The Boston Athletic Association just released a new statement on it’s website to runners of Monday’s 116th Boston Marathon warning them that, “Only the fittest runners should consider participating.”
The new high for Monday in Boston according to Weather.com is 90 degrees.
Here is the complete news release from the BAA:
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.
Boston Athletic Association
Yesterday, the BAA offered any runner a deferment until the 2013 Boston Marathon if they wanted to pass on running in the heat on Monday. The BAA also expanded the course time limit by one hour to give runners plenty of time to finish the race without pushing.
