Canceling a race (ouch!)
Organizers of the DeKalb Cornfest 10k, in DeKalb IL, reluctantly canceled the August 25 race following a succession of severe thunderstorms that devastated the Chicago metropolitan area and also dumped ten inches of rain on Findlay OH.
The storm, which pounded the area during move-in day for freshman at Northern Illinois University, spawned tornados and dangerous winds that downed trees and power lines, and flooded streets and homes in countless communities in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.
In a memo to runners, race organizers said, "...the river and streets are overflowing, all the police are occupied, all the barricades are being used, there are very few city access roads open, all the schools are closed, and we are expecting more heavy rains today. Therefore we have made the painful decision to shut down at the recommendation of the police and city departments."
Sometimes, you just have no choice.