Fans slam ‘pathetic’ LA Marathon organizers for awarding medals to runners who didn’t finish the race
Los Angeles Marathon organizers angered runners this week by deciding to award ‘finisher’ medals to anyone who completed 18 miles of Sunday’s 26.2-mile race.
‘So many times I would’ve loved to be done at 18,’ one critic wrote on X. ‘But then, I wouldn’t have finished a marathon.’
‘That’s ridiculous,’ another added. ‘The race really doesn’t start until mile 20. Best marathon advice I ever got: “Consider it a [20-mile warmup] to the hardest 10k of your life.”‘
One X user identifying himself as ‘Hybrid Athlete Guy’ called the decision ‘pathetic.’
Amid the uproar, race officials from The McCourt Foundation cited safety concerns amid rising temperatures for the decision. Although the professionals started earlier in the morning, with temperatures in the 60s, LA was nearly 20-degrees hotter by the time the amateur men and women were on the course in the mid-morning hours.
‘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,’ read a statement from The McCourt Foundation ahead of the race. ‘You do not need to notify anyone of your decision and can opt to take this route at any time.
Runners make their way along Hollywood Boulevard past the Oscar poster outside the Hollywood & Highland Center during the ASICS Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday
‘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 statement continued. ‘There is no shame in making a smart decision for your body.’
Crucially, the statement noted the option to stop early and still get a medal ‘is available for this year only.’
A spokeswoman for the marathon told Runner’s World prior to the race that weather planning was a central focus for organizers.
‘Our weather conversations have been ongoing… We start actively monitoring it with the LA Fire Department who partners with the National Weather Service 10 days before the race,’ spokeswoman Meg Treat told Runner’s World. ‘This was earlier this week that the team was alerted about the warmer temperatures… [and] we communicated to our runners about how they could have a safe race day.’
As for the decision to put the fork in the road at mile-18, Treat described it as a matter of convenience.
The weather-related issues were expected to impact amateurs more because their race began later in the day when temperatures were expected to spike
‘Mile 18 is directly correlated with where our charity half marathoners make a turn to the finish line before our marathoners proceed… back to the finish line,’ she said. ‘So folks are being directed as a part of those pre-race communications, and as a part of that communication we sent out about preparing for the weather, to look for the charity half-marathon signs if they decide that they want to utilize this option.’
The weather-related issues were expected to impact amateurs more because their race began later in the day when temperatures were expected to spike.
Earlier, with temperatures still in the mid-60s, Kenya’s Priscah Cherono won the women’s race in 2:25:20 while America’s Nathan Martain edged out Michael Kimani Kamau to capture the men’s title in 2:11:18.
To further combat the heat, organizers added 19 aid stations that included water and electrolyte beverages, as well as misting stations along the route from Dodger Stadium to Century City.
