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Lead Stories: Monday, December 1, 2008

Excellent Weather for Women’s 10-K Could Mean Fast Times, New Record

Posted August 15th, 2008 at 11:00 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Nine straight days of bad weather finally lifted here today giving rise to the possibility of fast times in tonight’s women’s 10,000m, the first final on the track of these Olympic Games.

At 22:00 local time, the temperature was 26°C (79°F) with 51% humidity, far better conditions than were anticipated by most of the 32 competitors from 18 nations who are on the start list.

The Olympic Games record is 30:17.49 set by Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia in Sydney in 2000. With athletes like two-time world 10,000m champion Tirunesh Dibaba and multiple world road running record holder Lornah Kiplagat (Pictured) in the field, that record could go. The field is loaded with talent; 13 women have personal best times under 31 minutes.
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Steamy Chicago Marathon On Tap For Sunday

Posted October 5th, 2007 at 8:00 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The leaves may be falling from the trees of this bustling Midwestern city, but the temperature decidedly is not. Usually blessed with crisp autumn days, Chicago is in the middle of an untimely heat wave in advance of Sunday’s 30th edition of the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

Britain’s Liz Yelling will be competing here for the first time. Usually joined by her triathlete husband, Martin, she is by herself here because he is preparing to compete in the Ford Ironman World Championships in Hawaii a week from tomorrow.

“It’s hotter here,” said Yelling.

The average high temperature for the last ten marathons here was 14.7°C (58.5°F), but forecasters are predicting a high temperature for Sunday of 31°C (88°F) accompanied by 65% humidity.

At the 8:00 a.m. start, the temperature should be around 21°C (70°F). It will be the hottest Chicago Marathon on record; the previous high temperature for the race, according to records kept by the organizers, was 29°C (84°F) in 1979. The record high for Oct. 7 here is 86°F (30°C).

Executive race director Carey Pinkowski and his team have taken steps to protect the massive field –last year’s race had 32,995 finishers– from the heat. They have posted a heat advisory on their website, beefed up their medical team, instituted a plan to move unused water from earlier drinking stations to later ones, and will have cooling sprays installed in various locations.
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Osaka weather forecast looks grim for IAAF World Champs

Posted August 22nd, 2007 at 7:24 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Check out the Weather Channel’s outlook for August in Osaka. High temperatures for the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics will range from 90° to 96° with expected scattered thunderstorms for the duration of the competition. Not only that, but humidity is expected to be between 70% and 90% for the duration of the competition.

The weather is expected to be so severe that event organizers have issued an official advisory note for athletes detailing “practical recommendations regarding weather conditions.” The advisory explains that a panel showing the current heat stroke risk levels will be posted for the athletes to monitor. The heat stroke levels are as follows:
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Impact of extreme weather conditions on marathon running performances

Posted May 23rd, 2007 at 1:00 PM by Megan Hueter

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Training Tips

In general, marathon races are among the most physiologically demanding endurance events in the world with runners competing for a distance of 42 kilometers (26.2 miles). (3,6) Competitive marathon runners often maintain a pace equaling 70-90% of their VO2max (max output) for over two hours. (6) Both biological and environmental factors affect the thermoregulatory balance in marathon runners.

Marathon races are considered mass participation events, and heat injuries occur in less extreme conditions. When running in closer proximity to other runners, it has been reported that the physiological heat stress is three times more straining on the body compared to someone running solo in identical weather conditions. (6) As mentioned earlier biological and environmental factors play a role in maintaining thermoregulatory balance in marathon runners. Biological factors such as dehydration, metabolic rate and gender limit thermoregulatory control. (3)
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