LOLZLetter 294 | Racing Against the Heat: How Extreme Weather is Changing the Running World
Welcome!
I come to you after a very hot weekend of running. It's October in the desert, and yet we still have temperatures above 105°F. The California coast reached nearly 100°F in some areas, including San Jose. Most people know I had planned to run the Rock 'n' Roll San Jose Half Marathon. I like the course because it's flat, the vibes are always good, and an escape to San Jose is always nice.
Last year, I surprised myself by running a 7-minute pace for the half marathon. I was super excited to run again until I saw it was going to be over 70°F with the race starting at 8 a.m. They moved the start time up by 30 minutes, but I had other things going on and made the decision not to drive 10+ hours round trip to run in warm weather. It was going to be a long weekend, and work has been crazier than ever, so I didn't want to start the week already behind.
Like a normal person, I found myself at the Long Beach 5K and half marathon instead. A very nice woman reached out, saying she was injured, and we could legally transfer bibs, so that’s what I did. Long Beach took precautions and moved the start time up for everyone (plus it was calling for 5 degrees cooler temperatures). The marathon started at 5:30 a.m. and the half marathon at 6:30 a.m.
In summary, I ran well at the 5K and finished as the second female. On Sunday, though, my stomach wreaked havoc during the half marathon, and I ran about 10 minutes slower than I hoped with four (!!) bathroom stops. At one point, I got locked in a concrete bathroom stall because the handle had fallen off the door. It was definitely one for the memories, and not in a good way. But I still had fun.
Weather is causing more and more races to postpone, cancel, or start earlier.
To be clear: Safety should always be a race's first priority. Running a race is not a right; it is a privilege. It's sad I even have to say that, but one look at a race's social media page after a cancellation, and it's honestly atrocious.
But how common is this becoming? More and more races are being canceled due to weather, and it's only getting hotter. Is there going to be a point where summer swallows up the Chicago Marathon, and they can’t host it due to extreme weather? Events that have long been calendar staples are now battling against extreme heat and severe flooding, a trend that experts believe will only worsen in the coming years.
Even when races continue, heat remains a major challenge. The 2022 New York City Marathon went ahead, but runners struggled with record-high temperatures. Not many people raced "well," and many found themselves sick or dealing with heat-related issues.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which tracks global climate trends, has observed an uptick in floods, droughts, storms, and rising temperatures worldwide.
A study published in Nature Scientific Reports suggests that by the late 21st century, fewer cities will be able to host the Olympic marathon during the summer months.
When Should Races Postpone or Cancel?
Because of these dangers, race organizers must consider both the weather and air quality:
Cancel races when the dew point exceeds 80°F at the start.
Cut the distance if the Air Quality Index (AQI) is above 50.
If the AQI goes over 151, the event should be postponed or canceled.
Is This Affecting Other Sports?
Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix (2023): Canceled due to severe flooding in Italy, impacting both the race and local infrastructure.
Rugby World Cup (2019): Two matches were canceled in Japan because of Typhoon Hagibis, one of the most powerful storms to hit the region.
NFL Games: While not usually canceled, several NFL games have been postponed or rescheduled due to weather, such as winter storms or hurricanes. If they played football in the summer, I'm sure we would see many heat-related changes.
What You Can Do:
Stay informed: Monitor event updates, especially in cases of extreme weather.
Plan for flexibility: Be prepared for potential changes to start times, distances, or even outright cancellations. Don’t get mad at race organizers...they’re prioritizing your safety.
Safety first: Focus on hydration, acclimation, and adhering to any weather-related warnings or adjustments. Don’t forget your electrolytes. Change your goals. Take the race out easier than you anticipated.
Would love to hear your thoughts. :-)
What is Keeping Me Entertained?
Bob and Brad Q2 Pro Mini Massage Gun with Heat and Cold Review
Olympian Keely Hodgkinson: ‘Running itself is horrible, let’s be honest!’'
Ran a 6 hour timed event this weekend. The organizers gave participants the choice to start at 7am or 7pm if they were running the 6 or 12 hour events.
Those racing the 24 hour or 100 miler didn’t have an option.
It got very hot at the race. I chose to start at 7am because of other obligations. I could feel the heat and watching others, I could tell the heat was taking its toll.
I ran (more like walked) a personal worst at the Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon on Sept. 8 where at the 5am start it was 74 degrees and 65% humidity. It was a slog, the med tents were inundated and one man died after the race. I have done several Disney races in Florida but none of them were as uncomfortable as this one in California. Hopefully start times will be altered or possibly runDisney can move this week later in the year.