sartorial cowboy wrote:
malmo, as a trained (fellow) biologist, I would think that you can agree with my analysis of why the combination of direct sun and a tailwind would lead people to recall the PERCEIVED temperature as being considerably higher than 70 (which is in itself at least 10 degeres above optimal, especially in unacclimated runners,as most presumably were on the day)?
Yes, and I've said so many times over the years on this message board. Even 60 degrees directly overhead takes it's toll, which is why New York and Boston marathons can be problematic. That's not my point here. The point is that it was a very chilly and blustery morning, not as "hot" as some here claim it to be. Do you get dried sweat caked to your face? Sure do. The same thing happens when it's 45 degrees and dry. Marathoning is an energy and heat dissipation problem. Heat dissipation counts most in the last 45 minutes of the race, which is why on a seemingly nice day, runners crash due to the direct overhead sun even though the ambient recorded temperature (always in the shade) is low.
My recollection of the day just happens to precisely match the historical recorded weather record.
Another thread.
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?board=1&id=1602657&thread=1601658