Grandma's Marathon 2011: Aid Stations, Weather, And More

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As a weather person by trade, yours truly is quite happy to take the opportunity to inform you of what the forecast for tomorrow morning's marathon is going to look like. And remember, if the forecast isn't 100% accurate, as a weather guy you don't generally expect me to be right anyway.

Unfortunately, it does not look like great weather at the moment for tomorrow's race. The forecast for tomorrow's starting time is for cloudy skies and rain with temperatures of right around 50 degrees and winds coming out of the northeast at around 12 to 14 miles an hour. The rain is likely going to persist all day long, the temperatures will fluctuate a bit between the upper 40s and the lower 50s, and the winds will persist out of the northeast at the same speed all through the entirety of the race. So, if you're going out to cheer on the runners, be sure to bring your umbrella and a jacket of some sort.

For the folks that are running the full Grandma's Marathon, you will find water and Powerade at mile markers 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24,and 25. There will also be packets of Clif Shot Energy Gel (one of the race's official sponsors) available at mile 17. You will be given your time splits at the 1-mile, 5-mile, 6.2-mile (quarter point), 10-mile, 13.1-mile (halfway point), 15-mile, 20-mile, and 25-mile points, as well as at the finish. There will be first-aid tents every other mile between mile 3 and mile 17, and every mile between mile 20 and the end of the race. The medical tents, which are more extensive than the first-aid tents, will be located at mile 13, mile 16, mile 19, and mile 22.

If you're running the Garry Bjorklund Half-Marathon, your water/Powerade stations will be located at mile markers 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. You will be given your time splits at the 2-mile, 5-mile, 10-kilometer, and 10-mile points. Your first aid tents will be found at mile markers 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12, while the medical tents will be at mile markers 3, 6, and 9.

For both races, there is also a medical tent at the finish line.

Also, if you are running, you are allowed to wear headphones on the course. USA Track and Field lifted the ban on headphones on USATF-certified courses, which the Grandma's Marathon is, in December of 2008. So, if you want to have your tunes with you while you run. . .and the battery on your music player of choice will last that long. . .you can feel free to have it on while you're running the 2011 Grandma's Marathon. However, the race organizers warn you that you do so at your own risk.