Just how bad was the weather for Boston 2016? 90+% of my acquaintances tanked.

I've seen a mix. A handful of my friends ran really well today, consistent splits all the way through. Another handful hit 30k and completely blew up.

I went for a short walk at lunch (in Boston, per my handle). I don't think the weather qualifies as "THAT bad", but I could also see it having a slightly adverse affect on runners, which only gets magnified the more unprepared someone is to race the distance.

working in boston wrote:

I've seen a mix. A handful of my friends ran really well today, consistent splits all the way through. Another handful hit 30k and completely blew up.

I went for a short walk at lunch (in Boston, per my handle). I don't think the weather qualifies as "THAT bad", but I could also see it having a slightly adverse affect on runners, which only gets magnified the more unprepared someone is to race the distance.

You were in Boston and not at the race? You had friends running? What's wrong with you, brah?

1:24...3:00

1:22...2:58

1:23...3:04

1:28...3:34

1:16...3:06

1:27...3:10

1:31...3:19

1:09...2:37

1:23...3:37

1:28...3:00 (the one saving grace)

1:44...hasn't finished

1:27...3:14

Not sure if this applies to your colleagues but I live in Western NY and this winter have trained almost exclusively in temperatures below 50 degrees (with most of those days below 40 degrees). If I had to run anything longer than a half marathon today (around 70 degrees) I would totally detonate. I'm in probably my best shape since I've been running but the heat really gets to me if I'm not used to it.

From looking at my list of 15 or so friends running, maybe 1 or 2 ran well, a couple run fine and 10 or so had industrial scale blowups.

the unusual thing is the scale of the blowups - I can accept a 5 minute positive split as normal...these were 10-15 minute positive splits.

must have been windy and hot.

My friend is a solid runner, and he was nine minutes off of his capability today.

I was standing at 17 mile mark. It was very hot on the pavement because of the bright sun. Certainly above 80 degrees on the road and well over 70 on turf.

...with a warm headwind, not a great day. But nothing like 2012.

Seriously mate? wrote:

Not sure if this applies to your colleagues but I live in Western NY and this winter have trained almost exclusively in temperatures below 50 degrees (with most of those days below 40 degrees). If I had to run anything longer than a half marathon today (around 70 degrees) I would totally detonate. I'm in probably my best shape since I've been running but the heat really gets to me if I'm not used to it.

I do think this has a lot to do with it. Not crazy warm weather but this past weekend locally was literally the first long run I'd done over 55 degrees (and they clearly would have been tapering at this point). But the 68 degree weather I ran in felt hot as h*ll because I wasn't used to it.

Making a mental note to heat acclimate next year as I prepare by running in LS or more.

I think the "semi" hot conditions can claim a lot of casualties as they "feel fine" at first, don't run conservative enough and it bites them big time in the end. On a more obviously hot day people will take more caution and not blow up as bad.

Seriously mate? wrote:

Not sure if this applies to your colleagues but I live in Western NY and this winter have trained almost exclusively in temperatures below 50 degrees (with most of those days below 40 degrees). If I had to run anything longer than a half marathon today (around 70 degrees) I would totally detonate. I'm in probably my best shape since I've been running but the heat really gets to me if I'm not used to it.

This is well stated, and precisely why I doubt I will ever run a spring marathon. Acclimating to the heat in one day (and in one race) is not a recipe for success.

Most Boston runners pos split the course. It's not the weather. It's a big race and people don't know how to be patient in the opening miles (except the elite women who always start out jogging). The rest of the field doesn't know how to be patient and they start racing from the gun. They hit the opening downhill hard and pay for it later. Most don't know how to handle the hills leading up to Boston College. Check prior results. I'm guessing 80-90% of runners positive split the course significantly. And then they blame it on the weather afterward.

results may vary wrote:

Most Boston runners pos split the course. It's not the weather. It's a big race and people don't know how to be patient in the opening miles (except the elite women who always start out jogging). The rest of the field doesn't know how to be patient and they start racing from the gun. They hit the opening downhill hard and pay for it later. Most don't know how to handle the hills leading up to Boston College. Check prior results. I'm guessing 80-90% of runners positive split the course significantly. And then they blame it on the weather afterward.

I get that but like many on this board I know a decent amount of people that run it every year and you certainly have the portion that run Boston idiotically but many know better and only slightly positive split. This year was a death march for most I knew.

hall and oakes wrote:

1:24...3:00

1:22...2:58

1:23...3:04

1:28...3:34

1:16...3:06

1:27...3:10

1:31...3:19

1:09...2:37

1:23...3:37

1:28...3:00 (the one saving grace)

1:44...hasn't finished

1:27...3:14

Ouch.

What happened there?

Did your friend get boxed in behind Oprah?

Cool and cloudy = Good

Strong headwind = BAD

https://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KBOS/2016/4/18/DailyHistory.html?req_city=Boston&req_state=MA&reqdb.zip=02128&reqdb.magic=1&reqdb.wmo=99999

The weather is always a convenient excuse, isn't it?

plaid pants wrote:

hall and oakes wrote:

1:24...3:00

1:22...2:58

1:23...3:04

1:28...3:34

1:16...3:06

1:27...3:10

1:31...3:19

1:09...2:37

1:23...3:37

1:28...3:00 (the one saving grace)

1:44...hasn't finished

1:27...3:14

Ouch.

What happened there?

Did your friend get boxed in behind Oprah?

Dude was under 18:30 at the 5k too. Definitely ran with poor pacing/strategy. I think Barnicle is coaching him.

Cleveland Circle wrote:

Cool and cloudy = Good

Strong headwind = BAD

https://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KBOS/2016/4/18/DailyHistory.html?req_city=Boston&req_state=MA&reqdb.zip=02128&reqdb.magic=1&reqdb.wmo=99999

if you look at the inland towns like wellesley the temp was around 72 today.

results may vary wrote:

Most Boston runners pos split the course. It's not the weather. It's a big race and people don't know how to be patient in the opening miles (except the elite women who always start out jogging). The rest of the field doesn't know how to be patient and they start racing from the gun. They hit the opening downhill hard and pay for it later. Most don't know how to handle the hills leading up to Boston College. Check prior results. I'm guessing 80-90% of runners positive split the course significantly. And then they blame it on the weather afterward.

I'd wouldn't be surprised if you found this 80-90% positive split (if it is accurate) in every marathon.

Below is the alternative breakdown of splits into positive, even and negative splits by finish time.

Finish Time Negative Split (0.5%)

2:00 to 2:30 15% 16% 69%

2:30 to 3:00 4% 10% 87%

3:00 to 4:00 6% 6% 88%

4:00 to 5:00 9% 5% 86%

over 5:00 7% 3% 90%

total 7% 5% 88%

http://fellrnr.com/wiki/Negative_Splits