Runstreak Day #253 - another proper soaking!

Just when you think you can't get any wetter.  The weather decides to prove that it's possible.  Your feet are soaked, you've run through puddles sufficient that you can feel the water sloshing in the toes of your trainers... and you jokingly say 'this is a wet as it's going to get'... then promptly have to run through an ankle deep puddle and experience the delight of water entering your shoe via the tops of your socks.

*shudder*

There are advantages to running in the rain though.  I thought of these as I ran this morning when I was running with the Sweatshop Running Community group and chatting to a friend (I am nothing if not a multi-tasker!)...

1.  Sweat doesn't run into your eyes
2.  If you peed yourself, no-one could tell (no, I didn't if you're wondering!)
3.  Every other runner who's out gives you a 'yes, this is crazy' smile
4.  You know that if you can run in those conditions, you can cope with just about anything
5.  If you smile and bellow hello at everyone you pass, you'll generally get a positive, happy response as a) they're mad enough to be outdoors in the wet and b) they think it's funny!
6.  Once you've got over the whole 'being soaked' thing, running through puddles is kinda fun
7.  You don't overheat
8.  It feels slightly naughty

Disadvantages?  Well, I discovered one this morning that I've not had before.  Chaffing!  Not leg rubbing against leg... but soaked shorts rubbing my leg into red sadness.  Yowch!  Hooray for Sudacrem, I say!

Didn't do the 10 miles I was going to do today.  7.5 was enough.  My trainers had only just dried from Friday's soaking and even I have my limits!  At least I've proved to myself that I wouldn't bottle out of going for a run when it's pouring with rain.  And when we got back to the Sweatshop store where we run from, everyone was in surprisingly good moods - far more smiles and laughing than normal.  It takes a certain kind of crazy to do a long run on a Sunday morning in torrential rain with added thunder!  Hooray for crazy runners!!

And hooray for tea.  It took me two big cups of tea to be able to feel my fingers again!

Day 253.  You have been run.  Yay!!   :o)

Geeky stats stuff

Distance:	7.49 mi
Time:	1:13:40
Avg Pace:	9:50 min/mi
Elevation Gain:	48 ft

Runstreak Day #216 - urgh... dark... wet... bleh!

I do not like wet
Out the house
I do not like wet
(big girl's blouse)
I do not like wet
Here or there
I do not like wet
Anywhere
I do not like wet evening runs
I do not like them, they're no fun.

Would you run them 
In your socks?
Would you run them
Round the blocks?

Not in my socks
Not round the blocks
Not out the house
Am big girl's blouse
I would not run them here or there
I would not run them anywhere!
I would not do wet evening runs
I do not like them, they're not fun!!

The rain!  The rain!
The big fat rain!!
Would you run out
In the rain?

I would not, could not, in the rain
Not in the dark, are you insane?!
Not very far, not past some pee
I do not like wet much you see
I do not like wet in my socks
I do not race out round the blocks
Not out the house (am big girl's blouse)
I would not run them here or there
I would not run them anywhere!

I would NOT do wet evening runs
I do not like them, they're not fun!!

You do not like them
SO you say
Try them!  Try them!
And you may!
Try them and you may, I say!

Damn!  If you will let me be
I will try them.
Big brave me.

Say!  I like wet evening runs!!!!
I do!  I like them!  Damn, what fun!!
And I will run them when it rains
And in the dark, though that's insane.
And I'll go far, run past the pee
They are so good, so good you see!!

So, I will run them in my socks
And trainers out around the blocks
And I will run them out the house
I am so brave, not big girl's blouse!
And I will run them here or there
Yay!  I will run them anywhere!!!

I do so like wet evening runs!
No, that's a lie
They're still not fun.  ;o)

It took a monumental shove to get me out of the door today.  It was going dark.  I got wet.  I ran up the stupid big hill.  I fake-tied-up-my-shoelace to get my breath back.  Then ran with the rain streaming down my face and into my eyes, nose, and everywhere.  Shorts plastered against my legs.  Grim determination on my face.  5k... done.

Got home, my littlest made me a cup of tea.  And there was a warm bath run.

I *knew* there was a reason why I love my family.

Geeky stats stuff

Distance:	3.10 mi
Time:	25:16
Avg Pace:	8:08 min/mi
Elevation Gain:	205 ft

Runstreak Day #209 - or should that be 'rainstreak'?!

So... today I have mostly been soaked through to the skin.  Why? Because the only time I had for a run was on my way back from work at lunchtime.  At the exact moments someone turned the sky hose on.  At full blast.  At one point I even thought it was starting to hail it was so wet.

In fact, let's just review the types of rain I've run in:

1. Spitty fine rain - a little bit off tutting when considering going for a run, but otherwise okay.  Annoyance factor: 2/10
2. Rain shower - getting soaked and then everyone else reappears when it's stopped raining and you look like a drowned muppet.  Annoyance factor: 4/10
3. Proper rain - the endless, not going to stop sort.  Where there are puddles to jump over, everyone looks at you like you're crazy, but it's not that hard, just persistent.  Annoyance factor: 5/10
4. Heavy rain - a pain in the bum for the first ten minutes until you've worked out a way to cope with water streaming down your face and into your eyes.  But realise that when your nose runs, you can't wipe it properly. Annoyance factor: 6/10
5.  Heavy rain with thunder - ridiculously exciting.  All other things can be forgiven.  You look hardcore. You're getting a buzz from something (could be lightning) and it all feels a bit naughty and mad.  Annoyance factor: 1/10
6.  Horizontal rain with headwinds and hail - give up now.  Give up, weep, shiver, despair.  There is no hope.  The apocalypse has arrived. This is the end of everything.  Annoyance factor: 9/10
7. Monsoon - warm, torrential rain.  There is no sweat, only wet.  Lots and lots of it.  No one else goes out in this.  Except runners.  Because otherwise they wouldn't be running and the thought of not running is crazier than actually running.  Woooooooo hoooooo! Annoyance factor: 6/10

No 10/10 for annoyance though.  I'd still run in all of those conditions... as would the three other runners I saw in the park at lunchtime, all of whom who gave me the 'I know this is mad but what the f*ck' face and grinned happily in my soggy direction.  Water streaming down their faces in return.

Splendid!

Tea? And happy dancing? Yes please! 󾆶

Day 209, you have been run.

No idea how I'm going to squeeze a run in tomorrow... This may be the last day of my running streak! I may have to do a mile just before midnight to fit it in. *gulp*

Geeky stats stuff

Distance:

2.75 mi

Time:	22:24
Moving Time:	22:24
Elapsed Time:	22:42

Avg Pace:	8:08 min/mi
Avg Moving Pace:	8:08 min/mi
Best Pace:	7:04 min/mi