It is for the cold air wrote:
It wasn't for the pollen. It was for the cold, dry air. Cold, air can dry out the lungs and produce asthmatic symptoms...he has asthma..he wore it to help keep the air he breaths in through his mouth a bit warmer to help diminish asthmatic symptoms.
Not always for the pollen! This also explains why he doesn't ever really race on the east coast where it is cold more often than the west coast. This one just happened to fall in line with his training cycle.
And you know all this, how?
FYI #1: East Coast cold weather is not dry. Same humidity levels as Portland, Oregon
FYI #2: Manchester, Connecticut temps were 40ish. Portland, Oregon was 40ish.
FYI #3: Rupp live in ....?