought they did a really good job. But I carry my own hydration during races and now I will definitely always do it!

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  53. I was just mind boggled at how many people were SICK! That is simply not normal when there is not heat involved. Seems like a logical explanation to me. I hope they get to the bottom of it somehow.

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  54. I got sick pretty much right when I got to town not sure if it was my Subway sandwich I ate on the drive in or if it was a little stomach flu type thing. So I had very little appetite and was exhausted the whole weekend. After the race was the first time I was actually able to eat real food the entire weekend.

    I had about 24 oz of water on me at the start because I don't rely on races anymore for adequate supplies. I drank from one of the aid stations later in the race and it just did not taste right. Then I saw the big trash cans at the next one and caught on to what they were doing. I didn't take anymore water.

    I am not one to get sick after a race or have stomach problems during no matter what I eat. I did get really bad indigestion type feelings at the end of the race, haven't quite figured that one out but I've had it before.

    I am surprised that people felt the effects of it right away if it was the water - doesn't that sort of thing take a while to kick in - like if you eat bad food it wouldn't hit right away?

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  55. spooky ... you have to trust the course and volunteers to do a good job

    If this kind of stuff happens again then there would be some cause for concern.

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  56. Wow - this is super scary to me. I am now 39 weeks pregnant and was running races into my 2nd trimester. Bad water would have been really dangerous for me. I actually stopped running after a brutal race - but it was clearly the heat that did me in on that one.

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  57. I feel bad for everyone that got sick, but still my experience was quite different. I had the water at every station except the first and never got sick. My stomach was queasy at mile 11, but I assume it was the 4 GU's I had during the race (never had that many before). After about a quarter of a mile it went away and I've been fine since.

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  58. I would think the health department was investigating all the illnesses - hopefully they find the source so this doesn't happen again!

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  59. I did not participate in that race, but it's NOT over in my opinion. There need to be some kind of recourse and accountability in action. Something was in the water for sure. Reminds me of the movie Cabin Fever. Now that's GROSS.

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  60. I ran the full for this race but noticed the water connected to the hoses. At the time it didn't connect that that was my drinking water, I thought it was there incase it got hot and needed to cool people off. I drank the water and it is a miracle that I didn't get sick. I honestly didn't drink a lot of the water though. I usually drink way more and during the race I kept telling myself to drink more but just didn't feel like it and now I am really glad that I didn't drink more.
    There has to be a reason why so many runners got sick and the water seems like that might have been the problem. The race director is trying to make it seem like it was "only 200 people" but I think there are a lot of people who have not complained or came forwrd about this yet.
    I will not be running any of their races again. Was not a safe race, especially with how many people were passing out at the finish line. I've done 10 marathons and have never seen that before.

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  61. This is really scary. I don't carry my own water during a race and depend on the race organizers to provide enough fueling stations to accommodate. Needless to say, it never occured to me that there would be no regard for cleanliness/sanitation. You certainly got me thinking.
    If I had run that race, I would have taken my dose of hydrant water since I never take notice of where it comes from only that there is someone there handing it to me. DANGEROUS!

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  62. The RnR Half here in Los Angeles had Arrowhead water but I was crampy afterward anyway. I'm pretty sure it was Shot Bloks. They make me feel yucky. I only use 'em after mile 8. They always give me the trots!

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  63. I cannot comment on any of this because I carried my own water and nutrition so I did not stop nor did I notice any hoses or trash cans.

    What I did notice and thought was crazy was that the porto's were on the outside of the race gates. Why would you do that? Runners would have to stop move the gates, go and then climb back through the gates. Lots of work there.

    That being said it needs to be addressed because having so many people sick at one race is not a coincidence. It may be common place to use hoses but in this case there seems to have been something wrong and that needs to be investigated for future races whether by RnR or other organizations. Learn from the issues here.

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  64. I'm always torn at a race. I'd love to ditch the hydration pack and utilize the hydration stations at a race, but I find I prefer not having to stop, drink, toss... It's easier for me to drink my own on the fly. Once I didn't bring electrolytes and the race had Gatorade which personally makes me sick so I threw up. Since then I always bring everything myself because I know what I like and there's less hassle. I only take it if it's wrapped like Gu or Shotblocks, etc... This gives me one more reason to never ditch the pack!!! How awful
    www.tuffmotherondarun.com

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  65. Everything really does seem to point to the water (or how the water was distributed) being the source. I wanted to do the LV RnR but couldn't work it out. I hope they get it figured out quickly and ALL races learn from it. I bring my own water (hydration pack) because I want water when I need it, not when it's available on the course. I've considered ditching it at times, but not after that!

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  66. I ran the full, and I was quite nauseous the next morning. I attributed it to the cold I came down with on Saturday night (and am still struggling with) but sounds like it could have been the water! I knew that they normally used fire hydrants so that doesn't bother me. They test the water, so it must have been something about the hose or the procedures the volunteers were using. Maybe they didn't use the sanitary can liners before filling the trash cans with water or something. I thought the whole race was a giant cluster and was quite annoyed as a marathoner by all the slower half marathoners not staying to the right...too crowded! They need to cut it down.

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  67. yikes! this is kinda of freaky I didn't know they did that at races, makes me want to carry my own water.

    FINGERS crossed this weekends Miami RNR does not go like that...eik no violent stomach pains or long lines please

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  68. Wow - that's awful.

