Wet run, dry reward!

[MissUnderstanding]

I’ve been struggling a bit to get going with my running lately. It hasn’t helped that I’ve had a stinky cold. This morning, I woke up feeling grotty but after breakfast, I was feeling a bit better so decided to go out for a relaxed run and enjoy myself. I was scrolling for a guided run to keep me company but nothing took my fancy. Instead, I decided to channel my post c25k consolidation time and just go with music and a watch for a timer. Classic dance anthems with Charlie Hedges loaded up. Shoes on. Headphones paired. Looked out of the window…rain. Not just a little bit of rain. Epic rain.

At that point, there were two competing desires in my head. Go out and run as planned. Sit on the sofa and stay dry, I decided on a sort of compromise. Head out for five minutes and if I was having a horrible time, turn around and come back. Five minute warm up walk and off I went!

There is something absolutely superhuman about running in the rain. Once you’ve got so wet, you can’t get any wetter it becomes amazing fun. I haven’t run in such hideous weather for a while and I’d forgotten how alive it can make you feel. Ten minutes long the gently undulating lane and I was loving it. At that point, it was starting to brighten up so I turned off to run up my favourite hill. It has the perfect combination of slopes to challenge and flat parts to recover. I do this route often and today, it felt great.

By the time I hit the top, the rain had stopped and suddenly I was HOT. Luckily the rest of the run was downhill so I enjoyed picking up a little to generate a bit of a breeze. Whether the extra effort cancelled out the cooling effect of this, I don’t know but it was great for the mood! Twenty seven minutes after I started, I reached a good place to stop and walked home. It’s a great feeling to end when you feel like you’ve got more to give.

I wonder if c25k makes us think that a run has to be thirty minutes to be a good run. Mine was excellent at twenty seven today. It would still have been just as excellent at ten minutes because I’d have made it out. Every run we do is a win, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

I’ve now dried off and popped to the library to collect a book and cash in a free coffee. I read Vassos Alexander’s first book (Don’t Stop Me Now) recently and loved it. Excited to start this one. 🏃‍♀️ 🏃‍♀️ 🏃‍♀️

[Hidden]

Rain is something I tolerate if the conditions are right (not too cold or windy). I have got to the point where I cant get any wetter but can't say I enjoy it. However, if the rain stops and brightens up and I am still soaked through it seems worse than when it was raining.

I saw these umbrella hats on line, the idea seems great but can you imagine going out with one of those on your head?

I think they may be a good Christmas gift idea for the other runners in our group, I would just love to see their faces opening one of those. As a group we would probably go out wearing them for a laugh, but I would not dare on my own.

Umbrella Hat

[MissUnderstanding Administrator in reply to Hidden]

I totally agree that rain and wind together can be really miserable, especially if the wind is constantly in your face (as somehow or other it always seems to be!). Those umbrella hats are brilliant. They make my serious black cap look very dull. I would be a bit concerned about an impromptu Mary Poppins-esque flight if it was very windy though!

You want it to stop raining at just the right point in a run. If you’re still running, the damp clothes can be nice and cooling. If you’ve just arrived at your post run cafe, not so much!

I’ve found investing in some technical T-shirts really worthwhile in the wet. Some dry very quickly.

[SkiMonday Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Like the idea of an umbrella hat but maybe not for winter running. It probably wouldn’t be much use if the rain is travelling horizontally!

I prefer a beanie hat. It gets soaked in the rain but acts like a wetsuit so keeps my head warm. So long as I remember to keep it on (so that I don’t have to put it back on when it’s wet) it works fine. It handles those winter wins too!

A running jacket is very good for winter too. Mine’s not waterproof but it’s great for reducing wind chill and keeps me warm in a downpour.

I still prefer running in sunshine though!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator in reply to SkiMonday]

I’ve been wearing a cap recently to try to reduce the rain on my glasses. It was so windy the other day that it kept blowing off. I don’t think I’d got my ponytail in the right place to have the peak not pointing too high. Ended up carrying it. I might revert to a beanie. Do love a good hat.

[Leotigris Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

a cap definitely helps in the rain but if it's windy then it's virtually impossible to keep it on my head!

[SkiMonday Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I'm sure I've seen beanies with peaks. Maybe that would be a good solution?

[Run46 Graduate in reply to SkiMonday]

That's sounds perfect for those windy rainy days when a cap won't stay on...defo going to Google that ta 👍

[Dendev75 Graduate]

ah well done for getting out there in the heavy rain 🌧👏🏻

I’m waiting to head out later to join a new running club. I had a rubbish disturbed sleep, a heavy day at work and I’m just knackered to be honest. But after reading your post I have decided to embrace the run, have a lovely bubble bath ready for when I get home and I’m treating myself to a cream cake and a baileys in the bath (yes I eat and drink in the bath) 😂🙈

[MissUnderstanding Administrator in reply to Dendev75]

Have fun if you make it out. With everything you’ve got going on, you’d be totally justified taking a rest day but if you think it will make you feel better, I’m there with my pom poms!

