Climate Change Threatens Marathon Records As Rising Temperatures Impact Global Races

Marathon runners competing under hot conditions during a global race affected by rising temperatures

Climate Change Threatens Marathon Records As Rising Temperatures Impact Global Races

Breaking marathon records may soon become a distant dream — and climate change is to blame.

A new study by US-based non-profit Climate Central has revealed that rising global temperatures are increasingly making it “nearly impossible” for runners to achieve record-breaking times in major marathons.

According to the report, 86% of 221 global marathons are expected to lose their optimal running conditions — defined as 4°C for men and 10°C for women — by the year 2045.

Hotter Races, Tougher Runs

From Berlin to London and Tokyo, marathon events have recently seen unusually high temperatures. The Berlin Marathon, held in September, clocked an unseasonal 24°C, while both Tokyo and London experienced temperatures above 20°C during their spring races.

These heat spikes don’t just make running uncomfortable — they directly affect performance and health. World Athletics president Sebastian Coe has even suggested that endurance events like marathons might need to be held at different times of the year to protect athletes from unsafe heat levels.

Athletes Feeling The Heat

Mhairi Maclennan, Britain’s fastest female finisher at the 2024 London Marathon, shared how rising temperatures are crushing athletes’ hopes:

“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.”

She added that climate change is not just making races tougher — it’s making record-breaking nearly impossible.

Even legendary marathoners are voicing concern. Catherine Ndereba, a former women’s world record holder, said:

“Climate change has altered the marathon. Dehydration is a real risk, and simple miscalculations can end a race before it begins. Every step now carries a message — that if we don’t take care of our planet, even our strongest strides will fall short.”

Ibrahim Hussein, a past winner of the New York and Boston Marathons, put it simply:

“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.”

Tokyo: From Ideal To Impossible

The report notes that Tokyo currently offers the best odds for ideal marathon temperatures for elite male runners — about 69% of the time. But it also faces the steepest decline by 2045, highlighting how climate patterns are shifting even in regions once considered safe for endurance events.

The Bigger Picture

The men’s marathon world record — 2 hours, 35 seconds, set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago (2023) — and Ruth Chepngetich’s women’s record (set in Chicago, 2024) both came under near-perfect weather conditions. But those conditions are becoming rarer.

While technology — from aerodynamic shoes to performance wear — has driven record-breaking progress over the years, no innovation can outpace climate change if temperatures continue to climb.

The Final Stretch

Climate change isn’t just reshaping the environment — it’s reshaping sports. If global temperatures keep rising, future marathons may not just challenge endurance; they may challenge possibility itself.

As Ndereba poignantly noted: “If we don’t take care of our planet, even our strongest strides will fall short.”

Published By: Sports Market International
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Abdul Noah Ocholi