I have known most of my life that the weather updater person on the local TV news shows were never very accurate. Growing up my dad used to say, “The weatherman couldn’t predict a bowel movement, let alone the weather!”
More recently I spoke with someone who said they can only accurately predict 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after the weather happens.
I’m sad to say I forgot both of these lessons yesterday, and I paid for it with a run loss.
Yesterday it was in the 80’s (American), and the lead story on all the local news was that overnight the temps would drop to the 30’s and it would be WINDY. They were talking 45 mph (American) gusts. And that wind would be cold and would make it feel even colder outside.
Like a fool, I believed them. I mean, after all they had maps and satellite images and ‘futurecasting’ all used to dupe me.
I had planned to run hill repeats this morning, but when the alarm went off, I could hear the wind blowing against the house. I thought, “I don’t want to run up and down hills in the face of tornado like freezing winds.” So I slept in. Mistake.
It was a little windy, but then again it’s always kind of windy in North Texas. It was a little colder, but not the near freezing temps they had predicted. I should have run, it would’ve been perfectly fine. It’s actually quite lovely out.
Lesson learned, don’t trust the TV weather dude or lady. Another lesson: You can’t control the weather on race day – It could be hot, cold, windy, rainy, etc. So you might as well train in all conditions too.
Anybody else ever get tricked by the TV/Internet meteorologists? Does the weather ever adjust your running schedule?
-Scott
Piratebobcat 