Ryan Hall's Advice For Boston Marathoners

BOSTON (CBS) - Ryan Hall is set to run his third Boston Marathon on April 18th.

Now if the weather would just cooperate with his training.

The 28-year-old finished third in 2009 and fourth in 2010, setting the  record for fastest finish by an American last year at 2:08:40. This year he hopes to be become the first American to win the race since 1985.

The Boston winter has made it hard for Hall to train while in town. He was supposed to do a short training run with employees of John Hancock on Thursday. With snow banks nearly as tall as him (5-10), that run turned into a jog around the block.

Hall has the luxury to train back home in California. For those that have to stay in Boston year-round, he does have some advice.

"Get some good gear, it's totally worth it," Hall told WBZ-TV's Peg Rusconi. "The Asics Storm Cover jacket I wear, I don't know what I'd do without that thing. It pays off having good, quality gear."

Ryan Hall Works Out In Boston

On Wednesday, Hall was hoping to do a long run of the Marathon course. Instead he ran 11 miles at the Reggie Lewis Track in Boston, and then a few more miles on a treadmill. He is still holding out hope to run the course on Saturday.

Maybe Hall has not been watching the weather reports.

Ryan Hall Gives Advice To Runners Training For The MarathonThis Winter

The snow-covered running paths and icy streets in the city pose a danger for everyone training for the race. Although Hall does not like running on a treadmill, he does have on recommendation if it comes to that.

"I like to make them workouts because those go by much quicker," Hall said. "They're much more fun, and I can get through a workout on a treadmill. I have a hard time just doing 90-minutes straight, just one pace. That's really boring for me."

WBZ-TV is the only local station with live wire-to-wire coverage of the 2011 Boston Marathon on Monday, April 18th.