Saturday, May 9, 2009

What's the weather like?

As with any other marathon, our number one "worry" is the weather, because it's the ONLY variable we CANNOT control, and the only one that can send 6 months of strong training to the dumps.  So, the most common question I've gotten from anyone that has asked about the Stockholm marathon has been:  What's the weather like?

My answer has been: "You know, althought I've been to stockholm about 18-20 times in my life, I've NEVER been in Stockholm that specific time of year.  However, I do know the weather in June can be very uncertain.  I assume somewhere between 40 and 70 with pouring rain or not a cloud in the sky." 

I pulled up www.wundergound.com that lets you look at historical weather details, and grabbed the last 10 years of the marathon. 

My person ideal: Fog or cloudy(dry) and 45-50 degrees.

Year - MIN - MAX
2008 - 51 - 78 sun (record high)
2007 - 50 - 60 rain
2006 - 44 - 53 rain
2005 - 44 - 57 rain
2004 - 37 - 57 fog
2003 - 53 - 69 rain
2002 - 39 - 73 clear
2001 - 30 - 57 clear
2000 - 50 - 54 rain
1999 - 44 - 62 rain
10 year Average:  44.2 - 62
* I don't know what "rain" really means, so it could be good.
** even taking out the freaky eat wave last year, we're looking at 60 high average.

Since the marathon starts at 2pm (my finish 4:59pm), a betting man would assume I'll get the heat of the day (unless a cold front is blowing in).

Looks like I'll be running in a short sleeve, with a cap, MAYBE gloves.

Second most common question is a tie between: "can I come with you?" and "Where is that?"" and "That's in Switzerland, right?"

My favorite answer so far to Where is that?  "Just outside of Yonkers, New Jersey"  (he/she believed me)

1 comment:

MW said...

Yes, I'm FULLY aware that Yonkers is in NY, and not NJ. That's what makes it even funnier.

It's these subtleties that make my humor outstandingly good.