Best technique for getting through a huge puddle? Channel your inner Basilisk Lizard!

[MissUnderstanding]

It seems like the Bridge to 10k has been flooded recently! All the rain has created some mega puddles. I encountered this one (pictured) on my run today. My question to all of you is what do you do when faced with such an unexpected watery obstacle? Turn around and find another route? Walk slowly and delicately around the edge trying not to create any waves? Jog on as if nothing usual is in your way?

I’d recommend making like a basilisk lizards and taking it at a sprint! Basilisk lizards have special toes that enable them to run on the surface of water for several metres. I had my trust Brooks Hyperion Tempos. It would be fair to say that my technique was not exactly successful but I was up on my toes more than usual so my feet didn’t get as wet as I thought they might. Splashing at (what felt like) high speed did put a massive smile on my face!

The rest of the run had smaller puddles that could be avoided, although at one point I was running up a river cascading down a hill. It shouldn’t have been fun but it was. The hot shower at the end felt extra good!

Anyone else feel like they’re swimming as much as running at the moment? Hope you’ve found some ways to enjoy yourselves!

[Shake-and-run Graduate10]

WOW that's a big puddle. I'm lucky in that my Brooks GTX Ghost 14's are gore-tex and water proof. Usually my feet stay dry and warm. At the Milton Keynes Half they worked very well until the last mile. We had been warned about the puddle (don't wear your pretty new shoes) but by the time I reached it it had been raining heavily for over an hour. There was no way round it so it was a case of go for it. The water came straight over the top of my shoes. It was icy cold on my warm tootsies and I squealed... quite loudly... in a very girlie way. Shoes dried out overnight when stuffed with industrial strength blue paper towel.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Shake-and-run]

Ooh, goretex trainers….that’s a good excuse to go sale shopping! Wow, that race sounds like a tough but fun one. I can just feel the icy feet and I’d have been squealing too-I bet you weren’t the only one…you deserved an extra big medal at the end!!!

[Katnap Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

The medal was worth it! 🐱👍

[nowster Graduate10]

My shoes are not waterproof. At some point in runs I have to accept that my feet will get wet. Socks help a lot.

I will usually tiptoe round the edge if possible. If not, I try to get through on the shallower bits.

But for the last couple of days Storm Gerrit with its 60-80mph gusts has made it impossible to run safely here. Boxing Day was calm and I got a 6km run in then.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Tiptoeing is my usual tactic too-today I think I must have been high on the sugar from eating a lot of Christmas sweets! Totally agree about good socks being underrated.

Great run on Boxing Day. The weather has been spectacularly awful recently. Hopefully it’ll calm down soon and normal run service will resume!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

I've never seen a puddle that big (except when I was traversing canals this summer )

For more normal puddles I skip across them and rely on my Balega socks to wick the cold and wet away.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

I’ve never tried Balega socks but they get such good reviews that I might need to spend some Christmas money on some! I bought a whole load of socks when I started running two years ago and they’ve all got holes in. It’s a nice excuse to try some new ones! Buying run kit is such a fun thing to do.

I wish we lived nearer a canal. They make such great run routes!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I've got 2 pairs of Balegas, black and fluorescent pink. I bought the pink ones because I kept putting the black ones on dark surfaces and losing them. They are great, a couple of seconds of 'AAAGH! Wet Feet!!' then fine again.

Happy shopping

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

I need to look now ! Thank you

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I'm always worried about falling in!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Embrace the puddles!! (not sure I could do that for MissUnderstanding 's lake 😂)

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

Nor me !!!

[chrisl72 Graduate10]

Pretty certain I would have turned around tbh!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to chrisl72]

That would have been a totally justified course of action!! I did seriously consider changing my plan from an out and back to a circular route avoiding it but by I figured I was already wet and couldn’t get much wetter so I might as well go through it twice!!

[chrisl72 Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

In for a penny...!

[Annieapple]

🤣🤣Best post ever. Straight to Google to look up this luscious lizard!!

I once tried jumping across a very deep puddle and ended up on my rear end! Very embarrassing! My phone fell out my pocket and was full of mud … fortunately hubby was with me. His long legs had made it over safely. It took days to clean phone, trainers and clothing! Not in too much of a rush to do it again in trainers! 🤣

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Annieapple]

😂😂 oh no!! Poor you falling in the puddle-that’s exactly the sort of thing I’d do! I’ve fallen in one out walking in hiking boots-I was trying to climb along a hedge and slipped. The water was so deep it went over the top of my boots!!! It’s all character building…

Those lizards with their walking-on-water skills are so impressive. Much more impressive that me! Luckily at least it was quiet out and there was no one around to laugh at me!!

