Boston Marathon Thunderstorms?

Boston Question wrote:

The current forecast predicts thunderstorms. Would they still have the race during a thunderstorm? Would they cancel or postpone?

I cannot find anything published by the BAA about a Thunderstorm event but it would create a logistical nightmare if something like that happened before wave 1 with 20,000 people waiting under large metal tents in the athletes village. My bet is the delay the starts if possible. If it happens during the race, well it would be downright chaos.

Probably postpone until 2019, and everyone can defer entry

I am sure the Boston Athletic Association is in regular consultation with top meteorologists concerning the weather on race day. The only time they nearly cancelled Boston due to weather was in 2007 when the nor'easter hit.

I am sure they will try to keep the 2018 race going, even if it means a delayed start next Monday.

Boston Question wrote:

The current forecast predicts thunderstorms. Would they still have the race during a thunderstorm? Would they cancel or postpone?

Forecasting over a few days out in the spring here in New England is an exercise in futility. That being said, the forecast is for rain, possibly heavy at times in Boston on race day. Didn't see any mention of thunderstorms. Of course, the forecast could be for sunshine on race day in a day or two. One never knows. The weather here tends to be fickle.

Right now, the forecast for the western half of the course is chance of thunderstorms from 11:00AM - 4:00PM. Ordinary safety rules require that a race be delayed or halted when there are lightning strikes in the area. This has never happened in the history of the race. Thunderstorms aren't very common here in the spring, especially in the morning, but if they happen, race organizers have to delay or stop the race. No lives depend on the race happening as planned. It's still too early to worry about it.

Seriously, is this a possibility? The odds of getting struck by lightning are infinitesimal. You're much more likely to drop dead from a heart attack during the race. Should they do screenings before hand and disallow anyone with a history of heart problems. I'd be very pissed if they cancel due to this.

For someone who lives in the desert, what would you revving wearing on race day?

now what are the odds of lightning striking a particular 26 mile stretch of road in a thunderstorm?

Of course the simple solution is to post mobile lightning poles near the race course to attract any strikes and keep everyone safe.

derp wrote:

Seriously, is this a possibility? The odds of getting struck by lightning are infinitesimal. You're much more likely to drop dead from a heart attack during the race. Should they do screenings before hand and disallow anyone with a history of heart problems. I'd be very pissed if they cancel due to this.

A brief medical exam on the morning of the race was once required at Boston. Some foreign marathons require a certificate from a doctor as well.

derp wrote:

Seriously, is this a possibility? The odds of getting struck by lightning are infinitesimal. You're much more likely to drop dead from a heart attack during the race. Should they do screenings before hand and disallow anyone with a history of heart problems. I'd be very pissed if they cancel due to this.

So are you saying that lightning can only hit runners and not the thousands of volunteers or spectators?

I agree that the athlete village tents are by far the biggest danger if there is a storm. I seem to recall it also being in athletic fields where metal fences were all around. I would feel much safer at any point on the course rather than however long an athlete is expected to stand around the athlete village. These races want you there hours early and there is really no other place to go than the athlete village unless homeowners want to let damp, dirty strangers into their homes.

Nope. Just saying that society has an irrational fear of lightning in relation to the actual chance of getting struck by it. Now having said that, I'll probably end up getting struck down.

Statistically you're more likely to get hit by lightning than win the lotto. May play the lotto thinking they will win. Therefore they will be struck by lightning since it is even more likely than the lotto they think they'll win.

Just start the race at 7 or 8 a.m. like they do everywhere else.

zxvcxcvxc wrote:

Just start the race at 7 or 8 a.m. like they do everywhere else.

It's can't thunderstorm at 7 or 8am? THAT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE!

derp wrote:

Nope. Just saying that society has an irrational fear of lightning in relation to the actual chance of getting struck by it. Now having said that, I'll probably end up getting struck down.

People in general usually have a low chance of getting struck because they are smart enough to stay indoors or get indoors as soon as possible. People deliberately staying out in a lightning storm, especially in locations like mountain tops and ridges have a fair chance of being struck. For example, runners in the Hardrock race have been struck/buzzed by lightning because they keep going due to it being a race when they otherwise wouldn't have. And there are people who have been struck by lightning multiple times (one park ranger was struck seven times). If you have 30,000 runners out in a lightning storm and no one bails out, it wouldn't be a surprise to have some people affected.

Shoebacca wrote:

I agree that the athlete village tents are by far the biggest danger if there is a storm. I seem to recall it also being in athletic fields where metal fences were all around. I would feel much safer at any point on the course rather than however long an athlete is expected to stand around the athlete village. These races want you there hours early and there is really no other place to go than the athlete village unless homeowners want to let damp, dirty strangers into their homes.

The only thing they have going for them is the athlete village is at the high school, middle school, and one of the elementary schools, so people can be sheltered there. Also there are several public buildings (i.e fire department) between athletes village and the start. Does all of that come anywhere near holding 10,000 people, never mind 20-30,000? Probably not. Next best method is to hold the buses in Hopkinton to use as shelter.

They can also hold people in Boston longer as there are larger places to hold them (the Garden for example) and try to delay getting them to the line as much as possible. This will only be done if the morning of there are thunderstorms actively happening in the storm system though, the problem is once people are in Hopkinton and out on the course.

I'm sure there will be specific announcements Sunday if the weather reports continue to show thunderstorms.

11 years ago a Nor'easter nearly forced a cancellation. In that year, high winds were a major concern. http://archive.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/articles/2008/04/13/the_marathon_they_almost_canceled/