Last Sunday's 30th Chicago Marathon could have been remembered for the exciting photo finish in the men's race or the bold come-from-behind victory in the women's event. Instead, it's the slower runners who made headlines.

Patrick Ivuti of Kenya edged out Moroccan Jaouad Gharib for the victory in 2 hours, 11 minutes, 11 seconds after breaking away from the pack and running side by side for more than 3 miles.

On the women's side, Berhane Adere of Ethiopia sprinted the last 200 meters to overtake first-time marathoner Adriana Pirtea of Romania and win by 3 seconds in 2:33:49.

What could have been a triumph turned to tragedy for the hottest Chicago Marathon on record. As temperatures soared into the mid 80s, runners behind the leaders began to feel the effects of heat, and, in some cases, the lack of fluids on the course.

At noon, with emergency services unable to keep up with the stream of heat affected runners needing medical help, race director Carey Pinkowski canceled the marathon. Runners who hadn't reached the halfway point by noon, more than four hours after the race start, were diverted into an area equipped to serve the struggling runners' needs.

By the end of the day, more than 300 runners had been transported by ambulance, with 141 taken to area hospitals. As of Tuesday, five remained in serious to critical condition in area hospitals.

One runner, first-time marathoner Chad Schieber of Midland, Mich., collapsed and died on the course. Schieber, a father of three, recently had been honored as police officer of the month in his hometown.

His wife, also running the marathon, dropped out of the event because of the heat while Schieber collapsed at about the 18-mile point on the course.

Although an autopsy concluded that Schieber's death was caused by a pre-existing heart condition, mitral valve prolapse, some dispute this finding.

Dr. Kousik Krishman, an electrophysiologist at Chicago's Rush Medical Center, said mitral valve prolapse is a condition affecting 3 to 7 percent of the population. Most of those individuals, including runners, live normal lives.

More than 10,000 participants started but did not finish the Chicago Marathon this year. An additional 10,000 runners registered but chose not to run in the hot conditions after race officials issued heat advisories before the race.

The lessons of the 2007 Chicago Marathon are many. Medical services will review their response to this major disaster. Certainly, race officials will analyze what went wrong and how to prevent future tragedies.

Hopefully, all runners, not just those involved in this particular event, also will learn. The Chicago race is a reminder that the marathon is more than an endurance athletic event. It's an epic adventure.

Any adventure, whether it takes place alone in the wilderness or among 35,000 people on city streets, contains an element of uncertainty and danger. Preparation minimizes the risk, but, in the end, anything can happen in the marathon.

Correction

In last week's column, I incorrectly reported the age of Nick Minto, who recently ran his 34th marathon in Dayton, Ohio. Minto is 59.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. 724-898-2525

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Mahoning Shadow Shuffle Half Marathon and 5K Fun Run, Punxsutawney. 814-938-7700 or ataladay@earthlink.net

Saturday, 9 a.m.: HAEE 5K Walk-Run and 1-Mile Stroll, Hartwood Acres. Scenic run benefits educational enrichment for Hampton School District students. 412-486-6000, ext. 1700 or info@haee5k.org

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Birdsfoot 5K, Freeport. Benefits Freeport Food Bank. 724-602-1234 or tomparenti@yahoo.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Race for Pace 5K Run-Walk and 1-Mile Dog Walk, Churchill Boro. Benefits Pace School for children with emotional challenges and autism. 412-244-1900 or www.paceschool.org

Saturday, 9 a.m.: SuperKwik Challenge Half Marathon, Warren. 814-726-0110 or chris@warrenymca.org

Saturday, 10 a.m.: BHCF 5K Run-Walk in the Park, Brighton Heights. 412-761-0760 or www.brightonheights.com

Sunday, 8:30 a.m.: Fineview 5K Step-A-Thon, North Side, Pittsburgh. 412-720-4334

Sunday, 9 a.m.: Friends of the Raccoon 5K, Clinton. davelj@zoominternet.net

Sunday, 10:15 a.m.: Peace Race 10K, Youngstown, Ohio. Also 2-mile race at 9:30 a.m.: 330-758-8708

Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.: Walk-Run at Riverview Park, Pittsburgh. Group run or walk followed by dinner or refreshments. 412-719-1842 or jph260@comcast.net

Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.: Running Wild Group Run, Hartwood Acres. 724-444-5311

Oct. 20, 9 a.m.: Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, Cabot. New date and time for this scenic downhill race. www.butlerfreeporttrail.org or register online at www.active.com

Oct. 20, 3 p.m.: Monster Stomp 5K Race, Walk and Goblin Trot, New Castle. Costumes encouraged, post race Monster Bash with food, drink and music. 800-544-5250 or www.monsterstomp.com

Oct. 27, 9 a.m.: NK 10K, New Kensington. New course runs along Allegheny River, finishes at Wolf Pack Park. 724-335-9191 or alasure@vpfymca.org

