Tell me your stories of racing in the rain

thom2022 · April 2012

Well, the forecast for my long awaited half this weekend is looking more bleak. Temps should be good, 40s or 50s, but the chance of rain is up from 20% to 40%. I think every time I've looked the chance of rain is climbing. And I really hope the wind stays away. I know I can't change the weather, so I need to just chill. I'm also hoping you'll tell me your stories of racing in the rain. Did it go well? Did you do anything special that helped out? Thanks Smile

OSULori · April 2012

Your post just prompted me to check the weather for Toledo this weekend...30% chance of rain and temps in the upper 30's at race start. BOO that!

The last time I raced in the rain was the Kentucky Derby Festival Minimarathon (aka half marathon) in April 2010. It sucked, but not completely because of the rain...the warm temps and hilly course didn't help :$ For the rain, I wore a trash bag until the race started which helped keep me dry and looking back I should have gotten a hat or visor to keep the rain out of my eyes. Thankfully it stopped around mile 5, but it didn't make the race suck any less.

ETA: don't mind me. I looked at Saturday in Toledo, not Sunday :$ Sunday's got 10% chance of rain so far.

steph81 · April 2012

I've only run 5ks in the rain, but I've found that it makes me run faster! As long as it's not too windy it should be fun, you will be fine. Good luck!!

Starryfish · April 2012

Apparently I run the best in the cold and rain. My best long run for marathon training was in the 40s/50s and rainy.

Also, my fastest 1/2 marathon time was done in 50 degrees, 25mpg wind and rain!

Joenali · April 2012

I got wet.

StingShark425 · April 2012

It's supposed to rain and be windy as hell in outer banks this weekend.

I've never run a half in the rain - Good Luck!

shorty20 · April 2012

Well, I ran my first half in the rain and had a blast.

I did another half in the rain and it was the most horrible 2+ hours of my life.

Now, for the first race, the temps were in the high 50s and it wasn't a soaking rain, just nice and light most of the time. It was actually enjoyable. Oh, and ditto about the hat with a brim, I had one on and people were asking me how much money I would take for it!

The other half, the temps were in the 30s with pouring rain the entire time and 40+ mph winds. Seriously. It was completely awful.

So it sounds like yours will be more like my first, which is a good thing

The trash bag tip is great, and make sure you lube up all over with Body Glide. I got a nasty chafe during the "horrible half" that I had for literally 6 months. Oh, and make sure you bring clothes to change into. You may not be cold while running, but as soon as you stop, you might start freezing.

blackbeltbride · April 2012

My first half marathon was in pouring rain I don't mind a light rain while running - but when it's coming down hard, it's no fun!

I made sure to wear a hat and wore tight capris and an under armour top that was very close fitting. IMO, there is nothing worse than having wet floppy clothes.

Also, don't forget to bring not only a change of clothes but a dry pair of shoes for afterwards. That was the worst mistake I made -- driving home in cold wet shoes = no bueno

pseudorunner · April 2012

I am a lurker but I just wanted to chime in and share my story from a 10-mile race I did

Here is the pic from the race:

As you can see is was POURING and it stayed that way the entire 10 miles (which for me takes about 2 hours since I am slow). It was SO MUCH FUN! Lol. Yes, I actually enjoyed every minute. I felt like a kid splashing in the puddles and not taking it too seriously. It was just water after all I did have a towel and a clean pair of clothes that I changed into when I was done so the drive home wasn't miserable. I guess what I am trying to say is have fun and don't worry! Good luck!

KeweenawLove · April 2012

Make sure you bring plenty of dry clothes. I'd want a set to warm up in, one to race in, and one for afterwards. Also, pick your socks carefully. My feet were getting soaked on Monday from all the hoses and I could feel blisters starting. One guy I talked to said his trick is Desitin with baby powder. The Desitin keeps the mositure away and the powder prevents chaffing.

