Cooler Chicago Marathon

Weather forecast pleases marathon officials

Last Oct. 7, the high temperature and humidity cut short the 26.2-mile race for the first time in its history. With Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Olympics looming large in the background, city officials had to defend themselves after runners reported insufficient water. To add to the problems, an ambulance crew got lost on the way to the hospital while transporting a runner who later died of a heart condition.

This Sunday’s forecast calls for dreary, overcast skies, delighting Chicago Marathon officials and runners who hope that last year’s heat-related problems will not be repeated.

This year, organizers of the 31st Chicago Marathon are promising more water, more Gatorade and a new color-coded communication system designed to alert runners.