To Run, or Not To Run

To run, or not to run, that is the question many runners ask themselves when they are planning to run and awake to the pitter-patter of raindrops on their window. For all of the runners that I know, if it is a race day there is no question - you will run!

If it isn't a race day, that decision changes and more questions need to be answered: Is there lightning or thunder? If yes, there is no question - I shouldn't run. My life needs some excitement, but not that kind! Then, is someone expecting me and will they call me a sissy if I bail? More often than not, they will call you a sissy even if they are hoping you will bail because they don't want to run in the rain either! They have to call you a sissy though, it is just a rite of the runner to act like they are tough if a fellow runner is being whiney about not wanting to run - regardless of the reason.

Now, if a fellow runner (or group) isn't expecting you on a rainy day, then you think about whether or not this run is "necessary". Is it part of a training plan and will it mess up your training if you miss this run? If not, then how long has it been since your previous run and how much longer before your schedule allows you another run day? How long is it going to rain for, how hard is the rain, will it finish by the time you get up and get dressed? On an on.

So many questions, and to think all of these are mulling through the runner's mind in mere seconds once the ears hear the rain drops! So much debating going on just because of RAIN! How funny that your perfectly laid plans can be totally destroyed by rain.

Yet, does it need to be that way? What is wrong with running in the rain? Before I became a "real" runner, and I'm not entirely sure when that was either, but before then I used to think that running in the rain was crazy. Who wants to get all soaking wet? It didn't occur to me that when I ran and got all sweaty I ended up "wet" anyway!

Then it happened, I was going through my first training plan for a Marathon. I wasn't signed up for one, but I knew I wanted to run one and I wanted to see if I could survive the training plan first before I committed to signing up for one. Yes, I was being a sissy! So, my schedule required a 10-11 mile run and it was a cloudy saturday morning. I had three little girls at home, and a husband willing to take charge while I went and ran. My time was limited, so if I was to get in that run I had no choice but to do it that day. My husband had questioned me, "What if it rains?" I said I didn't know...I had never run in the rain and I had no idea what I would do. I just kept hoping I would get finished with my run before it started.

I wasn't so fortunate. One mile in to my run it began raining. Lightly at first, so I thought "No problem." and I kept on running. A couple of miles in to it and it began raining a little harder. I was too far in to quit, and I needed to get my miles in right then. So, I kept running. Next thing I know, I had finished 13 miles instead of 10! I FELT GREAT! Was it the rain? What was the difference?

I'll never know what made me feel so good that day. But, I went home feeling like a "real" runner that day...one of those "crazies" who toughs it out no matter what. It was GREAT! And it was fun. It was reminiscient of my childhood days of playing in the rain. It made me feel young, and energetic and refreshed. I decided that from then on, rain would not deter me from running again.

Now, whenever it is raining out (and isn't below 50 degrees out) I will go run. I might even throw on my dirtiest running shoes (cuz they will get clean) and go run in the rain even if I don't have a run scheduled that day. What better way to clear your head of all the garbage from your day than to go and "play" in the rain - jumping over puddles, trying to catch rain drops on your tongue, looking to the sky and letting the rain fall on your face, and just having fun!

So, if you are a runner who has never run in the rain, stop being such a sissy and go for it! You never know, you might get hooked! The best part? You'll be able to start calling all of your other non-rain-running friends "SISSIES"!!