LA Marathon Offers Finisher Medals for 18-Mile Run Due to Heat

Race organizers adjusted the course due to 90-degree temperatures on race day.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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With temperatures reaching 90 degrees on Sunday in Southern California, organizers of the Los Angeles Marathon gave participants a chance to earn a finisher medal by completing just 18 miles of the 26.2-mile course. The McCourt Foundation, which organizes the race, made the decision to allow runners "having a tough day" to take a turn and head to the finish line early.

Why it matters

The decision to offer finisher medals for a shortened course sparked debate about whether it still qualifies as a true marathon. However, the organizers aimed to prioritize runner safety and well-being given the extreme heat conditions on race day.

The details

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.

  • The 41st Los Angeles Marathon took place on Sunday, March 9, 2026.
  • Temperatures reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit on race day.

The players

The McCourt Foundation

The organization that organizes the Los Angeles Marathon.

Jeff Dengate

Runner-in-chief for Runner's World magazine, who commented on the social media debate about whether the shortened course still qualifies as a marathon.

Nathan Martin

The winner of the 41st Los Angeles Marathon, completing the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 18 seconds.

Priscah Cherono

The winner of the women's race, completing the course in 2 hours, 25 minutes, and 20 seconds. She is a 45-year-old mother of three who lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and was previously a 5,000-meter runner in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“The marathon is hard. 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.”

— Jeff Dengate, Runner-in-chief, Runner's World (Twitter)

“I ran 18 miles, and all I got was this stupid 26.2 medal and heatstroke.”

— Jeff Dengate, Runner-in-chief, Runner's World (Twitter)

What’s next

The McCourt Foundation will review the decision to offer finisher medals for the shortened course and consider adjustments for future LA Marathons to balance runner safety and the integrity of the full marathon distance.

The takeaway

The LA Marathon's decision to offer finisher medals for an 18-mile course due to extreme heat conditions sparked debate about the definition of a true marathon, but ultimately prioritized runner safety and well-being in the face of challenging weather on race day.