Marathon season is back and this weekend kicked it off in style with big races across the country in New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C.

Temps Soar to Record Highs in Los Angeles

While L.A. is usually warmer than most places, this weekend saw record highs over 90 degrees, well above a typical balmy California spring Sunday. When the forecast began to climb as the weekend drew closer, the L.A. Marathon bumped the start time up by half an hour to let runners cover as much ground as they could before high noon.

Watchara Phomicinda/SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE

Heatsheets sent reminders to race officials that the blankets can be flipped to deflect some body heat as well as a social media blast to inform racers of Heatsheets’s dual use. Despite all that, the unseasonably high temperatures still took their toll on several runners, demonstrating just why most races aren’t held in the middle of summer.

Read more about the heat’s effects from The Weather Channel: California Bakes in Record Heat; Dozens Hospitalized During L.A. Marathon

Competitor Group Rock ‘n’ Rolls Through D.C.

The East Coast may have been spared the spiking temps of the West Coast, but the two Atlantic races faced the opposite problem of a winter that just wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet. The Competitor Group’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series hit Washington D.C. on Saturday and chilly racers were glad for the finish line warm-up.

Heatsheets/FACEBOOK

Racers reached out on social media in thanks of their Heatsheets with comments like “Those heatsheets saved my LIFE!!!” and “Yes! Thank you so much! Couldn’t have survived without them!” Some government officials even got in on the race.

Read more from The Washington Post: White House chief of staff Denis McDonough runs Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon

New York Half Marathon Full of Super Racers and Super Recyclers

The Big Apple did us proud on Sunday by not only capturing Heatsheets in action on social media but also by being super recyclers. The NYC half also saw victory for Molly Huddle, the first American woman ever to win the race.

The super heroines and heroes after their triumphant #UnitedNYCHalf pic.twitter.com/he5vNpgULA

— NewYorkRoadRunners (@nyrr) March 15, 2015

Being kind to the environment is a top priority for us. For the second year in a row, the United Airlines New York City Half Marathon and the New York Road Runners (NYRR) were enthusiastic participants in our Blankets-to-Boards recycling program. They gathered 25 bags of discarded Heatsheets this year — that’s almost 300 pounds worth! The program is in conjunction with the Trex Company and the bags were taken to recycling drop points at local Whole Foods locations. Thanks for making running all the greener, guys!

New York Road Runners/TWITTER

Read more from Time Warner News: NY1: Tens of Thousands Hit the Pavement for NYC Half Marathon