Marathon on Sunday set to be windy. Any help with adjustments?

Training Advice/Discussion Marathon

2 years ago 10/14/2021 10:06am EDT

Hi there. I'm running a full on the weekend. My training is indicating 3:10-3:15 (7:15-7:27/mile) on an ideal day. The temperature shouldn't be too bad (~11C/52F at the start). What concerns me is that this is a point to point course (kind of horseshoe shaped with the course going east, then south, then back west) and they're calling for SE winds of 40km/hr gusting to 60km/hr (25mph gusting to 38mph). It's a pretty small race so I envision being along for alot of it. Would love some help in how I should adjust paces based on the forecast.

Thanks!

2 years ago 10/14/2021 10:14am EDT

re: rungeek13

1. No need to call it a "full". It's a marathon.

2. Accept that a strong headwind will slow you down several seconds per mile. Nothing you can do about it. DO NOT try to maintain pace into a strong headwind. 7:20 pace into a headwind will be 7:00 effort.

3. Take advantage of any tailwind when applicable.

4. Draft whenever you can.

2 years ago 10/14/2021 12:05pm EDT

re: rungeek13

What's the terrain like? If you're running through leafy neighborhoods with lots of houses and trees, you'll be much better off than if the course is on a flat plain outside of town.

But that wind is significant enough that you'll need to throw your time goal out the window.

2 years ago 10/14/2021 12:41pm EDT

re: colder and wiser

Terrain is about 75/25 road and crushed gravel trail. All of it relatively flat with the exception of some rollers the last 6 miles. First 7 miles or so are very open travelling east (near a beach, then a river). Then it turns south and winds up some roads until the 1/2-some sections will be very open there with surrounding farms and fields. From 13 to 20 is on a trail heading west, then turns back south for the last 8-10k.

2 years ago 10/14/2021 12:51pm EDT

re: rungeek13

I've never personally used the technology, but I have a friend that swears by using a Stryd power meter when conditions are windy. Apparently, it detects wind, and sends information to his watch that he uses to adjust pace/effort. I run by perceived effort, but he thinks thinks the technology is the cat's meow.

2 years ago 10/14/2021 1:03pm EDT

re: you had me at meat tornado

Run by Hr all day long. I assume you know your Mara pace HR? I’d run to pace until HR starts to climb then back off if over working.

2 years ago 10/14/2021 1:07pm EDT

re: rungeek13

I have absolutely no data to back this up, but it's my feeling that wind speed seems to be the thing that forecasters get wrong most often, especially 3 days or more out.

Don't stress too much about it. Easier said than done I realize. Wind forecasts I saw for Lonson were similar right up until the day before the race. Wind turned out to be a complete non issue for the race.

2 years ago 10/14/2021 3:03pm EDT

re: rungeek13

Just dial into marathon effort. Don't force the pace as someone else said. It's ok to lose time. You'll likely be a couple of minutes slower than a better weather day so forget about needing to hit perfect splits & make sure you're not forcing it into the wind. You want to feel good late & take advantage of the tailwind whenever you have it in the back half but, again, if you're running marathon effort you'll naturally be running a little faster.

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