2016 New York City Marathon: Headwind may pose challenges to some runners

November 4,2016; 11:52PM,EDT

 

 

More than 50,000 runners will trek through the five boroughs of New York City on Sunday, Nov. 6, for the 46th annual New York City Marathon.
A chilly but dry day is in store for the runners. However, there will be a breeze shifting from the northwest to the north that may affect the runners along the grueling 26.2-mile course.
The first wave to take the starting line will be the professional women racers at 9:20 a.m. EST. The last wave is set to start at 11 a.m. EST.

"Runners can leave rain gear behind as dry and partly sunny conditions will dominate on Sunday, but a chilly breeze may force onlookers to take out the jackets," AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff said.
While conditions will be mainly sunny for the event, a breeze averaging 10-20 mph will add some chill.
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"While head winds during much of the first three-quarters of the race will pose a challenge for some runners, the expected cool conditions should please most runners," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Laura Velasquez.
The forecast for this year's event looks promising for runners, according to Bart Yasso, chief running officer for Runner's World.
Even though temperatures to start the race are expected to be near 50 F, temperatures will slowly rise through the 50s by the time the event concludes during the afternoon.
Temperatures in the 50s are favorable, Yasso said. Highs in the upper 60s or lower 70s would be too warm, and temperatures in the high 30s or low 40s would be too cold for a lot of runners, he continued.
The start of the marathon is at the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in Staten Island and it can be "really breezy up there," Yasso, who has run the marathon three times, said.
Runners cross the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge at the start of the New York City Marathon, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
A crosswind blowing from left to right is likely over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. A nearly straight-on headwind is likely as the runners traverse Brooklyn and Queens. Over the Queensboro Bridge, a crosswind blowing from right to left is likely.
The wind will be at the runners' backs during much of the last part of the race from the Bronx to Central Park.
This story was written by AccuWeather Meteorologist Kyle Elliott with content contributed by AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski