Boston Marathon Weather Forecast

I care more about the direction of the wind, which can make a big difference. Rain or shine, the crowds are always huge in Boston. You will be amazed if it's your first Boston. I'll be running also, so hope for the wind at your back.

that sounds like an almost ideal forcast. i'll be happy as long as it isn't warm. 50s and it's all good. i'd rather have 50s and pouring rain, than 60s and sun.

Good chance the winds will be less than ideal (probably will have an easterly component to them). Temps should be good - but the rain chance is a bit 50/50 at this point.

I agree about the wind. N/NE 5-15mph with possible gusts up to 25mph. Not great. But I'll have about 400 people to draft behind so I guess that'll help. Haha.

The winds will suck as they;'ll probably get stronger as you get closer to Boston... Should be fun running over 128....

Hopefully it'll be dry as we wait it Hopkinton...

Does E/NE mean the winds are coming from that direction or blowing in that direction?

Coming from.

No, the crowds are not always as big as they used to be, especially on a rainy day. Many non-running types are still not used to the earlier start time. The elites pass by the Newton Hills well before noon.

It's only Wednesday. The odds of this forecast sticking until Monday aren't very good.

Regarding your other question:

the crowds were noticeably lighter in '07 when we had the rain than last year, when the weather was pretty nice for all involved. It was still OK, though.

'07 and '08 were the only two races since the start time was moved up from noon.

The crowds were ridiculous in 2004 when temps were in the upper 80s. It was like a big party.

And I agree with the earlier post and have to believe that the earlier start time does depress the turnout.

Looks like there will be a head wind the entire time! Gonna be tough! I ran in 04 and barely remember the crowd i was so out of it! Hopefully the wind dies down a little! Still a few more days till I pay too much attention to weather forcasts! I remember in 04 it was only a few days before till they realized it would be warm, reports went up like 10 degrees a day! The worst part was waiting for the start all damn morning in the sun and heat!

The wait at the start if far too long especially if the weather is bad. Unless you are an elite, there is no shelter. So you sit out in the elements and wait several hours. Sounds like fun? I'm done with that nonsense, never again.

I Agree! I am planning on taking a cheap tent to crash in and leave it there!

Event Weather Forecast

http://www.weather.com/outlook/events/sports/weather/tenday/02116?eventid=27227&epc=WXSP&from=/outlook/events/sports/result?x=13&when=thismonth&attrib=WXSP&from=sportsopt2&y=4

South Shore wrote:

No, the crowds are not always as big as they used to be, especially on a rainy day. Many non-running types are still not used to the earlier start time. The elites pass by the Newton Hills well before noon.

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Right. Many MA. residents treat it like a Memorial Day weekend, and party Sunday night. This makes a 10AM wake up iffy for some. Many will seem like they just woke up as you pass by, and they probably did.

But, they are out there, and that is what counts.

Dead zones ; Framingham areas can be dead for almost 1.5 miles, and just after Wellsley for 2-3 minute periods.

Pretty impressive that those are the only "empty zones" on the course. part of what makes the race so legendary.

And you guys have hit on why I am maybe the only runner ever to be disappointed that they start earlier now.

The noon start made it ane even huger community event and allowed the the Red Sox game to be timed to end when the crowds can spill out right in time to see the runners go hru Kenmore Sq. Back to noon!

Ditto ING NYCM. Move it back to 10:47am!

Last year it was pretty much a mad house from Wellesley Half point all the way into Boston.. There were sparse parts early in the course around miles 8-9 and before/after Wellesley but from the 1/2 way point til finish it was packed....

BC was crazy...

The only thing I didn't like is that Boylston is so damn wide and long.. After running on smallish street the whole way you feel lost making the left onto Boylston and the finish is so far away...

However, the craziest I've ever seen in a race in coming down 5th AVE before the park in NYC. They crowd in on you and you feel like your in the Tour De France....

Ran it in '07 during the semi-Nor'easter. Crowds were thin the whole way, understandably so. I can remember turning onto Boylston and hearing/seeing my wife right on the road with few people around. Cheryiout won and only ran around 2:14 that day, pretty steady headwind and dropping temps as you got into Boston. It's very difficult to do but try to focus on the things you can control. You will not be able to control what the weather is going to do and you'll drive yourself mad worrying about it.

I do realize the forecast could change...but I'm still going to follow it religiously because right now I'm obsessing about the marathon this week.

I think it's also important to consider the weather. Regarding the statement "only worry about the things you can control" That does really fly in my opinion. You have to know the weather to know what to expect. It should affect your goal time and pace. And it's important for preparing to hang out all day at the start. So I think weather is a huge factor. And I'll be checking it all week. I will adjust my plans as the forecast changes, but I want to have to time mentally prepare for the conditions.

I've run the Bay State Marathon (MA) twice as my only marathon experience. There are something like 500 runners and the only spectators are the water station attendants. They're great and usually enthusiastic, but there's nothing in between. So Boston will probably be impressive regardless in terms of the crowd. I'd rather have sparse crowds and 80F though.