Updated Oct. 29, 2019 3:00 PM
This Sunday morning, more than 50,000 runners will put their preparations to the test as they participate in the 49th edition of the New York City Marathon. The largest marathon in the United States is expected to feature favorable running conditions with a light to moderate westerly wind and comfortably cool air.
For faster times, runners prefer low temperatures and dry conditions during marathons. Studies have shown that temperatures in the 40s F are ideal.
“Everybody is a little different, but for longer races, temperatures in the 40s and 50s are wonderful with a light or calm wind and low dew points,” AccuWeather On-Air Meteorologist Laura Velasquez, who has run multiple marathons, said. “Dry is clutch. I despise long runs in soaked shoes .”
Luckily for this year's marathon runners, similar conditions look likely.
A storm system exiting off the East Coast late in the week will give way to drier and cooler conditions across much of the Northeast this weekend. An area of high pressure building across the region in the wake of the storm system should offer a stretch of dry weather over the weekend.
"For the New York City Marathon on Sunday, it should be ideal running weather, with temperatures starting out in the low to mid-40s, and rising to around 54 or so in the afternoon with sunshine." AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brian Thompson stated.
The men's and women's wheelchair divisions will begin the day's events at 8:30 a.m. EST, before professional women start at 9:10 a.m. and professional men at 9:40 a.m. with the rest of the qualified runners in Wave Start 1.
On average, New York City can expect to have temperatures around 58 degrees Fahrenheit during the first week of November. Over the past five marathons, temperatures have varied between 48 and 65 degrees, with the average high temperature over the last five years equalling the 100+ year climatological average of 58 degrees.
One factor in the forecast that may prevent runners from a personal best on Sunday is a west to northwest breeze that will be in place at the start and increase into the early afternoon. As runners enter the 15th mile of the race, they will be faced with crossing the Queensboro Bridge heading into Manhattan. A westerly breeze in place will result in a headwind across the bridge that may slow the pace of some runners.
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Regardless of the light-to-moderate breeze that may be felt at times, runners should be excited for the forecast this Sunday as it is expected to cooperate throughout the day.
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