Fives Reasons to Run in the Rain April 13 2012

So we've had a little bit of rain in the Bay Area over the past few weeks. Actually, that's an understatement. If it rains any more, I'm going to build an ark and start collecting animals. Not that I'm any stranger to rain. I went to school in Humboldt County. Alright, alright. That's enough. If you've got any "Did you study botany?" jokes in your system, get 'em out now. We good? Ok, continuing. So it rains a lot up there, and while running through the redwoods never gets old, running in perpetually damp shoes is enough to make even the most gym-averse individuals consider investing in a treadmill.

Still, there is something amazingly fun about running in the rain. Remember when you were a kid and you would beg your parents to let you go play in the pouring rain? It was liberating to stop dodging raindrops and start jumping into puddles, shrieking with delight as the rain splattered on your bare skin. Running in the rain allows you suspend your grown-up self for a few hours and enjoy the sort of weather that sends everyone else scurrying indoors, shaking out their umbrellas and bemoaning the darkening skies. If you're looking at the weekend weather forecast with a sinking heart, scroll down to remind yourself of a few of the reasons why running in the rain can be pretty fricking awesome.

You Get to Jump in Puddles
CANNONBALL! Ok, not quite. If you can cannonball into a puddle, it's no longer a puddle. More like a pool. Running in the rain gives you ample opportunity to get in touch with your inner child and jump as hard as you can into puddles. So, go ahead. Start a splashwar with your running buddies. The key is to jump in the deepest part at a little bit of an angle. You want to get that wall of water headed straight for them. If that sounds like too much work then just go with the more traditional heel-strike hit in the middle of the puddle. You'll get wet, but you'll take everyone else down with you.

Remember Slip and Slide? 
Here is where I insert some responsible comment about being respectful of the trails and staying off of them when it's muddy because of erosion. Ok, now onto the fun stuff. Running along a muddy trail brings the kind of adrenaline that has you cackling like a madman as you challenge gravity while surfing the rain-slickened surfaces of your favorite switchback trails. Watch those corners.

Embrace the Mud 
It gets everywhere. Squishing into your shoes, splattered onto your legs, smeared across your shirt, and caked along your face. When you get home and look in the mirror, it will look like you took a belly flop straight into the mud. Guess what? It's because you basically did. We spend too much of our lives trying not to get dirty. Running in the rain gives you the chance to shout "screw that" at the top of your lungs. Sometimes you just gotta get a little muddy. Embrace it.

Stop, Accept, Enjoy
When was the last time you just stood in the rain and relished the feeling of the rivulets making their way down your face, beading along your waterproof jacket, and dropping to the ground? Take a deep breath. Notice the steam curling off of your body. You feel invigorated, alive, and happy...like the rain is renewing you, washing away your stress and anxiety. Feels good, doesn't it? It's raining and you're outside enjoying it. Life is good.

The Post-Run Hot Shower
Does anything feel better than a hot shower after a long run in the rain? No, no it doesn't. Unless it's a donut after the hot shower after the long run.