How to Cope with High Temperature and Humidity – The Guidelines for Marathon Organizers DOI:

Abstract

Background and Aim: With the rapid development of marathon sports, the host cities of marathon events have expanded from major cities in developed countries to various regions around the world, including many tropical towns and areas that hold marathon races during hot seasons. High temperatures and humidity pose significant threats to athletes' performance and health, increasing the risk of Exertional heat-related illness (EHRI). Therefore, event organizers face the great challenge of safely conducting marathon races under such conditions. Global sports organizations have proposed detailed plans and suggestions for medical services during marathon competitions, but these experiences are scattered across different categories of research, and there are no specific articles to guide organizers on how to deal with such an environment. This study aims to construct a set of guidelines for managing marathon competitions under high temperatures and humidity.

Materials and Methods: This study was summarized into a draft guideline through a literature review, including sports industry guidelines and other relevant research. More than 20 experts from China participated in two rounds of the Delphi method. These experts include athletes with more than 50 marathon race experience, coaches with more than 10 years of experience, medical personnel with more than 10 years of service experience, and organizers with more than 20 marathon race organization experience.

Results: The guidelines describe in detail, from 4 major aspects and six stages, a total of 37 points, what marathon organizers should do when dealing with high temperature and high humidity environments.

Conclusion: The contribution of this study lies in providing a systematic approach to help event organizers better manage marathon competitions under high temperatures and humidity, ensuring the health and safety of athletes. Through the Delphi method and expert reviews, the study ensures the scientific and practical nature of the guidelines, offering valuable references for marathon event organizers worldwide.