I've seen the 30 seconds coverage of the Manchester Marathon on the local news today and despite gale force winds, freezing temperatures and heavy rain, a lot of people were still dressed only in shorts and vests. I can't see the logic of that when people were going to be out in those conditions for hours, especially when there is a wide range of waterproof and thermal gear available. Are they all masochists, trying to look tough or obeying some rule I've not heard of?
0 ·
Comments
I always wear shorts - even in winter - and if you're racing - you'll be warm enough. If you were a back marker I think some wind proof kit may be handy.
I ran the south Cheshire 20miler nearby in Nantwich. Very similar conditions.
Temp in car read as 5 degrees, I think with the rain, real feel more like 0-2 degrees... Bitterly cold. I ran in a thin running jacket and was okay, but lost feeling in my hands.. Numb.
I saw a guy near to hypothermia at 17 miles and after... Legs shaking and unable to take his shoes off.
On the other hand, I actually liked the temperature,.. Cool, and maybe kept heart rate down?
Eeek. Scary.
If you aren't used to it, not nice. I can imagine so very cold (and ill) people doing the Manchester marathon in 5-7 hours really struggling.
Note Manchester also problems with baggage. Things lost. Some people 3-4 hours waiting 2 hours for their bag whilst standing in soaking wet kit. Very very poor.
like beware of fish and cougie i'd HATE to run in a waterproof.
i'd wear my normal top, lycra shorts but make sure my hands and head were covered with gloves and a buff.
those are the bits that really suffer with me. as cougie said, your heart rate should wrm you up.
Well, I'm a real Sweaty Betty. No matter what the weather and what I wear, I almost always end up too hot when I'm running. Even below freezing and/or in the rain, I'm usually happy in capri leggings and a vest top. I always get odd looks on club nights when everyone else I'm running with is wearing thermals and waterproofs, hat and gloves.
Only time this winter I got caught out was in a combined howling gale and sleet storm that gave a wind chill adjusted temp of about -20, which really wasn't nice and which does sound a lot like the conditions the OP described. If I'd been running yesterday, I'd probably have opted for a windproof top, gloves and earmuffs. And a backpack to stow them in for when I got too hot. LOL!
I have never seen anything like it
I did Manchester and it was the worst run of my life, I wore a long sleeved tech top, sleeveless windproof over jacket, under armour and shorts, a cap and took cycle gloves, if that isn't prepared I don't know what is, living locally (20 miles) I could see where it was heading, but being soaking wet and standing in water a full hour before the off meant there was no getting warm on the way out.
A lot ran in bags and kagoules for the first few miles but probably regretted throwing them as it didn't improve and just got worse. There was one long open stretch on the way back into Urmston, the wind changed direction and it had me standing still, a shocking day, but having said that I still prefer to feel wet than to try to run in Waterproof gear, finishers certainly deserved their medals yesterday, however they got there.
Was definitely worse for the marshalls/spectators (thanks for your support) - running kept me at a reasonable temperature. It was only when it took 2 hours to get my kit from baggage that I turned blue.
15 - I wore a hat but it was only useful for the 1st mile or two - after that it was p*ss wet through and provided no warmth at all.
With regard to the OP- I ran this in vest/shorts/hat/gloves. More layers or longer sleeves/legs would just have meant more sogginess. I have yet to find a breathable top that doesn't make me sweat like a pig.