Do I need a rain jacket?

[RunawayBetty]

Yippie, I completed week 4 yesterday!! And I am so happy to finally see the famous and dreaded week 5 coming up!

This week's purpose was obviously to show me that one can run in all weathers:

Run 1: 0°C, blue sky

Run 2: 14 °C, very windy

Run 3: 8°C, rain

What I enjoyed most was the 0° run. The windy run was not that pleasant, especially because it was too warm to get that superhero-feeling I got from runs 1 and 3.

The rain run showed me that my 8 year old "storm fit" jacket is really only that - strorm fit, not rain fit. When I came home, I was wet to the bone, although the rain had been rather moderate. But I did feel warm, and after the run I take a shower anyway, so I am thinking that maybe I don't need a rain jacket at all? Also I imagine running in a rain jacket like running in a plastic bag, and I would prefer being wet from the rain to being wet from the sweat that is building up under my jacket.

So, what are your experiences with running in the rain? Would it make sense to invest in a rain jacket?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done on your progress.

The trouble with rain jackets is that you get wet from the inside out, rather than from outside.

Once you are wet, you can't get any wetter.

I have a lightweight windproof as an extra layer, which can be tied around my waist if needs be. Only used in very cold weather.

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Everyone is different in what they need on a run . For me I just get soaked as I did on Mondays run. Once you're wet you're wet right. 😊😊

[useitorloseit Graduate]

I haven't got a rain jacket, but if it's bad, I usually put my hi viz vest over my ordinary running gear and the rain seems to slide off it a bit, plus it's bright pink and makes me more visible! Doesn't matter really if you get wet as you always strip off and go in the shower after anyway!

[Womangolfer Graduate]

I just wear a light wind proof top. A cap is a must in the rain as I wear glasses and end up not being able to see!

[Smelliepoo Graduate]

I wear a cap to stop the rain in my eyes, I do wear glasses, but don't wear them while running (not that bad eyesight, but necessary for any detail!) I don't wear a rain jacket and have had a few runs in the rain now and I actually don't mind it at all. I just have a wicking top. The first few minutes are a bit chilly, but once I have warmed up it is not a problem. I have a shower after cooling down sufficiently so that I am no longer sweating and I have a steamer in my shower too, so I get nice and toasty afterwards.

I think if you are always warm and covered you just don't appreciate the warmth and snugglyness of the after run as much!

[Smelliepoo Graduate in reply to Smelliepoo]

And a big well done for getting to where you are! X

[RunawayBetty Graduate in reply to Smelliepoo]

Good point!! Yes, I think sometimes you just have to get wet to know what "dry and cosy" is.

[Big_maz]

Well done I just finished wk4 like I was not wanting to do it but after I felt better onward to wk5 😲

[Twizzyjojo]

Fantastic! Well done 😊😊

[Wenderwoo Graduate]

I bought one recently, but would only use it if it was bucketing down. I’ve run in drizzly rain and got wet through, but found it quite exhilarating. Well done on completing W4 😁

[Granspeed Graduate]

Happy end of Week 4. 😄 Well done. I like your weather research data too. 😊 I repurposed a cycling jacket for winter running, mostly because it’s hi viz and has really useful pockets. But I only use it for rain in real deluge because it does keep me very warm, even with every vent open! 🥵 In general, I don’t mind getting wet once I’m on the move and warm. And I try not to leave home in heavy rain! 😨

[RunawayBetty Graduate]

A big thank you to all of you! I think I will do like most of you do and just enjoy getting wet - maybe that's the whole point of running in the rain. And probably that's just what gives you that superhero feeling. Maybe I'll get a rain jacket for when it rains torrentially. But to be honest I think the gremlins won't let me go out then anyway, so I might as well just wait for the rain to subside.