I’m so worried about it being cold! I’ve been studying all the weather models and they are all different! Ranging from miserable, cold, rain, to warm to hotter than normal. How is that possible?!
Every year, about ten days out, the subject of weather forecasts will come up. Every year, people will start to freak about one website or another's prediction that it is going to be hot or cold or rain or snow. And every year, all of the Floridians will remind the rest of the world not to believe the weather forecasts until, at most, 12-24 hours in advance. And even then, you still need to be aware that things could still change.
For race weekends, I have the following items on standby:
- For rain - A running raincoat (i.e. something light that breathes), a hat (keeps the rain out of your face), disposable ponchos (pro-tip: bring an extra one to cover your feet while waiting in the corrals), throwaway towel or cushion to sit on and keep your butt dry
- For heat - tank top, sweat towel, ice bandana, multiple water bottles, sunscreen
- For cold - throwaway sweatshirts, sweatpants, and blankets (if I see something cheap throughout the year, I pick them up), mylar blankets or ponchos (the ponchos do double duty as rain gear and are invaluable if it is both raining and cold), thin gloves, multiple packs of disposable hand warmers, a running hat, full length running tights and lightweight (non-throwaway) fleece jacket, arm sleeves (I cannot emphasize what a game changer these are!), I've also used my running raincoat as an additional layer, particularly if it's windy
If you look at this list, you'll notice that most of the items won't take up too much room in your luggage if you throw them in "just in case." For this year's MW, I wound up shipping my throwaway gear to an Orlando-based friend since I was doing Dopey and my friend was also doing two races so I had 6 blankets plus my sweats and shipping was cheaper - and easier - than bringing an extra piece of luggage. I was so incredibly grateful to have them and even ran the first two miles of the marathon wearing my blanket (note: you need to dispose of the mylar blankets before you start).
I know that this is a controversial opinion, but I would rather have it be cold than hot. First off, I'm from the Northeast so I'm used to it, but also there are many things you can do to stay warm. There are only so many things you can do to cool off in the heat.