Race results

Gatorade Steelers 5K, Sept. 2: Charlie Ban, 1st Overall M, 15:36; Lori Zimmerman, 1st Overall W, 17:49; Heather Melzer, 2nd Overall W, 18:52; Melissa Shaeffer, 3rd Overall W, 18:57; Dominic Wyzomirski, 2nd 45-49 M, 16:48; David Terrill, Sr., 1st 50-54 M, 17:53; Cindy Grimm, 2nd 55-59 W, 21:42; Claire Geordiadis, 1st 10 & Under W, 25:44; Lou Lodovico, 2nd 70 and over M, 26:33; Margretta Lutz, 1st 70 and over W, 30:14Gregory Kroleski, 16:45; Joel Shaeffer, 17:25; Tim Monfre, 17:40; Jeff Leya, 18:34; Djamel Bayliche, 18:38; Jake Montag, 18:39; Mitch Radella, 18:58; Brad Kennedy, 19:54; Curt Grimm, 20:35; Christopher Lazzara, 20:37; Kiyoshi Hayakawa, 20:58; Daniel Pantano, 21:09; Kevin Jennings, 21:13; Ryan Kennis, 21:24; Silvio Andreassi, 21:30; Pete Carcaise, 21:33; Roger Murray, 21:40; Chris Cutone, 21:44; Scot Taylor, 21:45; Mark Knapp, 21:48; Casey Boyd, 21:55; Tommy Berexa, 21:58; Mark Blasinsky, 22:15Nancy Belz, 22:27; Matthew Getsay, 22:34; Jacki Yingling, 22:43; Jeff Yingling, 22:44; Thomas Parenti, 23:18; Terry Shulsky, 23:39; Buddy Turner, 23:39; Eddy Simpson, 23:43; Carrie Smith, 23:52; Maria Berexa, 24:05; Rick Colonello, 24:21; Mark Straub, 24:30; Donald Colton, 24:37; Art Rechtenwald, 24:54; Rick Fairbend, 24:55; Michael Glew, 25:01Wendy Gonz, 25:13; Len Yensull, 25:15; Gale Mussey, 25:19; Rich Ekas, 25:19; Caitlin Collins, 25:24; Jan Ban, 25:39; Steve Smith, 25:42; Cyndie DeLucia, 25:56; Gail Shannon, 25:57; Donna Latsko, 26:04; Kevin Gaffney, 26:13; Kristin Carcaise, 26:15; Bill Snider, 26:23; Kurt Stridinger, 26:32; April Tuza, 26:33; Peter Heil, 27:09; Nicole Ford, 27:17; Nick Norwig, 27:20; Frank Pantano, 27:20; Pamela Heil, 27:21; Jan Beacham, 27:30; Terry Fuller, 27:34; Rebecca Miller, 27:48Kimberly Gambardella, 27:52; Megan Hummel, 27:57; Thomas Prager, 27:57; Bob Andrews, 27:58; Marilyn Lapiska, 27:59; Robert Zaccari, 28:00; James Hodgson, 28:01; Ashley Pernazza, 28:29; Jim Pernazza, 28:41; Tedd Nesbit, 28:49; Chelsea Cavanaugh, 29:05; Gregg Stewart, 29:06; Heather Stewart, 29:13; James Collins, 29:22; Krista Malingowski, 29:23; Shelly Stevenson, 29:23; Brad Zebra, 29:30; Erin Norwig, 29:49; Brian Hudson, 30:15; Mary Hudson, 30:15; Tom Shannon, 30:26; Marley Good, 30:39; Jeffrey Caskey, 30:39Margaret Tretter, 30:45; James Klanica, 30:51; Dane Winkler, 31:05; Taryn Latsko, 31:16; Sarah Duke, 31:39; Alan Colorito, 31:49; Matthew Claycomb, 31:20; Luke Norwig, 32:20; Emily Norwig, 32:21; Larry Kristoff, 32:22; Emily Kristoff, 32:22; Sue Pantano, 32:37; Austin Goncz, 32:41; Kathy McCaffrey, 33:07; Jim McCaffrey, 35:04; Patricia Hodgson, 36:07; Vickie Stewart, 36:25; Robin Stewart, 36:53Gina Gesualdi, 37:08; Susan Artman, 37:11; Alexis Colonello, 38:16; Spencer Tretter, 38:25; William Tretter, 38:25; Bethann Glew, 38:58; Fran Fuhrer, 39:20; Timothy Taddeo, 42:20; Konrad Kammerer, 42:53; Ruth Cavanaugh, 45:09; Mike Radella, 45:45; Madison Tretter, 45:59; Ashley Kristoff, 45:59; Paige Tretter, 45:59; Madison Kristoff, 46:03; Robert Papak, 46:12; Rosemary Taddeo, 48:59; Kiersten Cavanaugh, 50:47; Sarah Cavanaugh, 50:48; Ron Bitting; 54:46; Lisa Papak, 55:16; Kate Klanica, 56:46; Marian Klanica, 56:47; Daniel Klanica, 56:47 John Kaniuff, 56:52; Beth Kaniuff, 56:53; Polly Bitting, 57:04; Peggy Grinager, 1:01:00; Michael McCaffrey, 1:08:32; Carley McCaffrey, 1:08:32

Peanut Butter Festival 5K, Sept. 15: Tom Lipse, 1st Overall M, 16:14; Tristen Rankin, 1st Overall W, 18:32; Fred Weaver, 2nd 30-39 M, 20:11; Carl Hill, 24:42Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Road Saxonburg, Pa., 16056. Phone or fax: 724-352-4395. E-mail: bigp16@connecttime.netPat Neubert is the running columnist for the Butler Eagle.