Running in the Rain

Tomorrow morning, I’m scheduled to run 2 hours. That’s about 14 miles, give or take. As I type this, rain lashes at the window. Weather.com tells me there’s a 100% chance of rain tomorrow morning. By all accounts, it’s going to be heavy.

Running in a downpour: we’ve all done it, but we runners generally sort ourselves into about four categories when it comes to sprintin’ in the rain. Take the following quiz: Where do you belong?

1. I relish direct contact with elemental fury!

2. I hunker down and do it because I’d rather get wet than run 10 miles indoors.

3. I eschew sogginess but require exercise, so I bike, run or ellipt at the gym.

4. I pity da fools! I stay home and sleep in, have breakfast and read the paper.

I confess to having flirted with all four categories, but generally place myself between 1 and 2. That is, I wouldn’t choose to run in wind, rain, snow or blazing heat, but I prefer it to running in situ in a stuffy gym. And once I’m actually out there doing it, enjoyment invariably sneaks into the mix. By the last mile, I’m usually ecstatic to be finished, but have no regrets. Heck, I trained for my first marathon in El Nino, fer chrissake. Remember that, in ‘97? People were kayaking the Garden Street underpass.

If you’re like me, you don’t need any advice. But if you’re a “three” who would secretly like to be more “two-ish,” or even a “four” who needs a little excitement and is willing to try it, just once, here are some general tips for running in hard rain:

–Wear a cap with a bill. It keeps water off your face.

–Understand that you’re going to get soaked. Don’t try to stay dry by wearing a rain jacket. You’ll just get unbearably hot, and you’ll want to trash the thing 2 miles in.

–Wear tight, technical clothing. You’ll drown in heavy cotton, and anything loose will flap, drip and drive you nuts. I usually wear lycra tights and some sort of very snug long-sleeved polypropylene top. One layer is usually enough in our (relatively) mild temps.

–Smartwool socks keep your feet warm, and don’t trap moisture.

–If it’s chilly, wear gloves. Invest in a good pair made for running. The right gloves can make the difference between misery and joy. Trust me on this.

–If you’re wearing a heart rate monitor, don’t press any buttons after you start. I lost a $200 Polar watch by doing this, against the manufacturer’s advice.

–If you listen to music while running solo, encase your iPod or MP3 player in one of those tiny ziplock plastic bags that come with screws, jewelry or other assorted mini things. I save them up. Zip the ziplock as snugly as you can around the earphone cord. If you use an armband, you can still snap the player into the casing even if it’s sheathed in plastic. Turn it upside down, of course. I tuck my tiny iPod shuffle up into my hat.

–Be hyper aware of traffic. If you can, avoid it and run on bike paths or in quiet neighborhoods, especially if you’re listening to music. Trails are sketchy: they’re unstable, and foot traffic damages them when they’re wet.

–Sneak in the back door, preferably the one leading into the laundry room, and strip immediately. Enjoy an extra long hot shower, a hearty breakfast, and a cozy day reading, napping, or watching movies: you’ve earned it!

Which category do you belong to? Anything to add to the list? Challenges? Stories about running in the rain? Comments welcome.