The Official Boston Marathon Weather Discussion Thread

Older guy wrote:

I, Remeber wrote:

I remember they let a few people into the school buildings that year. I, luckily was one of them.

LOL, I was too. We probably shared the some of the same floor.

Ha, me too. It came at a cost though, waiting in line for that I never got to a porta-john.

Pretzel Man wrote:

Adjust your pace, layer your clothes with stuff you can discard it needed. To much is better than to little. 26.2 is a long way to suffer.

I’ve always started cold races wearing an old shirt I’ve cut up the middle and secured with duct tape (overlap the cut so the tape doesn’t stick to your under layer) . That way I can just rip it off and toss it to the side rather than lift it over my head while running, which can be awkward and possibly knock off your hat/ear warmers.

Stick some hand warmers in your gloves. You can find then cheap at Walmart.

WeatherWhisperer wrote:

IMO 60F, rain and 20MPH headwinds is not the same as 40F, rain and 20MPH headwinds. Both lead to slow times but the amount of suffering at 40F is ten fold.

This is true if you don't dress accordingly. I happen to have run CIM 2012 and Boston 2007. CIM was 55º and more like 35-40 mph headwind (for the west facing parts of the course), the rain felt like getting shot with 1000 BB guns in the early miles. My memory of Boston 2007 was ~38º at the start, the wind was mostly 15-20 mph with some higher gusts, and while cold, the rain was minimal.

Both were bad in the beginning, not so bad after a while and absolutely miserable after the finish. I just had to wear an extra layer for Boston.

Accuweather now shows similar conditions (maybe a few degrees warmer) to 2007 but with more rain. The rain may well make it feel a lot worse, hope it lets up for everyone there.

Good luck tomorrow Boston runners!

After tomorrow he will be a 'formerly a 2:09 guy'

Im still planning on split shorts, singlet, arm warmers, gloves and headband.

With a windbreaker and a cap that I will throw away after mile 3 or so.

Is this crazy?

Sub18Hopeful wrote:

Im still planning on split shorts, singlet, arm warmers, gloves and headband.

With a windbreaker and a cap that I will throw away after mile 3 or so.

Is this crazy?

You are not crazy. If it looks like we’ll be running in pouring rain then I’ll prob go shirtless. If it will be a lighter rain then I’ll prob wear a singlet. Wish I had brought some arm warmers.

Poster slogans wrote:

It will be slow. Run for place, get excited, stop worrying everyone. You PR tomorrow, you are legend. Every run creates a legend.

Lol. Good use of the slogan.

angryjohnny wrote:

Sub18Hopeful wrote:

Im still planning on split shorts, singlet, arm warmers, gloves and headband.

With a windbreaker and a cap that I will throw away after mile 3 or so.

Is this crazy?

You are not crazy. If it looks like we’ll be running in pouring rain then I’ll prob go shirtless. If it will be a lighter rain then I’ll prob wear a singlet. Wish I had brought some arm warmers.

Yeah, Im just trying to stay as warm as possible prior. Im pretty excited for those arm warmers and extra pair of gloves I bought the other day. No way in hell im ditching my new $100 boston windbreaker. Thinking handband and a hat on top. Singlet Arm Warmers and gloves, shorts and fresh socks/shoes. My food bag is becoming a second clothing bag.

Besides that tiny bag they also better let us in with a second pair of shoes (the race ones) tucked in a CVS or other plastic bag! Being able to change shoes to dry ones on the starting line would be neat. Their email note says to bring extra pair but that tiny bag we have wont do!

Sub18Hopeful wrote:

Besides that tiny bag they also better let us in with a second pair of shoes (the race ones) tucked in a CVS or other plastic bag! Being able to change shoes to dry ones on the starting line would be neat. Their email note says to bring extra pair but that tiny bag we have wont do!

Wrap up race clothes in a towel. Never had a problem before.

Sub18Hopeful wrote:

What is a proper or realistic pace adjustment given the weather conditions?

Goal was 2:55 or slightly below on a good day. Is this now “worth” a 3:00? 3:05? 3:10+?

Tough to pace especially in the early miles when you dont quite have a previous experience (never ran Boston).

In training 7:00 min/mi felt very easy while 6:40 felt like MP ans 6:20-6:30 were the beginning of some anaerobic component.

Would going out at 7:00 pace and pick ut up later to run under 3 a realistic endeavour or just stupid?

I don’t know what to tell you. I am similar shape to you. I may turn the watch off this year and run by feel and effort. Trying to maintain any type of pace, especially if you have never run this course, seems suicidal to me.

Anyone considering wearing long tights or windbreaker the whole way?

Dril wrote:

Sub18Hopeful wrote:

What is a proper or realistic pace adjustment given the weather conditions?

Goal was 2:55 or slightly below on a good day. Is this now “worth” a 3:00? 3:05? 3:10+?

Tough to pace especially in the early miles when you dont quite have a previous experience (never ran Boston).

In training 7:00 min/mi felt very easy while 6:40 felt like MP ans 6:20-6:30 were the beginning of some anaerobic component.

Would going out at 7:00 pace and pick ut up later to run under 3 a realistic endeavour or just stupid?

I don't think there are any realistic time goals. Everyone will respond differently. This is where knowing how to run based on feel would pay off. That's probably how people should approach training and racing at Boston every year.

That's right. Since I wear a HR monitor on every run and have a decent idea I'll use it for feedback. Goal is 145 HR in the first 3 miles (downhill), settle into 150-155 HR miles 4-15, high 150s and into the 160s miles 16-21, and ditch everything I've ever known the last 5!

Last marathon average HR 157 with a similar strategy, felt great and a slight negative split. I'll run attempt a slight progression run tomorrow (from a HR point of view) again and see where it takes us!

I also think nutrition will play an important factor. Taking 1 gel 15' prior to the start, 2 in my pockets for miles 4 and 8. At each of the 3 stations I'll grab 2 and eat 1 immediately, keep the 2nd. Even if you don't eat the whole thing, just half of it and 50 cal with a taste of sugar has shown to help performance (central governor likes sugar!)

BAA email says bib must be on outer layer.. How do you accomplish that if you pull off a top layer along the way?

Almostsbs wrote:

BAA email says bib must be on outer layer.. How do you accomplish that if you pull off a top layer along the way?

It's got a zipper, so I think that either a) I'll keep it open (not ideal) or b) I cut off a part with scissors to show the bib.

I think that if we cross the start line with said jacket open, the time will record correctly, no?

Almostsbs wrote:

BAA email says bib must be on outer layer.. How do you accomplish that if you pull off a top layer along the way?

Lift up the outer layer at timing mats. That’s what I did in 2015. Kept my windbreaker on until mile 25.

bumping ahead of WillardScott poser "official" weather thread

If there's a headwind, Galen's huge freakin' ears are going to slow him down.

John Snows wrote:

bumping ahead of WillardScott poser "official" weather thread

Good work. What a jabroni this willardscott guy is.

In other news I have procured and intend to wear multiple garbage bags on my torso and feet in an effort to keep warm and dry at the start. Also got some throwaway sweatpants from target.