Scheer et al. 2021, Optimal ambient conditions at the Berlin Marathon

Analysis of world-record and world-class performances at the Berlin Marathon. The optimal ambient temperature was low but higher than the often-quoted 8 to 12°C (around 18.6°C for men’s records, 13.1°C for women’s on a small female sample). The exact optimum varies by dataset, sex and pace, so it is best read as a low band rather than a single number. Moderate.