I have been known to drink in the bath. Usually coffee or peppermint tea but occasionally a glass of red wine really hits the spot. I don’t think I’m reliable enough to eat in the bath-I think my cake would end up floating. Enjoy yours! 🍷 🍰

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

thank you, I’m definitely going - my kit is next to me so thanks for the pom poms 🤗

I’ve got a wooden bath shelf which I sit my kindle, candles on, a slot for the wine glass (or baileys) and extra shelves for my munchies - I plan on a long soak 🛁☺️

[MissUnderstanding Administrator in reply to Dendev75]

Fantastic! Have fun!!!

🏃‍♀️ 💪 🦸‍♀️

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

just got back - I enjoyed it and am now in my bubble bath but have gone off the idea of the cake and baileys now 😂🤣 I’ll just settle for a cuppa ☕️ 👍🏻

[MissUnderstanding Administrator in reply to Dendev75]

Excellent news! You absolutely deserve a reward after getting out in the dark when you weren’t feeling 100% Enjoy! ❤️

[limberlou Graduate]

sounds like a great run MU, I live those ones where you don’t really want to go out and yet they turn out to be fun. I had an equally wet run like that last week but today I managed to sneak out in an hour of sunshine and it was great ( albeit very very windy).

As you say any run is a good run and I know what you mean as I always feel not exactly guilty but something like that if I don’t do at least 30 mins 😂

[MissUnderstanding Administrator in reply to limberlou]

Well done for avoiding the downpours! That’s sometimes just as satisfying as getting home after a wet run. I very, very rarely regret going out for a run if I don’t really feel like it. Getting laced up and out of the door is the hardest bit!

[Pegix Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I so agree. Actually lacing up and unlocking the front door is easily the worst part.

[Annieapple Graduate]

oh I loved this post… such truth about trying out the run for a few minutes when you not convinced…once you start it inevitably leads to another running adventure however long or short lived! The reality of running in the rain is so much more fun than the thought of it! Couldn’t agree with you more. It definitely makes one come alive!! 🤗💦☔️❤️

[MissUnderstanding Administrator in reply to Annieapple]

Thanks for your reply! I think I’ve only tried the “start and stop after a short time if you want to” once or twice when I’ve actually stopped and that was definitely a good decision. Most of the time, once you’re out there and moving, it’s much easier to keep putting one foot in front of the other. 🏃‍♀️ 🏃‍♀️ 🏃‍♀️

[Frenc Graduate]

Super well done! I think there’s rain and then there’s RAIN (which seems to have been the predominant type recently 🤣). I love the photo of what look likes a great read and a nice cup of coffee - very civilised!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator in reply to Frenc]

Thanks! I think I prefer a proper rainstorm that burns out into sun over that grey drizzle that hangs around for ages and gets you soaked while you don’t notice it! It was a particularly nice coffee. The free ones always taste best!

[Pegix Graduate]

I like running in the rain too...there's some kind of idiotic sense of freedom somehow. And it doesn't matter how wet you get cus you certainly won't get cold ... and you know there's a long hot shower at the end of it! I was interested tho that you said you ran after breakfast? I have to run first thing...or leave 3hrs after any food..otherwise I get awful cramp. Am I on my own on this?

[MissUnderstanding Administrator in reply to Pegix]

Breakfast was just a piece of jam on toast and some coffee! If it had been a full fry up, I’d definitely have left longer. Eating before/after/during runs is a personal thing that I think we have to experiment with. I once nearly barfed in hedge after an ill advised cheese and onion pasty lunch just before running. You live and learn!

As you get more experienced, you’ll find what works best for you. It gets more important as you run longer distances and you may find your tolerance for eating/drinking then running changes. I never used to be able to drink coffee within an hour of running and now I’ve trained myself to do it…mainly through disorganisation and not wanting to get up super early to have a drink!

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

How did I miss this? Rain, I'm so happy it's stopped, we went out the other evening and it was lashing it down, daughter said 'at least it's not windy' I pointed out that rain doesn't go sideways without wind, Love your after run treat too, that book looks well worth reading

[MissUnderstanding Administrator in reply to SueAppleRun]

I’m liking this book so far. His other book was really inspiring. As well as him talking about his own running journey, there were short introductions to how other runners had got started. I’ve bought a copy of that one after being sad about having to return it to the library!

Strong wind is a game changer. It makes runs so much harder with or without rain!