Boston – This is the year the Kenyans will face a homegrown challenge at the Boston Marathon, and it’s not from the American runners or the undulations of Heartbreak Hill.
It’s the New England weather: wet and windy and certain only to make things unpredictable when the world’s longest-running annual marathon leaves Hopkinton for the 26.2-mile slog to Boston’s Back Bay this morning.
“We are not used to that,” said Joseph Kigora, part of a strong contingent trying to bring Kenya its 15th men’s victory in 17 years.
Defending champions Robert Cheruiyot and Rita Jeptoo are back, but the weather won’t be at all like the calm and clear 53-degree weather for last year’s Kenyan sweep. Forecasts call for 3 to 5 inches of rain, start temperatures in the mid-to-upper 30s and wind gusts up to 25 mph.
The foul weather is certain to slow the pace for the top runners a year after Cheruiyot set the course record in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 14 seconds.
“I don’t think they’ll like it, but they’re still great competitors,” four-time winner Bill Rodgers said. “What happens is you get upsets. The top runners are so used to being up front and fighting for the win, and that can be disastrous.”
A slow pace usually leads to a more tactical – and more exciting – race up front. More of a concern for organizers is how the weather will affect the 20,000 also-rans, who will be out longer and more likely to need medical care.
“The interest is to get them out of the elements as quickly as possible,” race director Dave McGillivray said between meetings with state and local officials on how to handle the storm. “With hypothermia, you can’t take something to make it go away. You have to get into a warmer environment.”
