Official 2023 Boston Marathon Weather Thread

Thanks for the advice-I will definitely put dry clothes in my drop bag at the finish. I'll also buy some throw away layers (including some water resistant stuff) to wear in the Village and in the corral at the start.

"Raced in a singlet and shorts no problem" 2018 - better man then me.

Most miserable run Of My Life.

For the athlete village is there no drop bag spot? Just go there with what you’ll race in?

This is my first Boston so others can probably speak to your question better, but I believe we'll be given a one gallon clear bag at packet-pick up to bring on the bus to the start.

Drop bags are left downtown before you get on bus to hopkinton. You get a gallon size bag to start line. 50 and rain is not an issue if you’re moving. But if you’re unfamiliar with conditions just wear layers

My understanding is that anything you bring to the start you either need to race with or leave at the start (they are not going to transport bags / gear from the start to the finish this year).

I haven't raced Boston in a long time and this is a change form how it used to be done.

It also looks like you can check a bag at a gear check spot near the finish before you get on the bus to the start and, given the current predictions for weather conditions, it does seem wise to put dry stuff (socks, shirt, shorts / pants, shoes, maybe a small towel) in your bag at the finish as one of the above posters suggested.

This is correct. You can check a bag near the start line and can only bring a one gallon bag onto the bus to Hopkinton. Here is what I did in 2018: 1) wore lots of layers of throwaway clothes over your running clothes (think sweatshirts, sweatpants, hat--stuff that will keep you wam); 2) wore a poncho over that; 3) wore old shoes and socks that you can leave at start l; 4) tied my race shoes together, wore them around your neck under my poncho; 5) put dry race socks in the one gallon plastic bag; 6) bring one of those foil blankets in your one gallon bag; 7) When I got to the athletes village I found a spot inside one of the big covered tents and spread out the foil blanket and sit on it. Right before going to start line, I put on race shoes/socks and then at last minute int he corral ditched the poncho and extra layers of clothes. This plan kept me warm and dry until pretty close to the start of the race--which is more than I can say for the people I saw in athletes village in nothing but shorts in a tank top who must have spent so much energy just trying to stay warm for 2 hours before the race. Of course, running the actual race was still pretty miserable, but would have been worse if I had been shivering for two hours beforehand. That said, no matter what, this year WON'T be nearly as bad as 2018, which were just comically brutal conditions (For some perspective, on the busride out there in 2018, not only was it poursing, but it was freezing and when the bus stopped fast at a stoplight, a huge sheet of ice came flying off the top of the bus.) But, still the above plan should work well regardless of the race day conditions.

Yes, I did.

Best suggestion someone gave me was to wear latex gloves over my actual gloves to keep my hands dry. I did this in 2018 and it worked, for the most part.

If the temperatures are going to be in the 40s to low 50s first, bring garbage bags and whatever watertight clothing you have to the start. Keep as dry as you can for as long as you can. For running, it may not be as cold as 2018, but with rain and a headwind, consider wearing a pair of latex gloves that you can rip off if you get too warm. With temps pushing toward 60 you may not need them, but better safe than sorry for the start. Goal is to keep the cold water off of you for as long as you possibly can to keep your body warm.

2018 was brutal. The winds were 25 mph gusting to 30-40, and the temperature outside was in the low to mid-30s. There simply was never a second of relief during that run. I don't think Monday is going to be as bad, but it's not going to be remotely pleasant unless you're able to get/stay warm during the run. Again, the key to doing that is to keep your body somewhat dry from the falling cold rain.

And, once you finish, even though it may be upper 50s out, get out of the rain and into some dry clothes as soon as you possibly can. Hypothermia is still a possibility at those temperatures/conditions.

anecdote.

I live in south florida. Luckily this past block I’ve done some runs in 40s and 50’s with rain and was fine in a long sleeve and gloves. I actually heated up and switched a t shirt on some other days but still kept the gloves. Rain AND wind is another thing though. Once you’re wet and that wind starts blowing you need to keep moving or you’re going to cramp/freeze. If it’s cloudy with rain I’ll wear singlet with arm sleeves. If it’s sunny with occasional rain I’ll do the short sleeve/singlet. If no rain with sun I can go down to about 35 with just a singlet and shorts with gloves until I warm up.

Don’t wear a baggy long sleeve in the rain like that canadian elite did in 2018. She spent the whole race tugging at her sleeves as they flapped about. That means the Boston shirt they give you in your packet is probably too baggy.

All I’m saying is that 70F is cool to me. If I can wear just a shirt and shorts in 50 and rain then you can too.

Correct. You are only allowed to bring in a small clear bag.

I last ran Boston in 2021 and this was the procedure. I think it is embarrassing for a race that is a marathon major and charges over $200 for an entry fee can't provide a few U-Haul trucks to throw bags in, especially since this is a point-to-point race with very unpredictable weather.

"This is correct. You can check a bag near the start line and can only bring a one gallon bag onto the bus to Hopkinton. Here is what I did in 2018: 1) wore lots of layers of throwaway clothes over your running clothes (think sweatshirts, sweatpants, hat--stuff that will keep you wam); 2) wore a poncho over that; 3) wore old shoes and socks that you can leave at start l; 4) tied my race shoes together, wore them around your neck under my poncho; 5) put dry race socks in the one gallon plastic bag; 6) bring one of those foil blankets in your one gallon bag; 7) When I got to the athletes village I found a spot inside one of the big covered tents and spread out the foil blanket and sit on it. Right before going to start line, I put on race shoes/socks and then at last minute int he corral ditched the poncho and extra layers of clothes. This plan kept me warm and dry until pretty close to the start of the race--which is more than I can say for the people I saw in athletes village in nothing but shorts in a tank top who must have spent so much energy just trying to stay warm for 2 hours before the race. Of course, running the actual race was still pretty miserable, but would have been worse if I had been shivering for two hours beforehand. That said, no matter what, this year WON'T be nearly as bad as 2018, which were just comically brutal conditions (For some perspective, on the busride out there in 2018, not only was it poursing, but it was freezing and when the bus stopped fast at a stoplight, a huge sheet of ice came flying off the top of the bus.) But, still the above plan should work well regardless of the race day conditions."

You described my game plan to a T

You used to be able to check bag at start and they would transport it. (I recall runinjng in 2011 and seeing people bring camping chairs on bus to sit on in village). I believe they stopped doing this after the bombing, so it’s more of a security thing than lack of ability/desire.

And I ran the race in 2013 and I can understand why they don't want to be hauling a bunch of bags around. A few U-Hauls? You're way off Pal.

If you can get dropped off in Hopkinton at the drop off point (it's a school) for people not taking the bus from Boston, I would do that. You take buses from there to the start line & wait there for a good bit on the buses & get dropped off pretty close to race start time. You basically get to bypass any of the bad weather pre-race. As close as you get to private bathrooms too. It's a pretty good set up for a year like this is supposed to be.

Once you start running, it'll be fine. 50 & rain & a little headwind isn't going to be anywhere close to 2018 conditions.

Weather shaping up to be great. What looked like possible rain has turned into probable rain and 50’s. Slight headwind. That’s no issue. I can draft off Kipchoge’s shoulder and pass him on Boylston as he falters from leading in the rain and wind.

I am not sure what you mean. The buses pick you up and drop you at the high school where you wait with everyone else. There isn't a special waiting area if you get dropped off in Hopkinton.

Weather is improving! 86 in Boston today by the way. We dodged a bullet!

And the official Hopkinton drop off point is an office park, not a school (52 South Street).