--- title: "US marathons shift dates and rules as climate change raises race-day heat" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/climate/us-marathons-shift-dates-and-rules-as-climate-change-raises-race-day-heat" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-marathons-shift-dates-and-rules-as-climate-change-raises-race-day-heat" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/climate/us-marathons-shift-dates-and-rules-as-climate-change-raises-race-day-heat.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/us-marathons-shift-dates-and-rules-as-climate-change-raises-race-day-heat" category: "Climate" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-13T17:25:34.731Z" source_reported: "2026-08-13T13:22:23.000Z" updated: "2026-08-13T17:25:34.731Z" trust_score: 77 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-13T17:15:07.980272+00:00" --- # US marathons shift dates and rules as climate change raises race-day heat *Organisers move start times, offer shorter courses and delay events to avoid dangerous temperatures for runners* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 77 of 100, higher is better. Two independent full reports corroborate key facts. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Full reports quote affected parties and name specifics. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Headline matches body; no sensationalism detected. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The Twin Cities Marathon will move its 2027 race from the first Sunday in October to later in the month after record heat forced its 2023 cancellation. - Organisers of other marathons, including in Sioux Falls, Los Angeles and Little Rock, have already shifted dates or start times to avoid high temperatures. - Climate Central research predicts that by 2045, 46 of 51 major US marathons will have fewer days with optimal running conditions in the low 40s Fahrenheit. - No right-rated outlet in the sample below carried this story, though 17 left- and centre-rated outlets did. Paul Grinvalds, a 68-year-old runner from West Des Moines, Iowa, has completed 114 marathons across all 50 US states. He told the Associated Press that temperatures above 60°F (15.5°C) make races difficult, and that runners often push themselves despite the risks. His experience reflects broader concerns among marathon organisers as climate change drives up temperatures. The Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis-St. Paul will move its 2027 race from the first Sunday in October to later in the month. The decision follows the 2023 cancellation due to record heat and humidity, and a 2025 race that started near 70°F (21°C). Race director Ed Whetham called the 2023 cancellation "devastating" and said organisers now prefer a 39°F (4°C) start over a 70°F one. Other marathons have made similar changes. The Sioux Falls Marathon moved its 2025 race from August to September after cancelling in 2024 due to heat. The Air Force Marathon in Dayton, Ohio, the Little Rock Marathon in Arkansas and the Long Beach Marathon in California have all moved start times earlier to avoid high temperatures. In Los Angeles, organisers gave runners the option to stop after 18 miles and still receive a finishers medal, with fewer than 5% taking the offer. Climate Central, a research group, studied 221 marathons and found that by 2045, 46 of 51 major US races will have fewer days with optimal running conditions in the low 40s Fahrenheit (6-7°C). The Earth had its hottest year on record in 2024, and the World Meteorological Organization forecasts that global temperatures will likely rise by more than 1.5°C (2.7°F) above pre-industrial levels between 2025 and 2030. ## What the coverage left out No right-rated outlet in the sample below carried this story. None of the centre-rated digests mentioned the World Meteorological Organization’s projection that global temperatures will likely rise by more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by 2030, or named the burning of coal and gasoline as the primary cause of climate change. The left-rated digests did not include the specific start times that marathons like the Air Force Marathon and Little Rock Marathon have moved to. ## Who covered it Shares of the 17 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 41% (7) - Centre: 59% (10) - Right: 0% (0) 0 of 17 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-13T17:15:07.980272+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-13T17:30:43.869Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The seven left-rated digests and two full reports led on the link between climate change and marathon safety. The Associated Press and Washington Top News, whose full reports were reprinted by left-rated outlets, both quoted Andy Pershing of Climate Central: "The ability to go outside, to exercise, to take advantage of your human body and being healthy, that’s something that’s getting challenged by climate change." - The left-rated digests carried the forecast that 46 of 51 US marathons will have fewer optimal running days by 2045. They also included the World Meteorological Organization’s projection that global temperatures will likely rise by more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by 2030. The full reports named the burning of coal and gasoline as the primary cause of climate change. - The Associated Press report quoted Jessica Murfree of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, who said the concern extends beyond marathons to whether people can exercise outdoors at all on increasingly warm days. The left-rated digests carried her statement that organisers of marathons, bicycle races and other sports must adopt safety measures as climate change makes weather hotter and more volatile. ### Centre - The ten centre-rated digests led on the operational changes marathons are making. They all mentioned the Twin Cities Marathon’s decision to move its 2027 race to later in October, and several noted that other races have shifted dates or start times. The digests from The Northern Virginia Daily, Yuma Sun and goSkagit included the Los Angeles Marathon’s option for runners to stop after 18 miles. - The centre-rated digests carried the 2023 cancellation of the Twin Cities Marathon due to record heat and humidity, and the 2025 race’s start near 70°F (21°C). They also mentioned the Sioux Falls Marathon’s move from August to September after its 2024 cancellation. The Washington Top News full report, reprinted by centre-rated outlets, included the Climate Central forecast that 46 of 51 US marathons will have fewer optimal running days by 2045. - None of the centre-rated digests mentioned the World Meteorological Organization’s projection that global temperatures will likely rise by more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by 2030. None named the burning of coal and gasoline as the primary cause of climate change, and none quoted Jessica Murfree’s statement about the broader impact on outdoor exercise. ### Right No separate framing summary. