Outdoor Events
Cancellation Policy

Note: Green is the default; deviations are announced at the Board’s discretion when conditions warrant a Yellow, Red, or Black. The Board weighs all factors before issuing any announcement.

Location-Specific Monitoring. Weather conditions can vary drastically across the city (e.g., wind speeds on a coastal route vs. a sheltered path). The Board and Event Leads will pull WBGT, Wind Chill, AQI, and Wind Speed data specific to the event's exact neighborhood or ZIP code, rather than relying on a generalized citywide or Central Park reading.
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SECTION 2: HEAT SAFETY

Metric: Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) – the gold standard for heat-stress assessment, per ACSM (2023). WBGT combines air temperature, humidity, radiant heat, and wind.

Heat Thresholds by Activity Type

Why Different Thresholds?

• Fun Runs & Beginner's Clinic: Follow ACSM general-population standards. Open to beginners and the public, so the most inclusive threshold applies.

• Long Runs: Slightly more lenient because participants are experienced members and events start and finish indoors (where members can shelter before/after).

• Coached Workouts: ACSM flags 85°F WBGT as the threshold for high-intensity exercise cancellation, so coaches have discretion to modify the workout – drills, form work, easy shakeout, popsicles – rather than a full cancellation.

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SECTION 3: COLD WEATHER SAFETY (WIND CHILL)

Metric: NWS Wind Chill Index. FRNY adopts < 0°F wind chill as its cancellation threshold, uniform across activity types. This exceeds the minimum NATA guidance, which identifies sub-zero wind chills as posing frostbite risk within 30 minutes during physical activity.

Volunteer & Bag Watch Safety. Volunteer services (such as bag watch) may be modified or canceled at the Board's or Committee's discretion if conditions (such as extreme cold or high wind) are deemed unsafe for volunteers to be standing outdoors, even if the run itself proceeds.

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SECTION 4: AIR QUALITY INDEX (AQI)

Metric: EPA Air Quality Index. AQI thresholds are differentiated by activity because ventilation rate (the total volume of air your lungs move in and out per minute) varies. Higher ventilation means greater intake of airborne particulates. (EPA AQI Technical Guidance, 2018)

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SECTION 5: LIGHTNING, WIND & SEVERE STORMS

Lightning

• 30-minute rule: if lightning is detected within a 10-mile radius of the event location, or if thunder is heard or lightning is seen, all FRNY activities stop immediately and participants seek shelter. The 30-minute clock starts from the last detected strike within that 10-mile radius. Activity may only resume after 30 consecutive minutes with no strikes within 10 miles. (NOAA/NWS Lightning Safety)

• Proactive cancellation: if an active Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for an area within 10 miles of the event during the scheduled event time, the event is automatically canceled. If a previously issued warning expires or is officially lifted by the NWS before the event begins, the event may proceed.

• Long Run exception: if a storm is active near the start time, the Long Run host may choose to delay the start of the run (instead of automatically canceling) until a full 30 minutes has passed since the last lightning strike or thunder, provided that safe, fully enclosed indoor shelter is available for all participants while they wait.

Wind
Wind thresholds follow NWS Wind Advisory and High Wind Warning classifications.