Posted: July 21, 2005

Athletics: Time Change Could Be Headache For Race Directors

From David Monti

© 2005 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

According to a story in yesterday's WALL STREET JOURNAL it appears likely that the United States Congress will move to extend daylight-saving time by two months so that the traditional time change would start one month earlier on the first Sunday in March and end one month later on the last Sunday of November. The change would go into effect this year.

This could pose a headache, and even safety problems, for U.S. road races scheduled for November with early starts. Daylight-saving time has the effect of extending daylight at the end of the day, but mornings remain darker, later. Races with early starts would have to contend with the blanket of night's darkness covering their starting areas for an additional hour, making it colder and less welcoming for runners while potentially affecting television coverage and photography.

Races which would see an impact include the ING New York City Marathon (06-Nov; various starting times beginning at 8:00 a.m.), SunTrust Richmond Marathon (12-Nov; 8:00 a.m. start), and nearly every Thanksgiving Day race (24-Nov) of which there are hundreds.

In addition, according to the JOURNAL, airlines would be faced with huge scheduling changes which, according to the Air Transport Association, would cause a "significant disruption" in overseas travel schedules. Flights now scheduled to arrive at any given time, would be arriving one hour earlier, or may be rescheduled entirely. That would impact any race with athletes arriving from overseas.

"The more daylight we have the less electricity we use," Rep. Ed Markey (D., Mass.) told the JOURNAL. He is co-sponsoring the measure with Rep. Fred Upton (R., Mich.). The president is expected to sign the bill.