The Right Way to Run in the Rain
Though much of the country has been gifted with an extra week of warm weather (thanks, El Niño!), don't be fooled. Those cold November rains are right around the corner, which usually means the end to all the good running habits you've acquired over the past five months. Precipitation and chill? No thank you.
But wait! Is it really worth relegating yourself to some gym's janky treadmill, sardined next to 50 other people who couldn't handle a little rain? People are always running in the Northwest, and it never stops raining there! So we called up Greg Metcalf, head coach of the University of Washington's running program in Seattle, for tips on outruning the rain (or sleet, or wintry mix…) into December and beyond.
1. Wear fewer clothes (but smarter clothes)"A lot of people think you need to layer up more when it's raining out," Metcalf says, "but that's not the case. You actually want to wear less clothes than you'd think." Especially if those clothes happen to be cotton, which will act like a sponge and weigh you down in the rain, no matter how many layers you put on. Opt instead for lighter, moisture-wicking fabrics from the hat on your head—which should have a brim to keep water out of your eyes—to the shoes and socks on your toes. "Brooks makes a great trail shoe, and the Nike Wildhorse or Kiger are great running shoes in the rain. The technology changes every year, but there are lots of great options out there."
2. Put your foot downIn wet conditions, it's natural to see a change in your mechanics, even if you're not aware of it. "A lot of people will almost shuffle their feet when it's raining," Metcalf says, "like they're prepping themselves not to fall." It's not your mechanics that should be changing in most cases, though, just your general awareness. "When you're running straight ahead in the rain, you're fine. But when you're turning a corner, that's when you need to be more aware of where your leg is about to land. The same thing goes if there is a manhole or a wooden bridge you're running over. Those things can be the death of a runner." So maybe leave the iPhone at home just this once and pay a little more attention to your surroundings. That Marc Maron podcast can wait, and you won't even have to lie to the guy at the Genius Bar about why your phone has so much water damage.
3. Get your drink onUnless you are running with your head thrown back and your mouth open wide, in which case we have to discuss your form, the rain falling from the sky is not entering your system. Which means you still need to drink. "We always emphasize to our kids how important it is to stay hydrated when it's raining out," Metcalf says. "A lot of times people won't hydrate properly while running in the rain."
4. As soon as you get home, stripRemember when you were a kid and your mom would harp on and on about changing out of those wet clothes? Well, turns out she was right. "With any gear, you're going to want to get out of it and into warm, dry clothes as soon as possible," Metcalf says. "That becomes part of your recovery process. It's so easy to get sick if you don't." As for your now soaking-wet shoes? "In an ideal world you'd have two pairs of running shoes, but if you need to get a pair dry for your run the next day, remove the insoles and stuff some newspapers in them. They should be good to go for tomorrow."
Read More: How To Run With a Dog (The Right Way) The Fast Way to Make Running Suck Less
Related Stories for GQRunningRunning