The Official Boston Marathon Weather Discussion Thread

I wear arm sleeves so I can remove them if they get uncomfortable or too hot.

Outside the massive wind gusts forecasted for Boston proper that you probably will only feel if exposed to the ocean and the chance of T-storms, this weather looks fine. These temps actually will be keep the body nice and cool for the marathon. But if there are T-storms, I could see a cancellation because the last thing that the race needs is loads of runners and spectators suffering from lighting strikes.

It is going to be brutal once you turn the corner at Cleveland Circle. The forecasted winds are 28 mph sustained with gusts up to 40 for Boston. You may not feel the full 28 mph, but trust me it will be sustained 20s with gusts in the 30s. A lot of time will be lost on that section when people are tired of the rain and wind (and generally tired especially after just going through Newton) and then are hit with pretty much straigth-on headwinds. You can see how the winds change once you get to Boston on this website page.

http://findmymarathon.com/weather/boston-marathon-weather.php

Beacon St. won't be a pretty sight this year. I predict times will be slower than they were in last year's heat.

Just left Hopkinton, 34° wind chill feels like 24° . I trained in upper NY all winter and have ran a few Boston's before, this'll be the worst weather ever. He prepared and bring everything you have to keep warm.

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

From C.H.Sorley, The song of the ungrit runner:

"The rain is on our lips,

We do not run for prize.

But the storm the water whips

And the wave howls to the skies.

The winds arise and strike it

And scatter it like sand,

And we run because we like it

Through the broad bright land."

Young Kelley use to recite all of the time. Sounds perfect for tomorrow. JPB

A buddy sent me this...lieutenant Dan would love tomorrow’s forecast...

https://youtu.be/xyjoSFMGdqk

Man up folks.

Gonnabealright wrote:

From C.H.Sorley, The song of the ungrit runner:

"The rain is on our lips,

We do not run for prize.

But the storm the water whips

And the wave howls to the skies.

The winds arise and strike it

And scatter it like sand,

And we run because we like it

Through the broad bright land."

Young Kelley use to recite all of the time. Sounds perfect for tomorrow. JPB

Excellent!

Young Kelly being Johnny "the younger"?

I ran in CIM 2012 and PRd there. Conditions were similar. My advice is:

Don’t worry about time.

Find a group and draft as much as possible.

Realize that you will be a bit “handcuffed” to the group you find for a while. When I was running I remember feeling great in the group and trying to pass the group - not possible. The winds were strong that fighting them was brutal. I followed guys with PRs 5-6 mins faster than mine and I beat most of them - the amount of work you have to do in the front is a lot.

And I’ll say it again, don’t worry about time. If you try to hit a pace you will constantly be anxious about it and find yourself alone. You will be the person others use.

Pick your spots. If you are feeling good later in the race study the map and see where are good opportunities to move (based on forecast and course layout).

Be conservative. This was probably my most even split race ever.

So then, you owe all of those tough runners that you drafted off of for many, many miles. Yes, you do owe them. You're welcome.

I understand how my message came off, so sure, you can say that. I did lead my group a few times. Ideally you work as a group in those situations. But there are some people that want to lead regardless, so you let them. Toward the end a few of us switched back and forth.

Ultimately a lot of running is a “team” type sport. Unless you are going for the win, runners tend to help each other out in the pacing (especially in the marathon). So I didn’t mean it as strongly as I worded in my original message. If you have a large group you can end up drafting for 90%+ of the race if your group sticks together (and lead a bit).

SirReggie wrote:

Gonnabealright wrote:

From C.H.Sorley, The song of the ungrit runner:

"The rain is on our lips,

We do not run for prize.

But the storm the water whips

And the wave howls to the skies.

The winds arise and strike it

And scatter it like sand,

And we run because we like it

Through the broad bright land."

Young Kelley use to recite all of the time. Sounds perfect for tomorrow. JPB

Excellent!

Young Kelly being Johnny "the younger"?

That would be him, Old John Kelly was more of an actor who craved the spotlight. Johnny (Young John) was always reading something at the running store and was an English teacher for 24 years. It puts life into perspective. Charles was shipped off to WWI after writing that and was killed in action a few months later. We don't know how, when or if life will work out. All we have is to work with the conditions we have not against.

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'm not changing my time goal, but my stretch goal is off the table. This required a tail wind. I'd go out at 7 and pick it up mile 3. Tuck in to your pace group early is my theory. If you wait too long, you'll just be passing people doing all the work. Ignore the troll above who implies drafting is unethical.

Any last minute advice for someone who trained in sunny Southern California all winter for Boston?

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.

set it, forget it wrote:

I'm not changing my time goal, but my stretch goal is off the table. This required a tail wind. I'd go out at 7 and pick it up mile 3. Tuck in to your pace group early is my theory. If you wait too long, you'll just be passing people doing all the work. Ignore the troll above who implies drafting is unethical.

I don't think he was a troll and in fact made a great point. If you are drafting off others for many miles and drastically getting the wind cut down, it does makes a difference. Unethical? No, but those in front of you surely helped you get a faster finishing time. If it's as bad as they claim tomorrow will be, I don't think you'll see Galen in front for the 1st half of the race.

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.

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.