Race Against the Sun: Tokyo World Championships Adjusts Start Times to Protect Athletes from Scorching Heat

Tokyo, a city celebrated for its vibrant energy and cutting-edge modernity, also presents a formidable adversary to elite athletes: its notorious, unforgiving heat and humidity. As the countdown begins for the World Athletics Road Running Championships in October 2025, organizers are taking decisive action, moving race start times 30 minutes earlier across key events to shield competitors from the scorching conditions.

This proactive adjustment, confirmed by World Athletics, will see the men's and women's elite half marathon races, along with the accompanying mass participation event, kick off at the break of dawn.

The decision underscores a paramount commitment to athlete welfare, a lesson hard-learned from previous major sporting events held in the Japanese capital.

The specter of Tokyo's extreme weather looms large in the memory of the sporting world. During the rescheduled 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the marathons and race walks were famously relocated more than 800km north to Sapporo in a desperate bid to escape the metropolitan inferno.

Despite that move, athletes still grappled with demanding conditions, highlighting the persistent challenge posed by Japan's late summer and early autumn climate.

Jon Ridgeon, CEO of World Athletics, articulated the rationale behind the pre-emptive measures, stating, "The welfare of our athletes, participants, and volunteers is always at the forefront of our minds.

Adjusting the start times is a necessary and responsible step to ensure that everyone can compete and participate safely and to the best of their abilities, minimizing exposure to the most intense heat of the day." This commitment extends beyond the World Athletics event, with the Tokyo 2025 Paralympic Games marathon also slated for an earlier start, further cementing a unified approach to athlete safety.

The World Athletics Road Running Championships promise a thrilling spectacle, bringing together the world’s best long-distance runners to compete for global titles.

However, the pursuit of glory must always be tempered with a pragmatic recognition of environmental realities. By adjusting the schedule, organizers are not just changing a clock; they are sending a powerful message that athletic achievement and human health are inextricably linked, especially when pushing the boundaries of endurance in challenging environments.

This strategic shift ensures that the focus remains firmly on the breathtaking performances of the athletes, rather than on the relentless battle against the elements.