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Posted on 03/08/2026 8:22:41 PM PDT by grundle
With forecasts predicting a high of 84 degrees on Sunday, Los Angeles Marathon organizers will offer medals to runners who complete 18 miles.
"If you're having a tough day and want to end your race before 26.2, you can choose to take the turn at Mile 18 and head into the finish line early," the McCourt Foundation, which organizes the race, wrote on its website.
The McCourt Foundation said runners do not need to tell anyone about their decision and just take a detour. Organizers told racers to look for the Charity Half Finish signage on the left side of the road, just past mile 18 on Santa Monica Boulevard.
"You will still receive your finisher medal and any challenge medal you've earned, and your official race results will be updated at a later date to reflect your time and mileage," the McCourt Foundation wrote. "There is no shame in making a smart decision for your body."
Organizers said this option will only be available this year.
If runners need to drop out of the marathon at any point, organizers urged them to report to the nearest medical or aid station. Shuttles will pick people up, starting at the mile 7 water station, all the way through mile 23. The vans will be at the medical station at even mile markers, and aid stations will be at the odd mile markers.
"You've already accomplished something remarkable just by getting to the start line," the McCourt Foundation wrote. "No matter how many miles you complete on race day, you should be proud of what you've done."
The marathon will kick off at Dodger Stadium at 7 a.m. and end at Santa Monica Boulevard and the Avenue of Stars in Century City.
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And now the ensh!tification of the LA Marathon.
This HAS to be a joke.
and a juice box?
...and they will make your time for the 18 mile run your OFFICIAL TIME for the marathon (or at least let you claim that).
The participation trophy marathon???!
What’s next? A blue ribbon for showing up at the start line?
But what about the people that only made it 6 miles? It is not fair. :-)
I had to double check to make sure this was not the Bee
since the shortcutters will be awarded the same medals presented to legitimate finishers, the only rational response to this nonsense is for ALL runners to take the shortcut!
We have ghost runners and automatic intentional walks.
Sport is dead.
Sad.
———————
Then switch over to the Sometimes Annual Richard Pryor Invitational 0.01k Fun Run.
“It’s like your head is on fire.”
Horse shoes, hand grenades, and California marathons.
HDMF puzzies!
Go tell the Greeks yas can’t run dah hol t:ing!
Ahm sho d’at d:ey would toss y’all a bag of dung as a prize.
And the winner is... Rosie Ruiz!
The other problem we have is when the organisers cut off the course at “elite” times because of Wet Globe Bulb Temperature rules. They feared a 2007 Chicago Marathon fiasco (when the WGBT was too hot) where after 210 minutes (3:30 into the race), they just stopped the race entirely and short-cutted all runners to Grant Park. There was a 44km race in Wales last year where the WGBT reached “no-go” temperature where officials ended the race on the spot, let runners finish the last checkpoint the leaders crossed, and ended the race. All Xterra Trail Championship points were based on point of interruption. They’ve also given medals to runners who did NOT finish the Pikes Peak Marathon one year when nobody finished as officials stopped the race early and short-cutted all runners because of WGBT rules.
Wet Globe Bulb Temperature - an official World Athletics article.
“After the measurement of the heat stress, International Federations (IFs) apply different mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of exertional heat illness. For example, events are often scheduled during cooler morning or evening hours (e.g. athletics, triathlon, rowing) and periods of rest are increased for intermittent sports (e.g. field hockey, football, tennis). For continuous activities, additional hydration stations (e.g. athletics, triathlon, cycling) or reducing course distance (e.g. triathlon, equestrian) can be implemented. On-site, providing cool areas is recommended by most IFs, including air-conditioned rooms or tents for shade, along with the supply of ice, cold drinks, water-soaked towels, and fans. As a last resort, when heat stress is too critical, IFs may decide to cancel and reschedule the event (e.g. triathlon, marathon swimming, tennis). (NOTE — we saw the cancellation outright of the 2023 Twin Cities Marathon for heat stress)
Original British Journals of Sports Medicine article:
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/58/15/860
The 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo had numerous adjustments for heat. After the 2019 World Athletics Championship in Qatar suffered through controversy with an October race in 85 degree heat with a MIDNIGHT start, World Athletics moved the 2021 Olympic Marathon (originally set for Tokyo) to Sapporo. For reference, the Tokyo Marathon was run March 1 this year to ensure heat would not be an issue.
World Athletics would never approve a 85 degree ‘masses’ marathon.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/articles/cder99yzyx8o
World Athletics can set a “no-go” and a “cut short” rule if weather becomes an issue.
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