What are those aluminum foil-looking capes people wear after finishing a marathon?

They help to keep your body temperature from dropping too fast, I think.

I can’t remember where I heard that, but I could be totally wrong.

That’s a great question. With advances in thermodynamics we have come to be aware that there are rays which emanate from the Venusian atmosphere. Tin foil is the only known protection, hence the blankets. This frustrates Venusians to no end and makes Plutonians giddy with laughter. Normally the epidermis has the capacity to sufficiently protect us except after a heavy workout at which point the pores are significantly opened to allow the respiration of the skin. The Interplanetary Council of Rogue Planets is well aware of this and are diligently working to exploit this weakness and break down the human resistance to Venusian viruses. And in fact they are encouraging marathons and other useless activities through such well known aliens as Buster Martin. It’s been very difficult to convince people of the threat but the blankets are a simple way to avoid the vulnerability without having to convince the masses.

lol!

I’m pretty sure they are heat reflecting blankets.
Also, you may want to reconsider your use of the word ‘retarded’ to indicate ‘bad’ or ‘stupid’. It’s offensive to many people.

Thanks guys! @timeand_distance Yeah, I had a hunch that it had something to do with body temperature or @augustian outside heat.

Yes, I’m aware that the word “retarded” is offensive to many people. And frankly, I don’t really care. I’m not trying to be a bitch about it – it really just does not bother me when I offend people with the language I choose to use. In my opinion, those people should get the stick out of their behinds and stop being so sensitive. If they are going to interpret my use of the word “retarded” in this scenario as “this post-marathon garment is mentally handicapped”, well then….they might actually be mentally handicapped themselves. But thanks for the heads up- a lot of people do use such language and actually aren’t aware that it offends people.

I’ve completed over 50 marathons since 1981 and I agree that the “aluminum foil-looking capes” do look funny. Most of them seem to be made of some sort of plastic matrix with a silver color coating of some sort. They do offer some amount of heat retention until runners can change out of their wet clothes and into dry ones when weather conditions are cold. When I’m exhausted, wet and cold, I really don’t care what people think of my silver colored plastic cape. That is their problem.