Heat forces early turnaround for some runners at 2026 Monument Avenue 10k

RICHMOND, Va. -- High temperatures forced organizers of the 2026 Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k to turn some runners around about two hours into the race on Saturday.

Sports Backers updated their Event Alert flag system to red after consulting with their medical team and emergency personnel.

"Attention: Due to high temperatures, and in accordance with our event alert system, we are now operating at a Red Alert level. Any participants who have not reached the intersection of Malvern and Monument by 10:35AM will be turned around early," organizers texted runners and walkers.

Organizers said they made the call "to ensure the continued safety of all participants."

WATCH: Runners share stories at the Monument Avenue 10k: 'It's always a good time'

Temperatures were in the upper 50s and lower 60s before the race started, with forecasts predicting it would hit 80 degrees before noon.

For comparison, last year's event had sprinkles and temperatures in the 40s to around 50 degrees, with wind chills in the 30s to lower 40s.

Leading up to the race, Sports Backers communicated with meteorologists and medical experts about the warmer forecast, encouraging participants to hydrate and "listen to their bodies."

Tiffany Homeyer said she did not finish the race because she suffered heat exhaustion about four miles into the 6.2-mile race. She said she recognized the signs when she began having chills and "real bad" nausea.

"I stopped and had some wonderful volunteers come help with water and call for medical," she wrote. "The medics from Richmond Ambulance Authority were very nice and evaluated me. Luckily, no ride to the hospital."

Homeyer, who has taken part in the Richmond tradition four times but last ran the 10k 12 years ago, said she is already looking forward to next year's race.

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Nearly 27,000 runners and walkers took part in the Saturday event presented by Kroger.

"We love the 10K. It's always a good time, fun. We like making people smile," one participant said.

"I love it because like the whole community, they're all here. It's like you're all running as one," another runner said.

Participants hit the pavement for a variety of reasons, with some celebrating a 50th birthday, one couple running ahead of their wedding on the 31st, and others running for a cause.

"I always run for a cancer society in honor of my father," one runner said.

Peter Borger, a University of Richmond alumnus from Malvern, Pennsylvania, took first place in the 10k with a time of 30:04.16.

Borger said he battled hot temperatures and a tight lead pack before making a decisive move in the final stretch to secure the victory.

"I made a pretty hard move in the last [mile]," Borger said. "And that kind of, kind of opened up that pack of three that we were running with, and I was kind of able to make a sizable gap on the second place guy, and that allowed me to, to get the win."

Carter Norbo of Charlottesville won in the women’s overall field with a time of 33:54.64.

More than 1,800 runners also took part in the Collegiate Running Association 10k Road Race National Championship.

Luke Taylor, a Furman University student and alumnus of Patrick Henry High from Rockville, Virginia, came in first with a time of 30:29.50 to win the collegiate title. Mary Heinen, a University of Michigan student from Ann Arbor, won the women's title with a time of 34:30.

The one-mile Atlantic Union Bank 10k Mini drew 1,400 young runners from ages 4 to 12.

Since 2000, the event has welcomed more than half a million participants. More than 90 percent of participants come from Central Virginia.

Registration opens Monday for next year's 10k, which will take place on Saturday, April 17, 2027.