The LA Marathon is waking up as it allows shortcuts for struggling runners

The Los Angeles Marathon has two lines this year – and people aren’t happy about it.

With temperatures expected to reach over 80 degrees, organizers say runners can finish their race early at the 18th mile mark and still receive their medal if they have a “hard day.”

“If you’re having a rough day and want to finish your race before 26.2, you can choose to turn around at Mile 18 and get to the finish line early,” the McCourt Foundation announced on its website Friday.

“You don’t have to inform anyone of your decision and you can choose to take this route at any time.”

The neurological disease charity foundation, two days before the 26.2-mile race, said the option was only available this year, adding that “there is no shame in making an informed decision about your body.”

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

But people on social media disagree.

“People who don’t finish the race can identify as people who finish the race,” wrote Lisa Cusack, the GOP’s state chair on X.

“Next thing you know, they’ll be talking about how brave the people who stop at 18 miles are compared to those who finish, because it takes a great person to stop and accept that emotional and mental stress of realizing when you need to stop,” said another person.

The move is the first of its kind in the race, which has been the city’s biggest event since it hosted the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Previous races have been canceled or moved earlier or later due to hot and humid conditions – causing online trolling.

“Can I submit my marathon completion request by mail and just send them my medal after that?” one X user wrote.

The LA Marathon has been considering the weather throughout its planning, according to Treat Public Relations, a PR firm that spoke to Runner’s World.

“Our weather discussions have been ongoing … We start actively monitoring it with the LA Fire Department, which partners with the National Weather Service, ten days before the race,” Treat told Runner’s World.

“Earlier this week the team was informed about the warm temperatures … and we communicated with our runners about how they can have a safe race day.”

People also pointed out that although “everyone aims to be safe,” the decision to award the medal does not make sense.

“If you don’t finish because it’s too hot, nobody cares and that’s totally fine. But you can’t get a medal for running less than a marathon,” one user wrote on X.

With more than 27,000 registered participants, the LA Marathon – known as the “Stadium to the Stars” – is a 26.2-mile course that starts at Dodger Stadium.

The race goes through Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Echo Park, Hollywood, and Beverly Hills before ending in Century City on Santa Monica Boulevard at the Avenue of the Stars.

Runners who choose an early finish line may do so without notifying officials and may enter “at any time.”

The exit is “just past Mile 18 on Santa Monica Blvd,” where runners are directed by Charity Half Finish / Charity Half Split signs on the left side of the road, as well as cones, barriers, and other course controls that direct runners to the finish line.

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