The Blue Ridge Marathon is dedicated to ensuring the safety of all participants, volunteers, and spectators. We race rain or shine, but race officials continuously monitor conditions — including extreme heat — and will act decisively if the course becomes unsafe. Here’s what you need to know.

Weather Policy

Race officials may cancel, delay, or modify the event in the case of extreme weather or other conditions that affect the safety and health of participants. This includes both severe storms and dangerous heat. The race director and medical director, in consultation with law enforcement, fire/EMS, National Park Service, and other officials, will monitor conditions and make any necessary decisions.

Heat policy: Race officials monitor the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), a heat stress index that accounts for temperature, humidity, sun, and wind. If WBGT reaches a threshold that poses unacceptable risk to participants, officials may modify the course, adjust cutoff times, or cancel the event. Details on our heat monitoring standards are posted on this page and will be communicated through the race app, Facebook, and Instagram.

Storm/delay policy: The race start can be delayed for a maximum of one hour. If severe weather hasn’t cleared within one hour, officials will make a decision to further delay and/or modify the course, or the race may be canceled.

Communication

During the race, communication about the race status will be in the form of the Event Alert System at aid stations, staff vehicles, and the Blue Ridge Marathon race app. Updates will also be sent out on Blue Ridge Marathon Facebook and Instagram accounts to keep friends and family informed.

Note: The Event Alert System flags are specific to severe storm and lightning conditions. In the event of extreme heat, race officials will communicate conditions and any recommended actions verbally through aid station captains and via the race app, Facebook, and Instagram.

• The Event Alert System pictured here will be posted at each aid station with color-coordinated flags indicating the real-time alert level for the event.
  • • Green flag – continue running, conditions are good.
    • Yellow flag – continue running, but be alert. Conditions are elevated — heat or weather may worsen. Increase hydration, slow your pace, and monitor how you feel.
    • Black flag – the course is closed. Follow race officials’ instructions immediately. In a heat event, this means conditions have reached a dangerous level; get to the nearest aid station. In a storm event, shelter in place at the nearest designated location.
  • The event alert system flags address both storm and extreme heat conditions. For storm-specific shelter protocols, see the section below.

• Heat conditions on course:
  If you are running and conditions deteriorate due to heat:
  • Slow down immediately and run by effort, not pace.
  • Drink at every aid station and continue to consume electrolytes either through energy drink or gels/food.
  • Watch for signs of heat exhaustion: dizziness, nausea, heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, headache…
  • Watch for signs of heat stroke: confusion, disorientation, hot/dry skin, loss off consciousness – this is a medical emergency, call 911.
  • If you or a fellow runner experience any of these symptoms, go to the nearest aid station immediately or call 911.
  • If you need to withdraw, tell the aid station captain and a shuttle will return you to the finish area.
• If a shelter in place is called:
  The following shelter-in-place protocols apply specifically to severe storm or lightning events, not heat situations.
  • Zone Captains will notify marshals at each location. Volunteers will be asked to shelter in their cars or nearest shelter location and return to their position once the event is restarted. Volunteer course marshals will be released from their positions if the race is canceled.
  • Runners will be directed to take shelter at the nearest designated shelter location. If you refuse to take shelter and continue, you do so at your own risk.
  • Note: Shelter in place protocols apply specifically to severe storm or lightning events. Heat protocols are managed through start time adjustments and aid station communications.
• Race Pause:
  • The race director may decide to pause the event after the race has started if weather conditions deteriorate. When it is determined the threat has cleared and it is safe to resume, the course may be modified and/or cutoff times may be adjusted to ensure a timely finish. An adjusted finish will not be more than one hour past the originally scheduled ending of the event, or 4:05 pm.
  • In the event of a race pause, official times or placement awards will not be awarded to those who finish after the pause.
• Virtual: In the event of a pause or cancellation, all participants who started the race but did not finish before the course was paused or shut down will be transferred to the virtual event. We recommend that you use your own personal timing device in the event that the race is paused so you can keep track of your personal time for the virtual event. Participants may upload their race time and distance in the virtual results. An email with specific instructions in this instance will follow the event. Only runners who START the race will have this option.

Refunds:

Entry fees are nonrefundable. Once race day has arrived, fixed costs are incurred whether the race is held to completion or not.

Check the marathon website, event app, Facebook and Instagram for weather updates during the race.