Weather conditions and temperature affect a runner's performance and how a runner must adapt to different factors out of the runner's control. Cooler temperatures are more favorable for marathon days. Clouds may cover the sun on a hot day, but it doesn't necessarily improve the marathon runner's performance.
Assumptions
Runners tend to think that overcast is a favorable condition for competing. Obviously, the sun being covered makes it feel cooler. After running several miles with the sun directly beating down, you become dehydrated faster, sweat more and tend to feel more uncomfortable. This leads runners to assume that the best possible racing conditions for a marathon might be a warm day with clouds covering the sun.
Methods
In 2007, the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine conducted a study to find out the effects that different weather conditions had on different groups of runners. They used results and weather data from marathons including Boston, Vancouver and New York. The research included data explaining the difference in temperature and its effects on the top three male and female finishers. It also broke down the effects the weather conditions had on the male and female finishers of the 25th, 50th, 100th and 300th place finishers. These results were then compared with the overall marathon records and contrasted with the temperatures found from all the marathons in the study.
Results
The study found that the comparisons with the top three overall females and males and the record time of those particular marathons had the most difference, but suggested that there were not many changes within the results from the slower finishers. Results confirmed that cooler temperatures were more favorable, suggesting that the ideal marathon temperature is in the low to mid 50s Fahrenheit for both men and women. Cloud cover does not play as much of a role as temperature does.
Conclusion
The research conducted by the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine concluded that marathon performance for men and women gets slower as the temperature increases from roughly 40 to 80 degrees. Research also suggests that there were slower times for those marathon runners who ran their race in temperatures below 40 degrees. This range of temperature especially harms the slower marathon runners. If you are attempting to tackle your first marathon or planning for your next race, try to consider a colder climate.
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