Running in the Cold - Ideal Temperature for Marathons

None of us like to run when it is too cold.  Tomorrow looks to be too cold, but how cold is too cold?   Research shows that 41 degrees F is ideal for a Marathon and that performance slows as the temperature and humidity rise.

Here’s what I am looking at tomorrow.  For me, I like it to be about 38 degrees at the start.  Having run Chicago ‘07, Miami ‘07, Oklahoma City ’07, and Chicago ’08 (All Hot Marathons), I will take too cold over too warm anytime. Here’s the forecast fro our 20 miler tomorrow.  It should be just about perfect at the finish.

Westcliff West, Fort Worth, Texas (76109)

6 AM	9 AM	12 PM
34 / 18	41 / 20	56 / 20
53%	40%	25%
2 mph SSW (210°)	5 mph West (280°)	6 mph NNW (340°)

What do you think?