The heat and humidity were so draining that organisers shut down the second half of the course 3 hours after the start. Photo/ AP
CHICAGO - ONE runner died during the Chicago Marathon on Sunday as heat and humidity forced organisers to shut down the course midway through the race.
Mr Chad Schieber, 35, collapsed while running on the South Side and was pronounced dead shortly before 1pm (2am Singapore time) at a Veteran's Affairs hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.
An autopsy on the Midland, Michigan, man was scheduled for Monday.
Another 250 people were taken to area hospitals because of heat-related ailments.
Organizers closed the second half of the course just before noon, four hours after the annual race started and with temperatures already at 23 deg C with 86 per cent humidity. By 10am, temperatures had already reached a race-record 31 deg C. -- AP
