LA Marathon let nearly 1,000 runners finish early — still got medals

Nearly 1,000 runners were awarded medals after finishing the Los Angeles Marathon early instead of completing the entire route.

About 4.5% of participants chose the shorter option, according to data released by The McCourt Foundation, the organizer of the LA Marathon.

Out of 23,964 total runners, 985 opted for the “Mile 18 Finish” and still received a medal, while 22,979 completed the full 26.2-mile course.

This option was only available in 2026 due to hot weather. The marathon took place on March 8.

First place in the 18-mile race was claimed by Daniel Burns, who finished in 2:17:26 (7:36 per mile). Noora Viljanmaa placed second with a time of 2:24:06 (7:58 per mile), followed by Wenyu Yang in third at 2:28:41.

As temperatures in LA hit 88F, organizers gave runners the option to end their race early. “If you’re having a tough day and want to end your race before [mile] 26.2, you can choose to take the turn at Mile 18 and head into the finish line early,” The McCourt Foundation said in a statement.

“You do not need to notify anyone of your decision and can opt to take this route at any time,” the foundation added.

The organization said the change was made shortly before race day and emphasized safety, noting, “there is no shame in making a smart decision for your body.”

Runners who chose the shorter route were still rewarded.

“You will still receive your finisher medal and any challenge medal you’ve earned, and your official race results will be updated at a later date to reflect your time and mileage,” the foundation said.

In the full marathon, Nathan Martin of Michigan won the men’s professional race, edging Kenya’s Michael Kamau by just 0.01 seconds with a time of 2:11:16.50—the closest finish in the event’s history.

Race-day conditions were hot, with a forecast high of 89°F, a low of 60°F, and a 0% chance of rain.

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