With temperatures reaching 90 degrees on Sunday in Southern California, organizers of the Los Angeles Marathon gave participants a chance to earn a medal without crossing the 26.2-mile finish line. Race organizers had announced that because of the weather, medals would be given out to runners who completed just 18 miles of the course that began at Dodger Stadium and ended in the Century City section of Los Angeles. The McCourt Foundation, which organizes the race, gave participants who were “having a tough day” the chance to take a turn and head to the finish line early.So, is it still a marathon? Jeff Dengate, runner-in-chief for Runner’s World, a Hearst magazine, chimed in on the social media debate about that question. “The marathon is hard,” he wrote. “The result isn’t always the finish line. I’ve DNF’d. wish the result would’ve been different, but that’s what it was. As for the medal: It’s a part of their story.”Dengate quipped, “I ran 18 miles, and all I got was this stupid 26.2 medal and heatstroke.” On Sunday in LA, Nathan Martin won the 41st Los Angeles Marathon in the final stride, becoming the second straight American men’s winner in the race’s closest finish ever.Martin, of Jackson, Michigan, completed the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 11 minutes, 18 seconds, overtaking Michael Kamau of Kenya, who was second in the same time.Kamau didn’t take any fluids during the race and fell at the finish. He was taken away on a stretcher.Martin, 36, is a substitute teacher and a track and cross country coach at Jackson High School. His personal best is 2:10:45 at the 2023 Grandma’s Marathon, where he set a record as the fastest U.S.-born Black marathoner.In the women’s race, Priscah Cherono of Kenya won in 2:25:20. The 45-year-old mother of three lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was 10th in the 5,000 meters at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.Kellyn Taylor of Flagstaff, Arizona, finished second in 2:27:37. Antonina Kwambai of Kenya was third in 2:28:50.The Associated Press contributed to this report
With temperatures reaching 90 degrees on Sunday in Southern California, organizers of the Los Angeles Marathon gave participants a chance to earn a medal without crossing the 26.2-mile finish line.
Race organizers had announced that because of the weather, medals would be given out to runners who completed just 18 miles of the course that began at Dodger Stadium and ended in the Century City section of Los Angeles.
The McCourt Foundation, which organizes the race, gave participants who were “having a tough day” the chance to take a turn and head to the finish line early.
So, is it still a marathon?
Jeff Dengate, runner-in-chief for Runner’s World, a Hearst magazine, chimed in on the social media debate about that question.
“The marathon is hard,” he wrote. “The result isn’t always the finish line. I’ve DNF’d. wish the result would’ve been different, but that’s what it was. As for the medal: It’s a part of their story.”
Dengate quipped, “I ran 18 miles, and all I got was this stupid 26.2 medal and heatstroke.”
On Sunday in LA, Nathan Martin won the 41st Los Angeles Marathon in the final stride, becoming the second straight American men’s winner in the race’s closest finish ever.
Martin, of Jackson, Michigan, completed the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 11 minutes, 18 seconds, overtaking Michael Kamau of Kenya, who was second in the same time.
Kamau didn’t take any fluids during the race and fell at the finish. He was taken away on a stretcher.
Martin, 36, is a substitute teacher and a track and cross country coach at Jackson High School. His personal best is 2:10:45 at the 2023 Grandma’s Marathon, where he set a record as the fastest U.S.-born Black marathoner.
In the women’s race, Priscah Cherono of Kenya won in 2:25:20. The 45-year-old mother of three lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was 10th in the 5,000 meters at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Kellyn Taylor of Flagstaff, Arizona, finished second in 2:27:37. Antonina Kwambai of Kenya was third in 2:28:50.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
