rain

Saturday's run was questionable. I don't have a problem with rain, but I'm not crazy about lightning. It was just drizzling a bit, threatening to rain, but there was lightning in the distance when I started running on the canal with some friends in Team D.

Well, that wasn't fun!

Having failed with Plan A, which involved getting up at 5am to make the start of the Evergreen Town Race, I decided to wait until the evening cool and hit the track for a follow-up to last-week's "therapy" session.

Well, Albo's Antidote does seem to work! But this is an experiment that will have to be repeated, as although I definitely got back refreshed and re-inspired, I did end up doing the 200s "underwater".

Just as I posted the previous blog item saying I was on my way out the door to try

Apart from the fact that I seem to be running later and later in the day, things are going SO well.

Day 3 Restart Phase: a "brisk" 6 miles at 10k pace in gorgeous, refreshing light rain and cool temperature -- ie sub-60. Did I say "cool" -- I was wearing three layers AND a rain jacket AND a hat and gloves.

I didn't mean to go at this pace, it just happened. 6m (10k) in 44:58 averaging 7:29 a mile -- and everything felt good. Within 400m I was on cruise control and I knew it was going to be a good one. This time it was a downhill-trending outward leg, then one mile on spongy grass round the dead flat edge of the soccer pitches, then back on the 2.5 mile route, this time trending uphill. Maybe it was the rain, or the extra oxygen in the air -- whatever, I hit that zone where I could have run all day. I was starting to trance out -- twice I had to backtrack because I overshot junctions where I should have turned.

Before I get into today's run, I should first go over the event that lead to the outcome of today. Yesterday, (Tuesday 5/15/07), I was getting ready to run 5 miles and I was just about dressed to run except for my socks and sneakers. Then just as I was about ready to finish and leave the phone rings. It was the school calling about one of our Foster kids needing to come home since he was sick. Well, there goes the run. So, my five miles went by by's. So, now, today, after a morning full of business to deal with, I decided that I am going to run today. But, it's raining!!! Well, for those of you who have read my previous posts, you know my situation here. So, I ask you, did I run or did I chicken out? You know, I could stop right here and come back in a few days to see if anyone leaves any replies as to what was thought if I ran or not, but, I won't do that to any of ya. That was just to be funny. Well, yes, I ran 2 miles in rain. I didn't do 5 today since, I wasn't sure how the rain would be all day. The first quarter of the run was a slow sprinkle/drizzle combo. Then up until the last quarter of the run, the rain slowed more to just a drop here an there. Then during the last quarter, the rain increased. After the finishing the run, I realized that I made only one mistake. I should not have wore my glasses. I'm not a car with windshield wipers. I can say that I actually enjoyed the run. My time was 21:38 for 2 miles. I'm not complaining. Soon after I got home, my wife called and I told her that I ran in the rain, and she asked you mean in the pouring down rain ? I said NO, it wasn't pouring here. She was surprised. My water wings are not broke in - he he. I know to some of you my blog seems to be about running in the rain, well, it's just that it was a good subject to start with, there will be other stuff on running. Y'all have a good run now, ya here!

Sitting here waiting for it to ease off from "torrential" to merely "heavy" rain.

I've done my activation drills, am ready to rock, but if I go out now I will drown. The Dash & Dine 5k this evening has been cancelled due to the "inclement" weather. I was psyched up to take another minute off, so I've been mooching round the house muttering about the Boulder running community's ability to deal with wet weather...cancelling an event due to heavy rain???!!!?

Just read a post on caffeine by Stephanie, who had this great quote:

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To Simon, Thanks! I'm laughing as I'm typing. Yep, that was my rule. For me, it was like it's raining, why am I out here. But, I've been getting to the point where I am tired of letting rain keeping me from being out there. I won't run in down pours though. Thanks again

trunner

Hello, this is my first post on this site...

I've been running for quite a few years now and I usually try to avoid running in the rain. I'm from Pennsylvania and of late, I've been considering running in the rain, so I can get a run in instead of being stranded indoors on the treadmill. I'd like to know what others think about running in the rain. Coincidently, I saw someone running in the slow rain this evening just a few blocks away from where I live. One thing I won't do is run in hard rain unless I'm caught in it. I'd like to know what others think on this subject. -- Thanks

The weather guys actually got it right today. Unfortunately for me they were right. The rain started on Saturday and continued to flood the Columbus area all weekend. In fact at the time of this writing it was still raining. So do I stay inside and ride, or find some comfy little treadmill to get in high speed miles while the treadmill does all the work. I decided to head out on the bike for a quick 40 miler. Rain or no rain. Two miles and just under 6 minutes into it I was soaked to the bone. Just under two hours to go and I was already feeling like a sea cucumber in the North Atlantic. Temps slowly dropped throughout the ride but remained comfortable in the low 40's and upper 30's. Perhaps a water proof jacket would have offered a little respite from the water and windchill. Seeing my good friend Jimmy down and out in the morning with some sort of all over body flu had me questioning if I should encourage the virus to latch on to my immune system. As I gave the weather a second look out the back window, Jimmy asked me if I was really about to go out in the rain on my bike. I smiled and said it could be worse. He said how?...it is raining,cold and miserable out there. I said "it is above 32 and thus no ice" as I grabbed my still bruised hip. That is when I realized the trails would be void of all other traffic and I would have them to myself. I put on my swim goggles, mounted the bike and dove in. I managed 37 miles in one hour and 49 minutes. Hot chocolate and a scalding bath were in order for the day. I am sitting on the couch with a down comforter and my electric blanket. I might be comeing down with something. Tomorrow is another long run....the rain is supposed to subside and I am excited that the temps are going to get a little cooler. We will be in the low teens for Thursday and Fridays long runs. I may have to wear a shirt.

The past several days of training have been slugging it out in the rain and clouds. Of course with temps in the 40 and 50's it has been rather easier to get in 10 and 12 per day. I still get strange looks for running without too many clothes on. But I have really become aclimatized to the high 30's in shorts and gloves. Fair warning....don't stop to walk or dig out your shoes in mud in these temps. The chill starts quickly.

I am not sure at what temperature my MP3 battery will fail but I would like to ask Duracell and/or Energizer to let me take their best battery to the NPM and test the limits of their batteries as I test my own limits for a great race.