HOUSTON — Road closures are set for Sunday’s huge Chevron Houston Marathon as thousands of runners rest up for what’s expected to be a grueling race.
The cold weather expected will make the race that much harder but it won’t be the coldest Houston marathon on record.
Over the 47-year history of this race, 1997 may hold the record for most miserable weather conditions when temperatures floated below freezing and sleet fell.
Believe it or not, runners are looking forward to the chilly start to the race.
For instance, the frosty, white glow coming off the Wings Over Water sculpture outside the George R. Brown Convention Center makes the temperature outside seem a little colder than it really is.
The fountain mimicking icicles.
For some of the almost 27,000 runners about to hit the pavement for the Houston marathon, the chilly conditions expected are perfect.
Ana Carroll is running in her eighth Houston marathon.
She said as long as the sun is out, it’s going to be gorgeous.
"It’s going to be a great race. I know that," Carroll said.
Temperatures will hover around 32 degrees at the start of the race.
However, the wind chill is going to make it feel in the mid-20s.
Cecilia Griffin is running her second Houston marathon.
“Once you start running it’s going to feel like 55," she said.
It’s a reminder that Mother Nature is not going to make the 26.2 mile race easy.
First time marathoner Eduardo Escobar is afraid of the wind.
“That will cut your ears, you lips, so you have to get covered up,” Escobar said.
It’s not just the runners braving the elements.
Spectators also have plans on how to stay warm as they cheer on their loved ones.
Runners hope the adrenaline of race day will fuel them through the finish line.
“I think the cold is going to make a little bit of a difference so we’re going to see how that goes," Escobar said. "Hopefully it won’t make that big of a difference but I’m going to get warmed up and layered up and throw away layers as I go.”
Tamra Brown is also running her first Houston marathon. Brown said she just wants to get through and finish.
“I’m excited about it," she said. "I think the weather will be good.”
Runners know weather conditions could be much worse.
They’re happy it’s not hot and humid, or raining.
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