Chicago wind forecast

Pack up with your running brothers and sisters, share the pacing work into the wind. Race will be what it is. Shame they can't move it to Saturday - at least at this point looks like a cooler and less windy morning.

Switch to Hartford.

So the wind for my Chicago Marathon was

Wind Speed 13 mph (WNW)

Max Wind Speed 21 mph

Max Gust Speed 26 mph

I can only remember noticing it on the bridges.

Mind you, there were a lot of runners around me. Steve Jones would not approve.

Last year was 10mph southbound - about 1/2 mile into the wind (mile 8 or 9, can't remember exactly) a large pack formed in front of me- I picked up pace to catch them- once I caught them, the miles in the headwind with the pack felt easier than the previous miles with a tail wind- my headwind miles were faster than the tailwind miles- this pack was going about 5:55-6:01- around what you are likely going for if shooting for a women's B standard.

Even if 5 mph more wind, I'm not sure I would have felt the wind in this pack- get in the middle so the wind is blocked from all sides.

If no pack forms around you the wind will hurt- 2013 had a northbound wind and the last 3 were against it and I was alone- it felt like a hurricane and only 8mph.

The wind will be south this year so at least the last 3 miles will be an awesome tailwind

Thanks all. These are exactly what I needed to hear. Also looks like the timing of the wind onset is shifting a bit so that it'll be coming up throughout the day which is making me feel better. I appreciate the responses!

What's your current pr? (Full/half) and what have you been doing for training?

I am 61 years old and was a 4 time Trials qualifier many moons ago. My son has been trying for a qualifier for several years at Chicago and I ran around to spots on the course each time. (He is running CIM this year instead). He has usually not run well in Chicago. The first 13 miles go well, but then the sun is coming up and the temps start rising and you come out of the shade of the buildings. Looks like the same will happen this year. If it was my son again, I would advise him to skip Chicago, even at this late date. Go elsewhere. Trust me. If you do, you wont regret it. Sorry that it is not the advise you want to hear. Good luck in any event. I know how much it means to you.

I'm a pretty tall guy (6'5") and will be running your pace (albeit, out of Corral A). I've run Chicago ten times in the last 14 years. The second half of the race will not be easy in the wind and sun. But I've run the women's "B" standard before, and you will have plenty of guys willing to help you at that pace. Just talk to the guys around you, be friendly, get in a pack, they'll more than likely want to help out someone going for OT. And if you find me or a guy my height, you'll have it made. Drafting helps A LOT. Even a guy my height can draft off someone six inches shorter and still get a benefit.

Good luck.

Steve Jones' World Record at Chicago

Temp at 8am - 46

Wind Speed - 9 mph (WNW)

Max Wind Speed - 14 mph

Khalid Khannouchi's World Record

Temp at 8am - 31

Wind Speed 8 mph (West)

Max Wind Speed 14 mph

Catherine Ndereba

Temp at 8am - 36

Wind Speed - 6 mph (W)

Max Wind Speed - 10 mph

Wind and heat will mean a bigger importance on hydration and fueling.

How do these conditions compare to the ones you've trained in recently? That says more about how you'll handle it.

I second the idea that the sun and heat are bad once you emerge from the shade after the halfway point. Wind is worst going south on Clark around mile 8-9, south on Franklin around mile 12, and going North on Michigan at end. Better off having wind out of the South generally since that stretch of Michigan sucks. Hope for an overcast day.

I have run Chicago about 7 or 8 times and even on days that were windy and I was somewhat on my own, the wind was never really a factor. I only being entertained watching my very lightweight training partner running in front of me get pushed to the side by a crosswind from between buildings.

You seem to be sheltered from it more than you realize.

If they would run it a week later the chance of warm weather would really decrease. If they ran it two weeks later, it almost would never be too warm. The race director should stop being so stubborn about early October.