I can say from being there that you live on a different level for that time. If the weather is just "normal" weather for this race you only think of the storm in an abstract way. Where do we want to be when it hits.

Once it gets crazy you go into survival mode. I don't know how to explain it. If you find yourself questioning if you should go out. Don't. It requires you operating on a level mentally that some people just don't have.