Climate change is having a profound impact on endurance sports, including marathons. A new study by Climate Central has found that rising temperatures are making it increasingly difficult for runners to break records in these events.
The research suggests that the ideal running conditions - with temperatures of 4C for men and 10C for women - will become less likely in 86% of global marathons by 2045. This is due to the fact that warmer weather is becoming more frequent, leading to dehydration risks and other challenges for athletes.
The study's findings have sparked concern among athletes and event organizers, with World Athletics president Sebastian Coe warning that endurance events like the marathon may need to be held separately from competitions at a different time of year in order to protect athletes from unsafe conditions.
"Ironically, it's not just about winning - it's about survival," said Mhairi Maclennan, the fastest British female finisher at last year's London Marathon. "We train day in, day out for years and manage every aspect of our lives to race our best, only for that elusive target to drift further away as ideal temperatures become rarer."
The men's marathon world record has already been reduced by two minutes 22 seconds over the past seven years, with improvement in times widely attributed to new shoe technology. However, Climate Central predicts that optimal running conditions will be less likely in Tokyo and other cities around the world.
"It's not just about records - it's about knowing that our performances could soon be out of reach if conditions keep getting hotter," said Catherine Ndereba, a former women's world record holder.
Ibrahim Hussein, who has won the New York and Boston Marathons, added: "The climate is part of the course now. If we don't protect it, the records of the future and the enjoyment for all become less and less likely."
As temperatures continue to rise, athletes and event organizers must adapt and innovate if they are to thrive in a changing environment.
The research suggests that the ideal running conditions - with temperatures of 4C for men and 10C for women - will become less likely in 86% of global marathons by 2045. This is due to the fact that warmer weather is becoming more frequent, leading to dehydration risks and other challenges for athletes.
The study's findings have sparked concern among athletes and event organizers, with World Athletics president Sebastian Coe warning that endurance events like the marathon may need to be held separately from competitions at a different time of year in order to protect athletes from unsafe conditions.
"Ironically, it's not just about winning - it's about survival," said Mhairi Maclennan, the fastest British female finisher at last year's London Marathon. "We train day in, day out for years and manage every aspect of our lives to race our best, only for that elusive target to drift further away as ideal temperatures become rarer."
The men's marathon world record has already been reduced by two minutes 22 seconds over the past seven years, with improvement in times widely attributed to new shoe technology. However, Climate Central predicts that optimal running conditions will be less likely in Tokyo and other cities around the world.
"It's not just about records - it's about knowing that our performances could soon be out of reach if conditions keep getting hotter," said Catherine Ndereba, a former women's world record holder.
Ibrahim Hussein, who has won the New York and Boston Marathons, added: "The climate is part of the course now. If we don't protect it, the records of the future and the enjoyment for all become less and less likely."
As temperatures continue to rise, athletes and event organizers must adapt and innovate if they are to thrive in a changing environment.
I mean, what's next? Are we gonna have to start wearing SPF 1000 sunscreen on the track just to avoid melting into puddles of sweat? 
It's like, I get it, climate change is no joke, but come on, can't we just, like, adapt or something? 
Don't even get me started on shoe technology - if new shoes are what's giving guys a 2:22 second edge over the competition, that's cool, but let's not forget there are actual humans involved who might actually have to deal with heat exhaustion... 
. Can you imagine training for years just to have the conditions change and make it harder to even finish the race? It's not just about winning or breaking records, it's about their safety and well-being 
. I know how hard they train, and to think that all that hard work could be undone by something as simple as temperature 
. We need to support them and find ways to make these events safer and more manageable for them. This is not just about sports, it's about the impact on our health and wellbeing as well 
.
! Can you believe that climate change is making it SO HARD for runners to even break records?! 
And the fact that athletes like Mhairi and Catherine are saying it's not just about winning but survival... that's so cool! 
It's like, we're pushing the limits of human endurance and innovation. And I think, even though conditions might become less ideal for marathons, we'll find ways to make it work. Like, maybe more events will be held in cooler cities or during different times of year? 
The idea that athletes could be racing in hotter temperatures is crazy! But who knows, maybe that's the future of running and we just need to adapt? 
The science is clear: warmer temps are a major issue for endurance sports. And it's not just about personal comfort - dehydration risks and heat exhaustion are very real concerns for athletes. We need to be thinking about climate change and its impact on our bodies, you know? 
), I can only imagine how tough it must be to train for these events when the conditions are getting so unpredictable. Maybe we'll see more virtual marathons or running festivals that take place at cooler times of year? 
or can the world athletics ppl come up with some sort of solution, like running in the morning/ evening when its cooler? 
. i mean, think about it - if the ideal running conditions are becoming less likely in 86% of global marathons by 2045... that's like, a major obstacle 
. we need to get creative and find ways to mitigate these effects, whether it's through new technology or innovative event formats 
. can't wait to see what the future holds for endurance sports!
like, what's gonna happen to these marathons? I know the world record is being broken faster and all that but it's also like, people's health is at risk or something. 86% of marathons are gonna be affected by climate change... that's crazy! 
I mean, we're all already hearing about how climate change is affecting everyone, so why should athletes be any different? 
