Storms, round two: So yesterday I was planning... - Couch to 5K

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Storms, round two

Eiralas profile image
EiralasGraduate
22 Replies

So yesterday I was planning on another run after work. At 4pm, heading over to the library, I thought it felt quite close and a little 'stormy'. Checked lightning maps when I got back to my office, and no sign of any storms anywhere in the UK. Must be imagining it.

At 5:30pm I'm thinking I should stop what I'm doing and head home for that run. I look out the window. Quite a lot of grey clouds, and a few drops of rain on the window. Check lightning maps again, still no evidence of storms.... No, wait... A red dot just appeared south of Bishop Auckland. A few seconds later and another to the west, then another to the north - definitely moving this way. I hear a very faint rumble of thunder from that last one. Bother. Not again!

The rain is now coming down quite heavily, purposeful rain that means business. I'm not walking home in this. Lightning over Spennymoor now, thunder getting louder. Rain gets heavier, and then heavier still; the water is pouring off the roof, the drain right beneath my window is filling up fast. The just when I think it can't get any worse, it does. Sheets of water are cascading out of the sky, it's more water than air out there, the drain is now about a foot deep in water and it's still pouring down. Thank goodness I'm not actually walking home. Then a pang of guilt - I remember the cat went out this morning when I left for work. I hope you've found somewhere to shelter, little pussycat!

Lightning maps shows storm is heading off towards Newcastle. Rain calms down a bit, back to regular heavy rain. I may as well just carry on working. 6:30pm, realise I need another book from the library. Rain is much gentler, library is just next door - scoot over. Eventually I find the book I need, and head to the exit. I don't believe it! The rain is back - serious, heavy, 'you'll get drenched in 10 seconds' rain. I contemplate running though it, but I'll have to use the side door and it's out of hours, there's a risk it will be locked. If it is I'll have to go all the way along to the other end of the chain of buildings to get in - decide I'm not risking it and start to read my book while waiting for the rain to slacken. After 10 minutes it does ease off, and I rush over to the side door - thank goodness, it's still unlocked!

Settle down to do more work while waiting for the rain to reduce to sensible levels, 'I can walk home' levels. Eventually leave at 8pm. Blue sky appearing, this would be lovely weather to run in - but by the time I get in and sorted out it will 8:30pm, and I'm already ridiculously hungry. Plus I need to finish the work I was doing. I guess my run tonight is off - the storm won that one!

I can only conclude that thinking of running = 🌩⚡️⛈🌧🌧💦💦💧💧💧💧

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Eiralas profile image
Eiralas
Graduate
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22 Replies
UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate

I think some of us over did it with the rain dances last week 😂

I think you made the right decision, while not as definitive as thirst/hydration, hunger can mean you don’t have the fuel you will need.

Eiralas profile image
EiralasGraduate in reply toUnfitNoMore

Oh I don't function well without food, let alone trying to run without food 😜

BaddieThePirate profile image
BaddieThePirateGraduate

I only run in the sun. Have deduced I must be solar powered ⛅️🌤☀️

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate in reply toBaddieThePirate

😂😂😂

Eiralas profile image
EiralasGraduate in reply toBaddieThePirate

Best not plan to run with me then, since I seem to conjure storms 😉

Fabulous450 profile image
Fabulous450Graduate

Well Eiralas it wasn’t for the want of trying and though a bit of a shower is ok, you might not have benefited from having any difficult in your footing. You’re determined and that’s what matters most! The storm won yesterday, but you’ll be back!! You are the storm!! ✊🏽❤️

Eiralas profile image
EiralasGraduate in reply toFabulous450

Cheers Fabulous! Motivational as always 😄 I'd have needed to run in wellies I think, and that probably wouldn't have gone well...

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserGraduate

You made the right decision, light rain’s ok but heavy rain isn’t good. You sound a bit like me with barbecues and picnics: We planned a big family picnic for Sunday just gone three months ago and Sunday was the first day we’d had any substantial rain since about the time I first arranged it! My poor hubby stood at the barbecue instead, in full wet weather gear, he looked like he was working on a trawler 😂😂

Eiralas profile image
EiralasGraduate in reply toTailChaser

Ah poor hubby! But isn't that how barbecues work? One poor person has to stand outside with an umbrella and pair of tongs, while everyone else watches from the house? 😂

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserGraduate in reply toEiralas

🤣🤣🤣

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate

What a fantastic weather report you gave on that developing thunderstorm, Eiralas, you should work for the Met Office, I just hope your cat sheltered from the storm. Unlike rain weather fronts which you can see coming on a rain radar chart, thunderstorms tend to develop quickly, so one moment you might not see any rain or lightning on a radar chart, 10 minutes later the charts are red with heavy rain and plenty of lightning like what happened as you described.

Eiralas profile image
EiralasGraduate in reply toAlMorr

Cheers - yes this one really did seem to come out of nowhere, it was almost like I thought 'ooh I should go running' and bam, there was the lightning and the rain. I think the cat has just about forgiven me - she was very spiky when I got home 😳

_SimonT_ profile image
_SimonT_Graduate

Oh well Eiralas you know what they say - it’s the thought that counts!

I’d say you won that round - the rain only wins if it gets you! ☔️

Eiralas profile image
EiralasGraduate in reply to_SimonT_

I like your attitude!

P.S. Where was that umbrella when I needed it...?

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate

The most important thing about this post is that you’re from the north east! Yippee!

Eiralas profile image
EiralasGraduate in reply toTasha99

Ooh are you up this way too?

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate in reply toEiralas

Middlesbrough so not too far 👌🏽

Eiralas profile image
EiralasGraduate in reply toTasha99

Not far at all!

jessieb887 profile image
jessieb887Graduate

Oh no hope the cat wasn’t too cross when you got home 🙊 I can’t imagine anything worse than running in torrential downpours! We got caught out by one with the kids yesterday and it was the weirdest experience ever, we heard it coming from behind us?! Xx

Eiralas profile image
EiralasGraduate in reply tojessieb887

Safe to say, she was Not Impressed, but I think I'm forgiven now...

That sounds pretty unpleasant! There's nothing you can do when you're caught in one of those - you just end up sopping wet. Must have been surreal hearing it coming like that before it hit!

jessieb887 profile image
jessieb887Graduate in reply toEiralas

Honestly I’ve never experienced anything like that it was bizarre, ye we were all in tshirt a too safe to say we were dripping lol.

Eiralas profile image
EiralasGraduate in reply tojessieb887

Oh no! 😮

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