Extreme heat forced the cancellation of the Twin Cities marathon and another race in Minnesota on Sunday, leaving about 20,000 runners in the lurch hours before they were set to start.
A “black flag” alert issued Sunday morning prompted the cancelation, said Twin Cities in Motion, the organizers. Besides the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, which stretches between St. Paul and Minneapolis, the accompanying TC 10 Mile race was canceled. About 8,000 runners were scheduled to compete in the smaller competition and 12,000 more in the big one. Thousands of spectators had also come out to line the streets in both cities, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.
Predictions had been threatening throughout the week, and additional safety precautions were already in place. But a predicted high of 88 degrees for Sunday, with the potential to top 90, put race conditions into the danger zone.
“Today’s 10 mile and marathon races are cancelled due to EAS Black Flag weather conditions — Extreme and Dangerous Conditions,” the organizers said on the race’s website. “The latest weather forecast update projects record-setting heat conditions that do not allow a safe event for runners, supporters and volunteers.”
Runners had already started lining up, and some of them told the Star Tribune that they planned to run anyway, though they also understood the need to cancel.
National Weather Service meteorologist Caleb Grunzke told the paper that the combination of high heat, humidity and direct sunlight would make it extremely difficult for people’s bodies to cool down while undertaking such strenuous activity.
“You run the risk of runners overheating, collapsing and medical attention not getting to them quickly enough,” he told the Star Tribune.
“It saddens Twin Cities In Motion and our partners to be unable to hold the races that runners have been pointing toward for months, but the safety of participants and the community will always be our primary concern,” the race organizers said. “Extreme heat conditions can tax both runners and our emergency medical response systems. We ask the entire running community to come together for the safety of everyone involved.”
With News Wire Services
Theresa Braine
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