LOS ANGELES – In what the McCourt Foundation describes as a “common-sense compromise,” it announced today that the 2027 Los Angeles Marathon will replace finisher medals with “starter participation trophies” awarded to anyone who successfully crosses the starting line.
According to a press release, race volunteers will hand the trophies to runners the moment they pass the starting line, after which participants may either continue the race with trophy in hand or stop immediately knowing they still receive full credit for starting.
The decision follows heavy criticism of race organizers’ move ahead of the 2026 race to allow runners struggling in extreme heat to stop at mile 18, take a designated turn toward the finish area, and still collect a medal. Official results still reflected the shortened distance, listing those runners as completing 18 miles rather than the full 26.2.
The McCourt Foundation addressed the backlash in the press release.
“After seeing all the salty reactions to our mile-18 decision this year, we felt this was the most measured response to our critics. From here on out, no one gets a finisher medal—even if you win the damn race. Happy now? It’s amazing what people will complain about even when it has absolutely no effect on them whatsoever. This is why we can’t have nice things.”
That’s not the only change coming to the 2027 edition of the Los Angeles Marathon. The Foundation also announced a new race distance: the three-quarters marathon, a 19.65-mile option for runners struggling to choose between the half and full marathon. All starters will receive the same trophy regardless of distance completed…or attempted.
The 41st running of the Los Angeles Marathon is scheduled for March 7, 2027.
- Runner Does Same Route in Same Shoes—Refuses to Do Missionary
- Reviews Are In: Kids Running Movie Can’t Go the Distance
- “It’s a Wonderful Run” Shows It’s a Miserable Life Without Running
- ESPN Cancels Ill-Advised “First Take” Running Spinoff Show
- Running Influencer Shills Self-Confidence Not to Follow Him
- Gregory Desperately Trying to Outrun “The Runs” Mid-Run
- Psychopath Runs In Total Silence, Waves Like It’s Normal
- JD Vance Unveils “F*ck a Couch to 5K” Plan
- Report: “The Yips” Afflicting Runners at Alarming Rate
- Kevin Refuses to Go Down on Wife During Marathon Training
- Report: Straight White Male Runner Not Center of Universe
- CEO Admits New Running Shoe “Ass”: “We’ve Made it Worse”
- Saucony Partners with Duolingo to Educate Runners on ‘Saucony’ Pronunciation
- Derek Calls Night Runs ‘Relaxing,’ Mystified by Concept of Women’s Safety
- Dos Equis Introduces the “Most Interesting Runner in the World”
- Teresa Never Experiences Runner’s High with Boyfriend, Continues Faking It
- Archaeologists Unearth Prehistoric Running Shoe Circa 2019
- FanDuel Lets You Bet on Amateur Runners—Even Your Daughter
- Company Confuses ‘Biannual,’ Locks Itself Into Double the Shoe Updates
- LA Marathon Scraps Finisher Medals for Starter Participation Trophies
- Boston Marathon Renames Heartbreak Hill to “One Big Beautiful Hill”
- Ted Dreads Honeymoon Abroad — “Where the Hell Will I Run?”
- Runner Clearly Only Stopped In Café To Use Restroom, Pretends Otherwise
- Diehard Vegan Unknowingly Commits Insect Genocide on Every Run
- Researchers Determine Heel Pull Tabs Serve No Purpose
- Luis Swears He’ll Run Tomorrow—Same Lie as Yesterday
- Amid Batshit Prices, Runners Resort to Renting Shoes
- Game Over: Kyle Convinced Bullpen Entrance Song Gives Him Edge in Race
- D.A.R.E. Out: Schools Use Runner’s High as Drug-Free Strategy
- Healed Injury Refuses to Quit Being Mitch’s Excuse Not to Run
- Mattel Bows to Trump’s Demands With Homoerotic Runner Ken Doll
- Goldendoodle “Winston” Burned Out from Marathon Training
- Guy Unsure When, Why, or How He Became a Runner
- Running Influencer Calls for Inclusive Sport That Excludes Pros
- Tracksmith Sells Singlet for “Losers” Failing to Qualify for Boston
- Road Runner Transitions to Trail Runner—Not Everyone Is an Ally
- Brock Furious He Must Finish Current Step Before Taking Next Step
- Company Scraps Carbon Neutral Commitment; Will Emit More CO2
- Nike Launches Highly Anticipated Betafly Shoe for Cucks
- Saucony Swaps Insensitive ‘Hurricane’ Shoe Name for ‘Earthquake’
- Creep “Flirts” with Crush Solely Using Strava