[Annieapple in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Clever little things. I googled them! You are so clever with your writing!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Annieapple]

EEEK!!!!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

I have come across a large puddle like the one in the photo while out a walk, I turned back the way I had come.

[Annieapple in reply to AlMorr]

🤣Wise man!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Annieapple]

See my reply to MissUnderstanding Annie

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

That’s a very sensible plan! We get so many big puddles around here that they’re often a normal part of a walk. Much easier in walking boots than running trainers!!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

That part of my walking, running and cycling route where the large puddles were is no longer prone to flooding, in February of this year the council drained all the water away, diverted a stream which flooded the path then put new drainage in to avert any more flooding, two years ago before the new drainage system was put in I had my walking boots on a waded through ankle deep water, that was a Sunday morning, the following Wednesday I knew not to run on that particular part which remained flooded.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

OH MY!!!! That is a real flood... I splash through puddles, but that is something else... ! Go you... embracing your inner lizard!!!!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

I’m all about the animals! I often feel like an over enthusiastic Labrador, drunken elephant and (rarely) a gazelle. I can add sprinty lizard to mg list!!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I'm elephant...but dainty 🤣 ballerina like on muddy bits!

[Madge50 Graduate10]

having seen others attempt to go around edges and slip in the process, I vouch for straight through the middle! - and have done on many an occasion!

( Much to the disgust of some runners next to me at some parkruns trying to tippytoe and not get too wet 😂……..)

However, that is with the caveat of awareness of what you can or cannot see (or are aware of) under the puddle….- not recommended if it’s an unknown pothole etc.,

I do like splashing in puddles….😄🏃‍♀️

Mx

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Madge50]

You’re right about knowing the depth…I’ve been caught out by that before!! I also totally agree about how much fun splashing through puddles is!!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Oh yes..someone said to me...that's how you recognise a real runner!!

[Madge50 Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

My ‘friends’ know not to run near me when there are puddles….😂

Mx

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Madge50]

😂😂😂

[Katnap Graduate10]

Love this post!

I've used pretty much every strategy named and it depends on the puddle and where it is. Usually I will avoid but in a race just run through it and use the basilisk technique.

On a muddy trail, skirting around the edges can be more slippery than taking the plunge. I can't honestly recall falling into a puddle when going through the middle of it but many a time I've slipped into one I tried to avoid! 🤣

Paving and roads can be uneven (hence the puddle) and may hide a trip hazard so if you aren't sure and can't avoid it then walk and get wet feet then carry on.

🎄🐱 Xmas Katnap 🐱🎄

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Katnap]

Snap!! I’ve often fallen in when I’ve been skirting the edge. Perhaps going straight through should be my new years’ resolution!!!

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

As long as it’s a path or track I know, I tend to just jog through big old puddles…it can often be easier and less slippy than navigating around the outside, I think. Also, it makes me feel like a child again!! Oh, and I don’t really mind wet feet!🤣💦🏃‍♀️💦

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Snap! Did you start running in winter by any chance? Wet feet was my default for months! It’s so much fun embracing behaving like a kid. I only wish someone else was washing my wet kit when I got home like when I was a youngster! 😂😂😂

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

🤣 Yes, I returned to running in October (8 yrs ago) and it was a pretty wet winter now I think of it! When we had an extension a few years ago we had a downstairs shower room/utility put in, so I can return from a muddy run and go straight into the shower and chuck dirty clothing in to the washing, machine! 👍

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

#housegoals!!! I’ve got a decent sized porch which is full of trainers in various stages of drying and some soaking wet socks on a radiator after this morning’s run! It’s a constant battle at the moment! Even when it’s not raining, the ground is like a stream.

[GoogleMe Graduate10]

There was a long phase in my running where it wasn't a proper run if I'd not been ankle deep in something wet. I should perhaps get back to that.

That road looks fairly safe, especially run through on the right but I'd be wary in some places because of the risk of lifted drain covers.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to GoogleMe]

I did couch to 5k in January two years ago so wet feet is my default setting! Have fun rediscovering yours. You’re right to point out about not knowing what’s under the water. I’m lucky that I know this route well and the only unexpected surprise down there is likely to be horse poo!