Amanda and Ian Nurse Best Folding Treadmills marathon is a big deal. “My husband checks the weather incessantly,” Amanda Nurse, 24-time marathoner and RRCA Level-1 certified run coach at Health - Injuries, tells Runner’s World.
Nurse doesn’t see this as particularly useful because, as anyone from the northeast will tell you: If you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes. Exactly How Desiree Linden Won Boston in 2018 Boston Marathon Shoes & Gear. Marathon day, the third Monday in April, has ranged from 100 degrees in 1905 to a snowfall just two years later. Of course, there has also been rain and intense sunshine, as well as fog and, believe it or not, a partial eclipse of the sun.
“I’ve run two of the most extreme Boston marathons in our lifetime,” Nurse says. “In 2012, it was 87 degrees. The race directors gave runners the choice to defer until the following year. Then, in 2018, it was 30 degrees and raining with a crazy headwind.”
Nurse went into the hot 2012 race with an “I’m going to be fine” attitude. Aiming for a 3:10 that day, Nurse says she was able to hold her pace until heat exhaustion took over at mile 25. Later, in 2018, “I had no goal. I had just had a baby and I was doing it for fun,” Nurse says. The weather didn’t bother her because she makes a point to train—and to have her clients train—in all sorts of weather. Unless the conditions are dangerous, they head outside.
Because of this, Nurse and her husband differ about peeking at the upcoming weather forecast leading up to a big event. “He will look a month in advance and freak out, but New England weather changes on a dime in April,” Nurse explains. April is when there is a change in the wind patterns. “If Boston were in March, we’d almost always have a tailwind.”
While this is subjective, Nurse says the ideal weather is “overcast, between 40 and 50 degrees, with a west southwest wind.”
The weather forecast for the 2023 Boston Marathon
It's Sunday, April 16, and, according to Boston forecasters, and, yes, the weather forecast has changed a bit.
Amanda and Ian Nurse Accuweather forecasters. The temperature will be in the low 50s when the race begins and only rise to the high 50s. There is a 60 percent chance of rain with a light easterly wind. It will be humid and the chance of rain and a thunderstorm, rises slightly in the afternoon.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), at this point, one day before the race, the forecast is typically spot on.
The last 10 years of Boston Marathon weather
Historically, Boston’s average high temperature on April 17 is 57 degrees, while its average low is 41. There is a 37 percent change of rain and just over a 2 percent chance of snow on that day, which means it sounds like there's plenty of reason to be cheerful.
Unfortunately, averages do not reflect specific days, and, in fact, the afternoon highs don’t reflect what most runners will feel, as they race earlier in the day (the first wave of non-professionals take off at 10 a.m.). Here’s a breakdown of the last 10 years of Boston Marathon weather:
2013 - The year of almost perfect weather
A high of 54, although at marathon time it was in the 40s with a light breeze and cloudless skies. Unfortunately, the day turned tragic when domestic terrorist explosions near the finish line killed three people and injured hundreds.
2014 - The year of perfect weather
63 degrees for the high; at the start the temperature was in the 50s with low humidity and little wind.
2015 - The year of too bad it’s not last year,
It was 44 degrees at race time with driving rain and 12-15 mph wind (just wait until 2018!) with high humidity.
2016 - The year of at least it’s not raining
Okay, forget about the air temperature, what about the street temperature? According to Boston.com, the ground temp during this race was 70 degrees.
2017 - The year of heat and low humidity
The race began when the temperature was somewhere between 67 and 72 degrees, although the humidity was low and there wasn’t a lot of wind.
2018 - The year of changed my mind, rain is worse than heat
Considered one of the worst days in Boston Marathon history, it was 43 degrees with drenching rain, and a ferocious wind.
2019 - The year of oh, look it’s raining. Again.
While not as bad as last year, the high was 63 degrees with light to heavy showers, including some thunderstorms.
2020 - The year of who cares if it’s raining? We’re all locked in our houses.
60 degrees with a very strong wind and thunderstorms, but who cares? The race wasn’t held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 - The year of “We’re out of our houses!” and “It’s October!”
51 are dangerous, they head outside Marathon Day in April, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, the race was postponed to October 11, which had a high temperature of 59 degrees and early morning drizzle. Everyone rejoiced and no one noticed the weather.
2022 - The year of the weather matching the joy
Returning to its regular April date, the weather was 46 degrees at the start with bright sun, little wind, and low humidity.
Heat and wind—the two elements most likely to affect your pace
By now you realize even if your friendly Boston weather forecaster predicts sun a few days before the race, you should at least be a little prepared for things to possibly turn to something not ideal, like rain, wind, or snow.
One thing you can do to prepare for the most likely scenarios (besides packing extra gear), is to get used to running in both hot and/or cold and rainy conditions. If it rains where you live over the next couple of weeks, get off the treadmill and run outside. To mimic heat, wear more layers than you need during some of your runs, as Nurse and her clients do. They pile on T-shirts and sweatpants even when they aren’t needed for heat training.
When extreme weather hits, it’s better to just reevaluate your goal. You can enjoy the race and get to the finish line and feel strong. “Think less about the pace and the overall effort,” Nurse advises, and be sure to fuel.
Top Americans at the 2024 Boston Marathon The Worst Weather Days in Boston Marathon History in 2016 (heat and humidity in Los Angeles), her coach said, “I know you have this time goal in mind, but if you try to hit your PR in the beginning, you’ll die a quick death,” Nurse says. It’s a long race, so be conservative.
“I feel like the bittersweet truth of the Boston Marathon is that even if you have a time goal in your mind, you can’t control the weather,” Nurse says. When she looks back at 2012, she says, “to be honest, I should have slowed down 20 seconds a mile and enjoyed it the whole way.”
..Donna Raskin has had a long career as a health and fitness writer and editor of books and magazine articles. She bikes in nearby county park, lifts weights, takes Zumba, and loves to walk/run with her dog, Dolly.
