Twin Cities Marathon is on for this weekend, but organizers don't rule out pushing back in the future
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Nearly 30,000 runners are preparing for this weekend's Twin Cities Marathon, 10 Mile and other races. Besides the usual competition, the weather is looking like a bonus contender this year with forecast temperatures more July-like than October-ish.
That has some runners worried. The marathon was canceled just two years ago because of extreme heat and humidity.
Ed Whetham, director of event operations at the Twin Cities Marathon, joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition Thursday with an update on how weather conditions may affect the current and future race events.
The following has been lightly edited for clarity.
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What are you hearing from meteorologists consulting on conditions for the marathon?
We've been getting daily updates since last week about the weather — it's always something we're keeping an eye on. What they've been telling us has been pretty consistent throughout the week. Friday and Saturday will be pretty warm days, and Sunday is warm but not quite as warm. It's definitely less than ideal for the marathon, but it's something that we are absolutely pushing forward with.
What are the ideal conditions for marathon runners?
I think everybody's ideal conditions are a little bit different. Personally, I think the ideal is 60 degrees for a high, 40s for a low, and that kind of coincides with our green flag conditions. Really, anything in the 50s and 60s is ideal, and then anything above that is less than ideal.
Since temperatures could be above normal, would you adjust any part of the race?
With the current forecast we have, no. Now, after 2023, we have definitely ramped up the presence of our medical aid on the course. We've always had unlimited water on course, because we use hydrants throughout the city, but in the finish line area, we make sure our medical tents are air-conditioned. We make sure we have misters going at the finish line. We make sure that we have ice deliveries throughout the day.
We have other assets and personnel to help with any kind of condition, whether it's warm conditions like this year, or even potentially a 40 degree and rainy day. I think we're set up to handle all types of weather conditions medically.
What are you telling runners in terms of how they should prepare?
I think the big thing is: hydrate. Make sure you're taking in fluids before the race, during the race, you know. One of the most important things is to listen to your body. Your body's going to tell you if you're probably going too hard or too fast. I think in weather like we're going to have now, it's more of an “enjoy your experience” and “listen to your body” and then at the same time, as far as what you're wearing, just make sure you're dressed in light clothing — a T-shirt and shorts. Probably no need for a long-sleeve shirt.
So bottom line is, the race is going to happen on Sunday, and there will be no changes?
That is correct. With the forecast we have right now in front of us for the whole weekend, yes, that is correct.
With October getting warmer nowadays, would race organizers ever consider moving the day of the race to, say, later in the month?
Yeah, we've been looking at that, not even just starting two years ago. I think we were always contemplating, are we on the right weekend? And there are a lot of factors that go into that, obviously. In short, weather is a big part of it; there are other major marathons in the country that kind of factor into timing as well; and the peak fall colors are happening later and later, too.
We have been considering it for quite a few years now. And given that Septembers and Octobers seem to be warmer, it's something we're going to continue to evaluate. If our research tells us that it's best to move back a week, then we'll move back a week. But with MEA weekend being that third weekend of October, and many of our 4 to 5,000 volunteers are school-aged kids and teachers, it would be really hard to move back to that weekend.
