Extreme weather kills 21 ultra-marathon runners in China

[Fast Eddie]

The high-altitude Huanghe Shilin Mountain Marathon began on Saturday morning in sunny conditions. But by 1 p.m. local time weather conditions had turned, with freezing rain, hail stones and gale winds lashing runners.

As temperatures dropped in the Yellow River Stone Forest, runners started reported suffering from hypothermia, while others went missing.

The marathon organizers called off the race and launched a search party of 1,200 people to scour the complicated terrain. The search operation continued after dark.

Most competitors were wearing thin shorts and T-shirts.

Extreme weather kills 21 ultra-marathon runners in China - CNN

[RioG]

Holy shit.  21 people.  That's so many.

[Mrtambourineman]

Crazy. It doesn't say if there were intermediate aid /support stations. It seems crazy to me for people to race in that sort of terrain and over that kind of distance without making provision for warmer clothes and rain gear.