By Jason Islas
Lookout Staff

March 16, 2012 -- As southern California braces for a late winter storm this weekend, Honda L.A. Marathon planners are preparing for a repeat of last year's soggy race while Santa Monica canceled its Buy Local expo.

Marathon participants, who will run their last three and a half miles through Santa Monica this Sunday, are likely to get a chilly drenching this year, much like they did last year. Only, this time, Marathon planners are doing their best to prepare.

"Though the weather forecast changes daily, runners should be prepared for the event of rain
to help keep them more comfortable during the race," said Dr. Glen Ault, medical director for the Honda L.A. Marathon.

Ault offers tips on running in the rain. They include avoiding cotton or other absorbent materials, changing into dry clothes halfway through the marathon and again at the end, wearing a trash bag or poncho before the race starts, and avoiding manhole covers and other metal surfaces while running.

The storm is expected to start late Friday night and continue through Monday, bringing with it a half an inch of rain over the course of the weekend, according to weather reports.

Sunday is when temperatures are expected to drop the lowest – into the 50s, reports say.

Last year, firefighters and volunteers treated runners for mild hypothermia after they had spent hours in the rain.

This year, “there will be warming buses located on Colorado with water for each bus and additional buses will follow the last runners to be staged at medical stations along the course as warming
buses,” according to Marathon officials.

There will also be heaters at the medical tents at the Santa Monica finish line, at Ocean Avenue near the Pier.

Santa Monica will also be postponing its Buy Local expo, scheduled for Saturday afternoon, as a result of the storm in the hopes that a weekend with better weather will give visitors a chance to enjoy it under clear skies.