Fall is upon us and that means the rainy season is just around the corner – at least in my part of the world!
There is no question that running in the rain comes with its challenges – it can be cold, being damp can exasperate chafing issues and who likes gutting it up a hill while water is dripping off the end of your nose?
I don’t love running on a treadmill and live in an area of the world where it rains a good 6 months of the year (they don’t call us “raincover” for nothing! So that means sucking it up and learning to enjoy running in the rain. I have found that I really dislike the first 15-20 minutes of a rainy run – that time when you aren’t quite wet yet and the process of GETTING wet is just unpleasant. But once I am completely wet I am resigned to the process and just power through. Most of the time.
My Best/Worst Rainy Run
When I say that once I’m wet I can power through a rainy run I am not being COMPLETELY honest. There is always that one exception. For me it was the “day of the self-cleaning pants”. It was early December and I was in training for my first marathon – skipping training days wasn’t an option at that time. I had hosted a Christmas brunch for friends that morning so was staring my run much later in the day than I usually would. Being December temperatures were fairly cold, and it was raining. Hard. As soon as I had cleaned up from the brunch I grabbed a fresh pair of running tights from my laundry basket, got suited up and hit the road.
My route at that time involved a 5km relatively flat warm-up, followed by a 3km HUGE hill followed by another 8km relatively flat middle section. I would then turn around and make my way back to my starting point. When I started out for my run on this cool December day I was resigned to it being a less than pleasant run. I was already grumpy due to my late start, and the rain was hard and very very cold. But I was determined to make it work.
I made it through my first 5km, which involved a lovely 1km section along the beach. I was thoroughly soaked through to the skin and my mood was not improving. I was cold, grumpy and just not feeling it. But like a good runner in training I was determined to make the run count. I approached the bottom of the BIG hill (it’s funny how they appear to be much larger when you’re grumpy) and started the long run to the top. Halfway up I looked down and couldn’t believe my eyes. I had SUDS forming at my knees and running down my legs! It seems when I washed my running tights not all of the detergent was rinsed out. The combination of my joints moving and the rain was causing suds to form and run down my legs. At that point all I could do was laugh.
I didn’t end up finishing my run that day. I got to the top of the hill and made it just 1km down the flat when I decided I had enough. I turned around, made my way back down the hill and eventually home where a hot shower was waiting for me.
Not all of my rainy runs have been that eventful. I have definitely had my share of enjoyable runs in the rain. And some that were less enjoyable but still not miserable. But the day of the self-cleaning pants did teach me a lesson. If you are COMPLETELY miserable on a run, listen to what your mind, body and maybe your pants are telling you. It’s ok to shorten your route, or even to make it an inside day and hit the gym instead.
What are your best running in the rain stories? Do you have any war stories to share? Tips for making a rainy run more enjoyable? I’d love to hear from you!!
