As a mid-April marathon, the Boston Marathon is usually run in temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s. Not today. Forecasts call for 73 degrees at the 10 a.m. start in Hopkinton, 80 degrees at the halfway point in Wellesley by 11 a.m. and 82 degrees at the Back Bay finish line at noon. For the recreational runners expecting to be out on the course in the afternoon, temperatures are expected to peak at 84 by 3 p.m.

Participants in the 2010 Boston Marathon in Wellesley, just after the halfway mark (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Organizers of the 116-year old marathon are encouraging any of the 27,000 registered runners who haven’t run the distance before to delay until next year (a no-penalty deferment). The deferment is also being offered to any runners with medical conditions, recent illnesses or any other reason they shouldn’t run in this heat.

Runners are also being urged to run slower, not try for time records, and just take it easy. The organizers have done their utmost to prepare for possible medical crises from the heat. The last time there was an on-course death of a Boston Marathoner was in 2002, the Chicago Marathon of 2007 was stopped after 3½ hours after a runner died in 88^o heat.

Run smart, run safe, everyone!

Related articles

• Heat forces Boston Marathon, runners to adjust (boston.com)
• Heat potential forces Boston Marathon runners to adjust (fox6now.com)
• Boston Marathon: Runners can defer over heat (espn.go.com)