2017 Boston Marathon weather not looking good, could be identical to last year

At the end of the day I really don't care what people think - I was there and I know that the heat negatively impacted my performance. That said, I backed off so I didn't crawl in with a 2 hour 2nd half like some of the results that I've seen. A couple of friends of mine chose not to do that a paid the price.

Anyone that thinks that 74 degrees with a mid day sun doesn't affect performance is either ill-informed or is simply trolling. Was it the worst day there? No. That would be 2012 for me. But the conditions were not "ideal" (as if something like that even exists - "ideal" conditions for me is about 40-45 degrees - others' may vary) nor were they even "good." At best they were tolerable.

Congrats on your time and your place. I read the other thread and wished I would have followed it from the beginning - it probably would have helped my training as well. Unfortunately I didn't see it until about a week before the race so everything was done.

Nice job!

Braintree Runner wrote:

Like malmo has preached and preached here. It's really the dew point that matters, not the temperature. Dew point was in the low 40s and high 30s. Ideal conditions.

That's not exactly what I've "preached". Dew point is a big factor when looking at the "kind" of heat, but so is the Sun's altitude, and an overhead Sun matters a lot -- especially in a marathon. An overhead Sun will heat the pavement so that the ambient temperature at ground level will be much warmer than the recorded temperature (in the shade temperature) by the weather service.

This years Boston was much warmer than the 1982 Duel in the Sun. Both had tailwinds, 1982 started at noon. 2017 started at 9:30W/10:00M. Both races had low dew points.

Dewpojnt in the high 40s and low 50s with basically a 20mph tailwind.

Enough with the excuse making.

I'm guessing you weren't there?

This wasn't my first Boston so I knew what the course was like. I trained like a BAMF and put in hill repeats every week AND did my long runs on a super hilly loop, but on Monday I thought I was going to barf every time I "ran" (I use that term loosely) up a hill. I couldn't stop thinking about how hot I was and kept wondering if I should take my calf sleeves off; I was desperate to do ANYTHING to cool off. Putting ice under my hat didn't do much.

That being said, it looks like the DNF rate was 97% which actually surprises me (thought it would be higher). Every time I ran by a medical tent, they seemed full, and I started seeing runners pull off to the side looking really bad from mile 6 onward. A friend waiting for me at the family reunion area said he heard other runners telling their families that they had vomited during the race. Good times....

People looked rough. Despite the angry guy's position, I don't need any excuses. I had an advantage from training in the heat and finished in a better position as a result of that, so I should be taking the stance that heat wasn't an issue and it was only about talent and fitness.

But watching people absolutely crawling over the 2nd half was shocking. There's no question that the sun and heat were issues. A marathon in sunny 70 degree temps, but the weather is a non issue? Is that even a serious assertion?

And your time was what?

malmo wrote:

Braintree Runner wrote:

Like malmo has preached and preached here. It's really the dew point that matters, not the temperature. Dew point was in the low 40s and high 30s. Ideal conditions.

That's not exactly what I've "preached". Dew point is a big factor when looking at the "kind" of heat, but so is the Sun's altitude, and an overhead Sun matters a lot -- especially in a marathon. An overhead Sun will heat the pavement so that the ambient temperature at ground level will be much warmer than the recorded temperature (in the shade temperature) by the weather service.

This years Boston was much warmer than the 1982 Duel in the Sun. Both had tailwinds, 1982 started at noon. 2017 started at 9:30W/10:00M. Both races had low dew points.

How did it compare to last year? Last year was worse based on times to standings. Runners 2:30s last year finished higher in the stats than this year. Winning time was slower too.

The race medical directors seems to think that conditions would not be ideal. Here is the email they blasted out on to everyone on Sunday:

WELCOME TO BOSTON / WEATHER UPDATE

Welcome to Boston! Race weekend is finally here, and the city is buzzing with energy. For the latest race news and updates, please reference

www.baa.org

, the Boston Marathon Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Like you, we're watching the weather forecast for Marathon Monday. Both the National Weather Service and local meteorologists are calling for temperatures in the 60s or low- to mid-70s. While these conditions are perfect for the spectators and volunteers, runners who may not be acclimated (for at least the last 10 days) to warm weather running conditions, some adjustments are advised to help you run your best. We recommend the following precautions:

Run at a slightly slower pace and maintain hydration.

If needed, you should frequently take breaks by walking instead of running.

Wear sunscreen.

Heat stroke is a serious issue and is related to intensity of running as well as the heat and humidity.

Hypermedia is a very serious complication of overheating. The best way to avoid this is to slow down your pace on a warm day. Maintaining good hydration is important but over-hydration can be equally as serious.

Heat illness can affect even the fittest athletes, so be aware of your limitations.

Recognizing symptoms of heat illness in yourself and others is critical; this may include headaches, dizziness, confusion, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.

If needed, the Boston Athletic Association has a number of Medical Tents along the course and in Boston. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please seek their help.

Develop an exit strategy from the finish line area with your support team and stick to it. Meet your friends and family as soon as possible, then find a cool location. Doing so will help maintain and reduce your core body temperature and prevent overheating.

Congratulations on making it to Boston. We hope you have a great race. Your safety and ability to enjoy this race is our top priority!

Sincerely,

Boston Marathon Co-Medical Directors,

Dr. Pierre d'Hemecourt

Dr. Sophia Dyer

Dr. Aaron Baggish