James Tips for Running in The Rain

This week with my blog I thought I would discuss tips when running in rain. I myself don’t mind running in the rain but the reason for that is because over the past two years I have been running I have learned tips and ways to protect myself from the elements. 1. Always where a hat with a brim on it when running in rain it will keep the rain off your face why you can see. 2. Dress in layers especially if it’s cold and rainy kind of like how it was this morning outside. I would suggested wearing a couple of layers. The layer that is closest to your body is the most important make sure it is a fabric that will wick water away and keep your skin dry. The outer layer should be a water resistant jacket or vest to protect rain from entering the other layers. 3. One of the biggest mistakes most runners make I myself included is not overdressing. With running outside in rain you are going to get wet unless you are running with an umbrella overhead and to be honest how many people do you see running outside with an umbrella. The key is not to overdo the layering of clothing because as you run those garments will become wet and heavy and that is not a pleasant feeling. My suggestion is to dress for the temperature as if you were going running on a dry day. 4. This tip only applies if you are running in a race or marathon and it’s raining. Use a large trash bag which you can purchase from any retail store. Make sure the quality of the trash bag is good and the largest size you can buy since you will be making a poncho from it. You will need to place the trash bag over yourself and cut a place for your head/neck to fit through and also add armholes. Once the run starts you can take it off and throw it to the side and start running. The best part about this tip is that you can make this yourself and can save money. 5. This is an important tip when running in rain to always make sure you are visible. My suggestion is to wear outer layers that are bright or light colored and have reflective strips. The reason for this is because when it’s raining most individuals sight can be poor and they might have a harder time seeing you if you are wearing clothing that does not standout. I myself always wear a reflective running hoodie and my running shoes are also reflective and are bright blue and neon yellow why individuals can spot me a mile away. 6. This is another tip if you are running a race or marathon and one I have used before. If you are racing in an event and it’s raining outside wear your old running shoes and bring newer running shoes with you in a plastic bag. The reason for this tip is because caring the better running shoes and socks in the plastic bag will help you run better. The reason for that is because you are changing the wet shoes and socks for the dry ones. This will help you run better because your feet will be nice and dry. 7. This one is very important for any type of running and that is preventing chafing. I will suggest that if you are running long distances that you spread Vaseline or body glide on the parts of your body that normally chafe. The main areas most runners chafe include the feet, inner thighs, underarms, bra line for women, and nipples for men. 8. If you enjoy music when you are running then I suggest that you protect your electronic devices. I myself use my cell phone to listen to music on and I have an iPhone 6 and I baby my phone like it’s my child. I suggest storing it in a ziplock bag or water proof carrier that protects it from water entering the device. If you have an older model of the iPhone they have cases designed that protect the phone from water entering the case. An example of this would be a life proof case which runs around $100. 9. When running outside in the rain it’s hard sometimes to just get started. Once you start the run and your body gets warmed up you will see that you actually enjoy it. I found this out last summer when it started raining and I was down at by the river trail running and my apartment was on the other side of Radford. Once I started running my body adjusted to the temperature change and it was a nice cool down. 10. This is an important tip and that is the reason why I saved it for last. Always dry out your shoes after running in the rain. When you finish your run bring your shoes inside and use old newspaper and crumpled it up into medium size balls and place them inside the shoes. This will help the shoes keep their shape, and will draw the moister away from the shoes. I have shared my top 10 tips for running in the rain and now I am looking forward to hearing stories from my community now. I have been posting on my blog for about two months now and I have not heard a word from anyone that reads my blog. I make my post available on my running group page on facebook and also twitter and share it on my class page. I am wanting to hear feedback and comments about the blog!