BOSTON MARATHON 2019: WEATHER, TV COVERAGE, ELITE FIELD, NEW DIVISION

Fog on Lake Macatawa MI channel to Lake Michigan Taken by PKSenagore on April 8, 2019. All rights reserved

APRIL 15 FORECAST: MORE OF THE SAME IS POSSIBLE! The cold, raw, rainy, and windy weather conditions of the 2018 race may make a repeat appearance, says Boston meteorologist Terry Eliason, WBZ-TV’s executive weather producer.  Of course, 7 days out from race day the prediction can shift, she explains. However, Eliason indicates that one certainty is that the day is not likely to set any heat records.  A Sports Illustrated writer suggests that returning winners from last year, Des Linden (women) and Yuki Kawauchi (men) who seemed to benefit from the harsh weather would be similarly helped to repeat if the weather did too.
 
https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/04/08/boston-marathon-2019-weather-forecast/
https://www.si.com/edge/2018/12/10/2019-boston-marathon-defending-champions-des-linden-yuki-kawauchi

 
TV COVERAGE: NBC SPORTS WILL BROADCAST AGAIN THIS YEAR. Details of this and other ways to watch, as well as the various start times, are provided in an article by myworldevents.com.  Local coverage is through WBZ-TV which will offer streaming to New Englanders.  The NBC Sports App is identified as a source for live streaming outside of New England.
 
https://www.myworldevents.com/sports/boston-marathon.html
https://www.nbcsports.com/live
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/2019-Boston-Marathon-Banners-Unveiling-Bombing-Memorial-Update-507405191.html
 

PARA-ATHLETES WILL BE ABLE TO COMPETE in 2020 in a first-ever major marathon division for those with “vision, lower-limb, and upper limb impairments”
 
“Next year runners who meet the competitive standards will be racing for official recognition and prize money as the Boston Athletic Association introduces a new Para Athletic Division with categories for classified ambulatory athletes with vision, lower-limb, and upper-limb impairments.”
 
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2019/04/08/boston-marathon-blazes-progressive-trail-with-para-athletic-division/1WnO6BbWQss0uVlp8whV2J/story.html
 

WHO TO WATCH: START WITH THE RETURNING CHAMPIONS They will all be back to defend their titles and to bask, at least one more day, in the glory that comes with winning the Boston Marathon.  Des Linden and Yuki Kawauchi will be back in the women’s and men’s open races, as will wheelchair heroes Tatyana McFadden and Marcel Hug.
 
The elite field is stocked with exciting competitors from around the world. Check out the lists that were issued in January, in the article from Boston.com.  The USA elite team includes 29 athletes, in total, according to a December 2018 FloTrack.com piece by David Monti.
 
https://www.si.com/edge/2018/12/10/2019-boston-marathon-defending-champions-des-linden-yuki-kawauchi
https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-marathon/2019/01/10/elite-field-set-for-2019-boston-marathon
https://www.flotrack.org/articles/6293216-jordan-hasay-sara-hall-join-elite-2019-boston-marathon-field

START TIMES BEGIN at 9:02am and 9:04am Eastern Daylight Time, with the men’s then women’s push rim wheelchair events.  Hand cycles and duos take off at 9:25am. Elite women then elite men will hear the starter’s pistol at 9:32am and 10:00am respectively, followed by non-elite waves of runners.

https://www.myworldevents.com/sports/boston-marathon.html
 
If the weather is going to be harsh, it’s possible there will be another set of crazy finishes.  Last year 23 elites dropped out, which surely positively influenced the outcome for some who toughed it out to the end. Perhaps this year elites will have trained and planned better for environmental factors.
 
Consider watching at least a portion of the spectacle if you haven’t before now. You might be surprised at the excitement it can generate.
 
RUN & MOVE HAPPY!