A powerful storm threatens to drench runners and spectators of the Boston Marathon but a race official said on Thursday the world’s oldest annually run footrace would go ahead as planned.
Near-freezing temperatures, rain and gale-force winds are forecast for Monday’s race which could make it one of the toughest since runners first competed in the hilly course in 1897.
“It is going to be a wet one but it is going to be full speed ahead,” said Guy Morse, executive director of the Boston Athletic Association, which organises the race.
Olympic bronze medallist Deena Kastor will face 2006 winner Rita Jeptoo from Kenya and runner-up Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia in the women’s race which is garnering all the attention this year.
The men’s race will feature Kenya’s Robert Cheruiyot, who set a course record when he captured his second Boston title last year.
The marathon has never been cancelled because of inclement weather.