Heat Plagues Boston Marathon

As expected, heat has hampered the running of the Boston Marathon.

One woman suffered a heart attack and three other runners were placed in critical care units at the hospital Monday after a sweltering running of the Boston Marathon, the Boston Herald reported.

Race officials said as many as 135 runners were taken to area hospitals, while about 2,200 required treatment after being overcome during the 26.2-mile run as temperatures reached the mid-80s Fahrenheit.

Even as early as last week, race organizers were calling for in-experienced runners to sit this marathon out - as forecasts called for heat.

Organizers had considered canceling the event and urged inexperienced runners to sit out the historic race. They offered competitors a guaranteed spot in next year's field if they accepted the deferment, and more than 4,000 opted not to run.

Many others gave it a try but abandoned the journey early, including last year's winner and race record-holder Geoffrey Mutai, of Kenya, who dropped out due to cramping after 18.5 miles.

The Boston Marathon is the last major U.S. marathon before our local Grandma's Marathon.   Both marathon races see entrants that run both races.

One woman suffers heart attack, three other runners in critical care after Boston Marathon - News | FOX Sports on MSN.