In the surprisingly large world of marathoning, this year's LaSalle Bank Chicago race will undoubtedly be talked about for years. The heat and humidity were so bad that organizers canceled the race before thousands of people crossed the finish line but not before hundreds needed medical attention.

The Chicago marathon -- like many other big city races -- is quite an experience. You can stand at the start and watch forever as wave after wave of runners start their 26.2 mile journey. Two years in a row, I applauded and cheered until it hurt at that start line as my good friend and marathon training friend Craig jogged over the the start line. (Much to Craig's consternation, the race filled up before I registered one year and the second year I was injured.)

I'm very heat intolerant -- just my luck to live in a time of global warming! -- so I can't even imagine how unhappy I would have been running the Chicago race this year. In fact, my worse marathon experience was a January race in Florida when the early morning cloud cover melted away and there was no shade to be found. Stubborn as I am, I refused to quit that day, but did end up walking most of the last eight miles of the race. We won't talk about my finish time!

But my experience in Florida pales to what happened in Chicago. The New York Times described the scene vividly in its front-page story titled, "Death, Havoc and Heat Mar Chicago Race."

"Organizers tried to halt those who had yet to arrive at the halfway point in the race and turn them back, " the Times wrote. "Police officers announced the end of the race from loudspeakers in their squad cars. Fire department officials announced it from a public address system as they flew over in a helicopter."

One runner who did manage to finish the race, Chris Dillon, did so with a  determination to support the nation's preeminent environmental organization. Yep, NRDC!

Chicago was the first marathon for Chris and he's already collected more than $7,000 for NRDC. He's signed up more than 70 new card-carrying members. (I can't figure out which is the bigger feat: finishing a marathon or locating 70 new NRDC members!)

In an email message to his supporters, Chris described the scene as he crossed mile 22.

"Helicopters came overhead with a loudspeaker notifying the runners that the race had been called," he said. "It had already been circulating as a rumor for several miles at that point.  From there most of us walked or jogged the final leg of the race.  It was heartbreaking,.."

I ran my first two marathons to raise money for AIDS research so I know how proud Chris must be to have raised so much money for a cause he obviously cares a great deal about. He continues to seek support for NRDC from his friends and colleagues and it would be great if some of you Switchboard readers were to add your support to him and us. (See below for his instructions...)

We won't know for a long time if the heat and humidity Chris and his fellow runners encountered last Sunday in Chicago was part of the normal weather variables or if it could be traced to global warming.

But we do know that reversing global warming and its consequences will take the support of hundreds of thousands or millions of people like Chris. His grit, perseverance and dedication are deeply appreciated here at NRDC. Thanks, Chris. I can promise you that you've made a really smart investment in the future of the planet, one well worth 26.2 miles of hell.

Donating In Chris's Honor: The following is from an email Chris sent to his friends, family and colleagues:

If you’d still like to consider either joining the NRDC or making a contribution in my honor, you’ll help me commemorate something special.

Donating is simple – and tax deductible!

Go to http://www.nrdc.org/joingive/default.asp, either Join the NRDC or donate what you can in my honor online.  Simply tell me what you’ve donated via email so I can track your generosity against our goal. (Chris's email is chris@1-main.com)