A Marathon autumn for Ranae Ihme

From staff reports
Chicago — the city of skyscrapers, wind chill, good hotdogs, bad baseball … and heat stroke. That’s right, the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 7 was stopped in the middle of the race this year as temperatures reached the mid-90s and volunteers on the sidelines ran out of water. A police officer from Midland, Mich. even collapsed and died during the debacle.
Local Ranae Ihme of Leelanau Vacation Rentals trained for and ran the Windy City marathon and was absolutely crushed when she was forced by the police to stop after running 20 miles.
“I remember looking at a billboard reading 94 degrees, wondering if the next water station was going to have water, and wanting more than anything the gratification of crossing the finish line.

“But the police just kept yelling that the race was over and that you “must” stop. I tried to keep going and they wouldn’t let me. They told me there were no more emergency response people available. I cried for hours. I had trained so hard.”
Instead of stowing her sneakers and waiting until next year, Ranae ran the Grand Rapids Marathon on Oct. 28, and this time she completed the race and was greeted by jubilant family at the finish line.