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 13 - unknown: 3 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/warming-climate-is-forcing-marathons-to-consider-changes-to-keep-runners-cool) — The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool - [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/lifestyle/2026/08/the-warming-climate-is-forcing-marathons-to-consider-changes-to-keep-runners-cool) — The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/the-warming-climate-is-forcing-marathons-to-consider-changes-to-keep-runners-cool/article_cb979a18-141e-59d5-bb04-aab59a4e8de0.html) — The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool - [Medicine Hat News](https://medicinehatnews.com/sports/national-sports/2026/08/13/the-warming-climate-is-forcing-marathons-to-consider-changes-to-keep-runners-cool) — The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool - [Newsday](https://newsday.com/lifestyle/climate-marathons-running-heat-j25329) — The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/iowa-des-moines-earth-west-des-moines-southern-california-b3032538.html) — The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/climate-marathons-running-heat-3f162360487d57bf55ba25de24320a46) — The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool - [The Independent Online](https://dailyindependent.com/national/the-warming-climate-is-forcing-marathons-to-consider-changes-to-keep-runners-cool/article_bb80f956-8815-5b2f-9119-0727121a5284.html) — The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool - [Yankton Press & Dakotan](https://yankton.net/national_sports/article_53026310-5f0f-591e-a1a2-a9c202e4dd94.html) — The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool - [The Northern Virginia Daily](https://nvdaily.com/associated_press_national/the-warming-climate-is-forcing-marathons-to-consider-changes-to-keep-runners-cool/article_914f1392-96b0-5760-bcfd-b6953f122e5c.html) — The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool - [Yuma Sun](https://yumasun.com/sports/national_sports/the-warming-climate-is-forcing-marathons-to-consider-changes-to-keep-runners-cool/article_aeab1756-882e-5a2e-ac5c-334c82181030.html) — The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool - [goSkagit](https://goskagit.com/news/nation/the-warming-climate-is-forcing-marathons-to-consider-changes-to-keep-runners-cool/article_12453fc4-3c91-5a5d-98c8-b4a0494e2738.html) — The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool - [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/health/2026/08/13/the-warming-climate-is-forcing-marathons-to-consider-changes-to-keep-runners-cool) — The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool - [News 4 JAX](https://news4jax.com/health/2026/08/13/the-warming-climate-is-forcing-marathons-to-consider-changes-to-keep-runners-cool) — The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool - [Click on Detroit](https://clickondetroit.com/health/2026/08/13/the-warming-climate-is-forcing-marathons-to-consider-changes-to-keep-runners-cool) — The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool - [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/life/the-warming-climate-is-forcing-marathons-to-consider-changes-to-keep-runners-cool/article_8937000e-58bd-50c2-9c22-58c1ffb54205.html) — The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/2026/08/13/the-warming-climate-is-forcing-marathons-to-consider-changes-to-keep-runners-cool) — The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool ## Questions **Why is the Twin Cities Marathon moving its 2027 race to later in October?** The Twin Cities Marathon is moving its 2027 race to later in October after record heat and humidity forced its 2023 cancellation. The 2025 race started near 70°F (21°C), which organisers said was too warm for runners. The decision follows an analysis showing later dates offer a greater chance of cooler conditions. **What changes have other US marathons made to deal with rising temperatures?** Other US marathons have shifted dates, moved start times earlier or offered shorter courses. The Sioux Falls Marathon moved from August to September after cancelling in 2024 due to heat. The Los Angeles Marathon gave runners the option to stop after 18 miles and still receive a finishers medal. **How will climate change affect marathons in the future?** Climate Central research predicts that by 2045, 46 of 51 major US marathons will have fewer days with optimal running conditions in the low 40s Fahrenheit (6-7°C). The Earth had its hottest year on record in 2024, and global temperatures are expected to keep rising. **Which outlets carried this story and which did not?** Seventeen left- and centre-rated outlets carried this story, including the Associated Press, Washington Top News and The Seattle Times. No right-rated outlet in the sample below ran the story, though the sample includes only the reports printed above. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/climate/us-marathons-shift-dates-and-rules-as-climate-change-raises-race-day-heat. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "US marathons shift dates and rules as climate change raises race-day heat", https://mediabias.news/climate/us-marathons-shift-dates-and-rules-as-climate-change-raises-race-day-heat