If you run and die in Boston it is not on the BAA

I'm confused by some of the language, and maybe it is just because I've never looked into going to Boston... but...

Since I think you have to BQ to enter, and a BQ is not a inconsequential acheivment, why would they be "advising out-of-shape runners, inexperienced runners" to be cautious.  I can't see an out of shape or inexperienced runner making it to start.

That was my exact question. Are there lottery spots or foundation spots of some kind?

There are charity runners who do not have to qualify.  

My husband would defer (if he was running this year)as he has a history of problems with the heat.  

Are they concerned just because 88 is extremely high of a temperature for April in Boston?

I guess I thought most IM events were in the 80s or warmer - thinking Louisville here - does WTC urge people not to do their events either in hot temperatures? 

And the charity runners start in the last wave, so in addition to generally being less experienced then the bulk of the field (the qualifiers), they will be on the course later into the afternoon heat.  Particularly bad combination and several thousand charity runners in the field.

I was wondering about that, too, if they were just taking extra consideration since people from cooler parts of the country haven't trained in heat for a good 9 months or so.

I did an Oly tri last summer and the heat index was over 100. They didn't issue any sort of warning. Oh, and the race sucked!

Sure and I train in 90F plus temps here in LA every summer...

...but A) not everyone lives out here, B) this isn't summer and the field for Boston has been training over the winter, and C) there's also the issue of heat plus humidity...not an issue in Vegas (or the San Fernando Valley, where I live), but a disastrous combo in the East, Midwest, and South.  The big problems in the Chicago Marathon a couple years back were in temperatures only in the upper 80s...the heat index was a lot higher than that because of the typical humidity associated with high temps in the non-desert parts of the country...you just don't perspire as effectively with higher humidity.

you can run a marathon in those conditions.

you will run it slower.

I guess that's nice of the BAA- but I recently qualified by a paltry 1 min and 45 sec.  I thought I had a pretty good shot at getting in next April and have been dreaming about spending my 49th birthday next year in Boston.  Now- with all these Deferred runners- who ran 5 min slower than me, I may not get a spot.  

life's a bioch  

so- I'm encouraging everyone in the men's 45-49 age group to enjoy their race tomorrow.  Don't bother with the PR, so just enjoy the experience at a suitable pace for the temps.

You can legitimately qualify for Boston with a great time far in advance of the current year's race and then get injured sometime between your qualifying race and Boston.  So, its very conceivable that you could qualify with a great time but then be out of shape come race day due to injury that you may have recovered from but you just haven't enough time to get back to the shape you were in when you qualified.

tons actually...bandits have been part of Boston for much of its history

If they want to give deferals, fine. BUT with one exception, you have to qualify again to guarantee your spot. 

The whole deferal to next year w/o have to requalify again is BS ihmo.  If it is too hot for you, go home and qualify again.  If you are out of shape charity runner and it is too hot for you, go home and raise $5000 again next year.

Did Chicago Marathon in the heat (2010) and it was hotter than Boston and the only thing we got was "Be Careful".  More than enough for me.  Sure it sucked, but that is life as a runner.   But maybe we triathletes have a little more HTFU in us as we schedule IM/HIM's that are regularly 90's and we don't complain (much).  Maybe IM Loiusville will give out deferals if it hits 90....hahahahaha.

Problem is, it is their race and they can do what they want.  I imagine most people will still run.  Most are already there (well, they better be there now).  I suspect the warning and deferral is more about making people think more then anything. 

A friend of mine is running this morning. Looks like he is struggling.