Marathon News - Time Change Could Be Headache for Race Directors

Jul-21-2005

Time Change Could Be Headache for Race Directors
by David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

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.