Saturday 13th October. 2 weeks before the Dublin Marathon 2018. I heard the rain before I got up. I knew from the sound of it that it was here to stay for a few hours. When I got up my phone confirmed my suspicions. Excellent. I really enjoy running in the rain and I was going to get to run for 18 miles in it. You probably think I’m nuts! Maybe I am, or maybe not. I don’t like the freezing cold pelting down rain that hurts your skin. But all other rain makes for great running.
Running in the rain is one of those rare times that it doesn’t matter if you are getting wet fully-clothed. How often can you step out of your front door and say this? Not often. We spend so much of our time worrying about how to keep dry when we go outside in to the rain. Whether it’s going to work, school, the shops, lunch, dinner, anywhere. So when you can put one foot out the door and not care about getting wet, it is liberating. Rain, hail or shine you will be going home to change your clothes and shower anyway so it makes no odds that you are getting drenched in the process. And after you shower, change and rehydrate with water you’ll have the best cup of tea ever!
We had a particularly dry period the past few months. When the first bit of rain resurfaced a few weeks ago before a run, I did what is instinctive in most of us. I thought what will I wear to keep dry? It is like this fear creeps in and all you can think of is what you can do to not get wet. I routed through my running gear drawer looking for something with long sleeves. When I was about to go out the door I stopped in my tracks. I didn’t need long sleeves just because it was raining. I ripped it off and ran out the door in my usual running vest and shorts. I’d missed the cooling down factor that rain gives you when running.
When I was out this morning the rain never gave way. 2 hours 14 minutes of running. My shorts were so wet they began to weigh me down. Which reconfirmed my theory that less is best when you’re running in the rain as your clothes get heavier when they are wet so the more you have on, the heavier they will be. People often ask me about wearing rain gear when you run. My answer is the same. Don’t worry about getting wet. In any case, I have yet to come across running rain gear that keeps you dry without you passing out in the process from over-heating, as breathability is compromised from the rain proof element.
Getting wet aside there are other great things about running in the rain. Because of people’s in built fear of getting wet, there are less people out and about walking, cycling etc. so there is a certain calmness to running in the rain. I find it almost therapeutic. Your surroundings take on a different look and feel. Today the coastline in both Clontarf and Sandymount were breath taking. Vast and still. If I run with my phone I would have taken photos. Actually I’m glad I don’t as running is one of my rare treasured screen free moments.
Running is a great way to get some time out and to think. No distractions. Running in the rain seems to heighten my thinking senses. Most of my ideas are generated when I am running. The hard part is putting these thoughts in to action post run. Which I am glad to say that I am now doing as one of my thoughts on this morning’s run was that I must write a blog about it! Which I couldn’t do without mentioning one of my most surreal running moments.
October 2005. The morning of my first marathon, the Dublin City Marathon. I was walking down Grafton Street, one of the most popular affluent shopping streets in Dublin City Centre. I was wearing a black bin liner over my running gear walking to the start line. It was one of the most surreal and memorable moments of my life. The best thing about it was that it totally distracted me from the mammoth 26.2 running miles that lay ahead of me. About 2.5 hours later the rain stopped. And the sun came out. And I crossed the finish line looking like a semi drowned rat but feeling like a million dollars!
If after reading this you decide to embrace the rain instead of shirk away from it, you will be glad to know of one more thing. All the years of trying to combat the imbedded fear of getting caught out in the rain, has given us a built in ability to move faster in the rain. It must be from all our scurrying from shelter to shelter to get away from it. So when you run in the rain you may find yourself running faster than usual. Maybe you want your run to be finished faster so you can get out of the rain! Or you may be releasing more endorphins from the feeling of freedom of not worrying about getting wet. I noticed after my run this morning that I did it 2 minutes faster than my previous 18 mile run 4 weeks ago. Same route, time of day and running gels. The only differentiating factor was the rain. Maybe there’s some truth to the lyrics of Frank Sinatra’s I’m Singing in Rain and you will find yourself signing the lyrics (in your head I hope!) next time you’re going for a run in the rain…..
I’m singing in the rain, just singing in the rain, what a glorious feeling, and I’m happy again….
© Coast Road Runners 2024