World Athletics Championships adjusts marathon start times amid Tokyo heatwave

Athletes running in a past Tokyo Marathon. (Photo: Tokyo Marathon)

By Amina Wako
Thursday, September 11, 2025

The decision, made public on Thursday, comes after temperatures in the Japanese capital reached 33°C this week.

Organisers of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo have announced changes to the start times of the marathon and 35km race walk events, moving them half an hour earlier in response to unseasonably high temperatures.

The championships will open with the men’s and women’s race walks at 7.30 am local time on Saturday, September 13.

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The women’s marathon will follow on Sunday, September 14, with the men’s marathon scheduled for Monday, September 15.

The decision, made public on Thursday, comes after temperatures in the Japanese capital reached 33°C this week.

With forecasts indicating the heatwave will continue into next week, organisers said the safety of athletes could not be compromised.

A joint statement from World Athletics and local organisers noted that the races had initially been set for 8:00 am to take into account operational needs and spectator convenience. However, “elevated heat conditions” forced the revision.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, speaking in Tokyo on Thursday, acknowledged that high temperatures would be a significant challenge for competitors.

Concerns about heat have dogged major athletics events in recent years. At the 2019 World Championships in Doha, marathons were run at midnight, while the 2021 Tokyo Olympic marathons and walks were moved north to the cooler city of Sapporo. This time, the road events remain in Tokyo, where September temperatures have continued to reflect midsummer extremes.

Japan has endured its hottest summer since records began in 1898. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported average temperatures from June to August were 2.36°C above the long-term standard. In August alone, more than 3,300 people in Tokyo required hospital treatment for heatstroke, according to the city’s fire department.

Organisers have unveiled extensive safety measures. Along the marathon route, 185 water stations will be installed — more than had been planned during the Tokyo Olympic Games. Cooling tents will be placed around the stadium and training venues, using fabric designed to lower temperatures.

In addition, volunteers and staff will wear devices that monitor body temperature and issue warnings if it rises to dangerous levels. First aid teams will be on constant patrol in spectator stands and around the course.

Despite the adjustments to the road events, start times for competitions held inside the stadium will not change over the first three days.