According to a study conducted by Climate Central, a US-based organization, rising global temperatures are making it increasingly difficult to break records in sports, particularly in marathon running.
In this discipline, where countries like Botswana, Kenya, and Ethiopia often dominate, failing to take proper measures could lead to negative consequences for both the sport and the athletes.
The research predicts that by 2045, 86% of 221 global marathons will experience running temperatures higher than the optimal range. Even this year, runners at the Berlin Marathon competed in 24°C heat in September. The situation was no different in Tokyo and London, where both marathons were held in temperatures above 20°C in March and April.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe stated last month that marathons might need to be rescheduled to different times of the year to protect athletes’ safety.
Despite the rising temperatures, the men’s marathon world record has improved by 2 minutes and 22 seconds over the past seven years. However, experts believe this progress is due to advancements in shoe technology rather than favorable weather conditions.
Former women’s world record holder Catherine Ndereba summarized the effects of climate change as follows:
“Climate change has altered the marathon. Dehydration is a real risk, and a simple miscalculation can end a race before it begins. Every step now carries a message — if we don’t take care of our planet, even our strongest strides will fall short.”