Knowing When to Say When …


If you are even remotely interested in running, you probably know that this year’s Boston Marathon, to be run tomorrow, is shaping up to be a challenge beyond anything previously experienced.  Temperatures are estimated to be in the high 80s if not 90.  For those who don’t  run this is not weather conducive to running most distances, let alone a marathon … and further let alone a challenging course like Boston.  In truth these conditions have the potential to be quite deadly.  


In 2007 the Chicago Marathon was run in very similar conditions and it proved to be deadly. The race was partially shut down early (after three and a half hours) as temperatures rose to 88 degrees (in October mind you). Over 10,000 registrants chose not to run, while 10,934 people did not finish.  many were called after the course closed early for safety. One runner died, over 30 were hospitalized, and over 400 others sought medical attention. 


The New York Times headline read "Death, Havoc and Heat Mar Chicago Race."

Sign letting people still running that the 2007 Chicago Marathon had been halted.

Runner Overcome by the heat

Boston organizers have been issuing frequent updates for tomorrow.  The latest stated:


Update to Entrants in Tomorrow's Boston Marathon®
Sunday, April 15, 2012 as of 4:30 p.m.

• Running any marathon involves risks
• The weather conditions that we will be seeing on Monday, April 16 will involve even more risk.  It will involve an increased element of risk to all participants due to the heat.  Only the fittest runners should consider participating.
• We have put in place a broad array of services and support for our marathon participants, but the risks that will be presented on April 16 will be higher than normal.
• Therefore, in cooperation with the Boston Marathon's Medical Team, it is our recommendation that anyone entered in the marathon who has not met the qualifying standards for their age and gender strongly consider not running, and that they strongly consider deferring until next year.
• Another essential factor to take into consideration is whether you have ever run a full marathon in weather conditions involving hot temperatures-and that can mean temperatures even lower than those that may be present on Monday.  Do NOT assume that any experience you have in running a cooler marathon will be a reliable guide in making the decision in whether to participate or defer.  You must factor in the heat.
• Everyone who does choose to participate should strongly consider running significantly more slowly that they normally would plan to run a marathon.  We have extended the opening of our finish line in support of this recommendation.
• For the overwhelming majority of those who have entered to participate in the 2012 Boston Marathon, you should adopt the attitude that THIS IS NOT A RACE. It is an experience.
• MOST IMPORTANTLY-everyone needs to take responsibility for their own safety.  Ultimately this is an individual sport in which individuals must take responsibility for themselves.


Despite all these warnings sometimes it is hard as a runner to know when to when.  Many of of the runners have trained for weeks if not months.  Many worked their butt off to qualify and then endured the wait to see if they actually got in.  I have been watching the updates of the 20 or so friends that I know running tomorrow.  Some have already decided to not run, others are dealing with the fact that, despite what they trained for, this will NOT be a race to run for a PR.  I’m not sure what I would do if I were running this year.  


I’ve never been good at listening to advice.  More times than not I take a “don’t/you shouldn’t” as a personal challenge.  After all I am the one that ran the Shamrock Marathon in March less than 3 weeks after being diagnosed with pneumonia and with a ankle the size of a grape fruit (after I rolled it 2 days before the marathon).  After putting in 16 weeks of hard core training, deciding not to run just was not an option.  I was lucky my marathon turned out as well as it did.

My training schedule for Shamrock.  

It's the same I have used for the last 2 Marine Corps Marathons.

The big "XXX" a little over 2 weeks before the marathon are when I couldn't run my scheduled 22 miler because I had pneumonia.

I know all of my friends running tomorrow will make their decisions based on what they think they are capable of.  My posting to them on Daily Mile said, “I know a lot of you are reevaluating pushing for those PRs just please, please be careful out there. I want to read each and every one of your post-race reports and I don't want them to be written from a hospital bed. Okay preaching done!”


In the end, no amount of training is worth your health … or your life.  Sometimes it's just hard to force ourselves to believe this and to make the right choice ... and know when to say when.