Heat To Shorten Red, White & Boom Half Marathon

ST. PAUL, MINN. (WCCO) – The Twin Cities Red, White and Boom Half Marathon on July 4 has been shortened to a five mile course due to the forecasted dangerously high temperatures and humidity.

According to event organizers Twin Cities In Motion (TCM), race officials have changed the race distance in accordance with the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines.

The temperature at the 6:30 a.m. start time is projected to be 77 degrees with 76 percent humidity. With the forecasted high temperature of 96 degrees, a shorter course will allow the runners to complete the course before temperatures become too dangerous.

Virginia Brophy Achman, executive director of Twin Cities In Motion, says runner safety is paramount in this decision.

"Of course citizen safety is our utmost concern. In addition to the health and safety of our runners, we also want to avoid taxing the Twin Cities' EMS system or taking away resources from the community at large that is also taking measures to keep residents safe in this excessive heat," she said.

Although the course will be abbreviated, runners will still enjoy some beautiful sights along the way. The race will start near the original location by Father Hennepin Bluffs Park, and will finish along the Stone Arch Bridge.

Whether originally registered for the half marathon of the 2-person rally, all participants will follow the same 5-mile course. The relay component has been canceled.

The course will close after one hour and 20 minutes, allowing for a 16-minute mile maximum pace. TCM will provide a SAG bus to follow runners, and pick up participants who are unable to finish in time.

Runners will be notified by email of course changes, and all announcements will be posted on TCM's website, Facebook page, and @tcmarathon on Twitter.

If necessary, the Hot Dam 5k will be canceled by noon if weather becomes a serious health issue. If the heat index reaches 105 degrees, runners under age 18 will not be allowed to participate, and will receive full refunds per MPRB's policy.

All other Minneapolis Red, White and Boom events will go on as scheduled.

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