    I got very sick during my first marathon - the RNR San Diego - which forced me to walk most of it and visit every porto along the course. It was a great time. Not.

    I assumed it was because of the cytomax that I never drank before (I use powerade or gatorade usually.)

    Since there wasn't a mass outbreak at SD like Vegas, I guess it was just me in that cue but there are too many sick in Vegas for there not to be a common link and sensibly it would come down to the water.

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  69. BTW, your ads on the page show water filter refills and laxatives.

    Pretty cool.

    And when you talked about puking it was Imodium!

    Google is so awesome.

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  70. Wow, wow, wow. I haven't run a big race like this but I'd like to and now I know enough to bring my own hydration!!

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  71. I ran the race...and have a cast iron stomach or something, because I was fine. I don't know if maybe it's because I got water that was already poured? As in, the tables had layers of water already pre-poured and I took one of those. My mom ran with me, and she wasn't sick either. Maybe we were just lucky. And I think we only took water once in the second half of the race...around mile 7 or 8 I think? I know we missed the one at the Gu station, and all the ones after.

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  72. that water horror story sounds horrible. I hate it when races go poorly, i think it really discourages people who are just starting to get into running.

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  73. I didn't have any water until mile 8 when I had GU. At almost mile 9 i had such bad stomach cramps, i had to walk a minute. I too thought it was the GU but now I think perhaps it was the water. This whole race was such an awful experience!

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  74. Yeah, it's going to be really interesting to see what they finally end up finding out. I know people have been quick to blame the water, but my understanding has always been that it takes 12-24 hours for food- & water-borne contaminants to actually cause symptoms. I guess it's not impossible, but it seems really unlikely that that's what it was.

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  75. Thanks for this post. I ran the marathon and was fighting the urge to puke around 22. I had no clue what was wrong and thought I had done something that day that messed with me. It was the same as other people, severe stomach cramps and kept fighting the urge to throw up. I also could not eat much for 2 days as the stomach cramps kept me from doing so.
    This really does explain alot and I know that nothing will be done about it. RnR's apology is probably all anyone will see about this. I need more time but right now, I have no desire to run another race for quite some time. From the disaster of organization to the complete lack of runner's etiquette by the runners, it was a HORRIBLE weekend!

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  76. I ran the half marathon and kept a pretty regimented "normal" diet before the race so that I wouldn't have to deal with GI issues, I also braved the porta poty lines before the race to deplete my bladder. I drank water and Cytomax at every chance and and at about mile 7 I felt the anticipated "runners trot" creep up on me, but that is pretty normal for my long runs. What was not normal was that after my mile 10 porta poty stop, I hit the finish line and just wanted to continue running to the bathroom. I met most of my running buddies at our designated spot and had to ditch the crowd before everyone was done for the bathroom.
    Not to be crude, but my husband and I both notided that the bathrooms at MB were a disaster from all of the people pouring in with GI issues. I had to stop for 2 more bathroom breaks on my way to our hotel, The Flamingo. I never threw up, or thought I was going to but I have an iron stomach... most of the time. Honestly, I don't think it was the water (seems to have hit too fast and I don't think a "bug" of that magnitude would have only effected some people.), I drank water in Vegas and it tasted nasty for sure, not just on the race.
    Here's an idea... what about the food/drinks given out at the Expo? No one seems to have brought that up and I am wondering why that isn't a plausable answer. I ate a few things and dranks a few things I had never tried before and a few items I threw away because I realized it was meant to be refrigerated. Any thoughts on that option? I am sorry for all of those that delt with much worse than the stomach cramps. My stomach was much better by the morning. :)
    TRehe

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  77. The more I think about it, the more I wonder if it is the water or not...Because of the number of people, I kind of wonder. Because, if you look at it as say, 1% of all people in a race have GI issues. In most of the races I'm in there are less than 3000 people, so that would be like 30 that would have issues. In this race there were more than 40k, so that would be 400 people that would have issues, just using this made up percent. Which is lots of people, but not a larger percentage than 'normal'. I don't know. I was wondering if I would have issues drinking the cytomax because I wasn't used to it, but ended up ok. Also, my coach is always telling me not to sample anything at expos because you don't know how you will react to it, especially since, in most cases, you are running the next day. So that could have played a role too (not to mention that some people get sick because the people around them are - I know if I smelled vomit or saw someone vomiting I'd be right beside them - it's a sympathetic response or something, iron stomach or not)

    I will say that I was drinking Vegas water all the time I was down there, so it could be that I was just used to it, but the more I think on it, the less I think it was that.

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  78. That is super scary! I have always relied on the race organizers for water. Isn't that what we pay all the big $$$ for? SO they can provide the water and I can just run w/o carrying extra lbs of water on me?

    Y'all (don't I sound like I really am from KY now?) should come run the Derby Festival. It is a week before the actual Derby, and has both the half and the full option. It is the day before the Flying Pig in Cincy, so people who are really crazy can do half of each. At any rate, they gave out mini bottled water! Initially, I was horrified by all the wasted water and plastic, but it was so easy to drink out of the bottles. You could carry it, have a sip, and then put the lid on, hold onto it for a while, have some more, and then chuck at the next aide station. It was also good water too! It is very inexpensive too. I don't work for the Derby or anything, I just had an awesome time at it last year and wanted to give it a plug, since it has awesome water.

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