Have fun!

thom2022 · April 2012

Thanks for all the stories! My biggest nemesis is wind, so if it's not blowing like crazy I know light rain won't be that bad. I'll have to remember the trash bag though. And the dry clothes & shoes for after. Who knows, maybe it won't even rain. 40% certainly isnt a sure thing. I will survive either way. Smile

Pseudorunner- That is some hard core rain! Joenali - I love your observation!

thom2022 · April 2012

StingShark425:
It's supposed to rain and be windy as hell in outer banks this weekend.

I've never run a half in the rain - Good Luck!

Oh no! I hope that forecast is wrong. Hope you have a great trip.

GRKaters · April 2012

I did a 2hr half in the pouring rain (it let up from thundering and lightning *just* in time) in 2010.

Smear your feet and any other surface that may be touching material with a generous helping of BodyGlide or wax. TRUST ME.

lbarker2006 · April 2012

I ran a 30k trail run last year in the rain. It started to rain right before the gun went off & the rain was progressively worse throughout the race.

The positives: it made the race that much MORE fun - folks took a relaxed view to it & enjoyed the course and chatted with each other. They had to re-route part of it due to the course flooding, so at one turn-around, we stopped, stretched, took a gel & chatted with other runners about the race. I was slower that race than the year prior due to the rain, but I enjoyed the rain race more!

The negatives: we didn't know it was going to rain that early (called for afternoon rain), so did not dress accordingly or body glide accordingly. Two places I learned to body glide for future reference was my waist where my fuel belt sits & the small bone on my wrist where my garmin hits. Lesson learned the hard way!

moshi's paw · April 2012

I ran RnR Providence in a monsoon last year. Seriously, in between the start and finish of the half, it rained 4 inches. Flash flood warning whole nine yards.

To prep: Body Glide EVERYTHING, especially your feet. Wear as little and as tight of clothing as you can tolerate. The temps for my wet race were 20 degrees warmer than yours so I can't really expect you to wear a singlet and compression shorts. I wore a visor to keep my face relatively dry. I'd say that almost worked. I wore thin socks with my running shoes. They got wet (duh). Expect everything to be wet and get wet.

Race: Warmup corral was spent under DH's umbrella under some trees, which only delayed the inevitable. Given your temps I'd wear a trashbag until guntime to keep you a bit warmer. You will get wet. This is an inevitability and the sooner you get over it the better. Avoid big puddles as best you can. You don't know what's lurking under them, like potholes or rocks or whatever and that can put a damper (yuk yuk) on your race.

Mentality of the situation: I channeled Top Gear's test track and gave myself a (W) at the end of my time, and call it my Rain PR. It made the race much less frustrating because I felt like I was moving at the speed of smell being slogged down by the rain. I never gave up despite the conditions.

Post race: Have warm, DRY clothes on the ready. Air out your feet as best you can. Take a warm shower even though you just showered for about 2 hours. Put newspaper in your running shoes to wick out the moisture so your shoes won't mildew (like mine did, but I hated them anyways and threw them against a wall in my Dad's garage and left them there for a week while I went to Boston).

shorty20 · April 2012

lbarker2006:

The negatives: we didn't know it was going to rain that early (called for afternoon rain), so did not dress accordingly or body glide accordingly. Two places I learned to body glide for future reference was my waist where my fuel belt sits & the small bone on my wrist where my garmin hits. Lesson learned the hard way!

Yup, that's where my bad chafe was too. I had never chafed there before, so I never once thought to put BG on it.

taratru · April 2012

I love running in the rain, as long as there's no wind. I only change my clothing plan if it's really coming down - a jacket instead of just a tank and maybe a visor.

Breezy8407 · April 2012

I haven't raced in the rain, but some of my best long runs were in the rain. Definitely use lots of Body Glide. I always regretted not having a visor or hat, too. I don't mind getting drenched, but it's hard to see if it's really coming down. the good thing about saturday is that you can wait inside right up until the start. (I still get lost at halenbeck, but there is an out of the way restroom and locker room on the third floor...never have to wait!)

I will keep hoping for no rain for you!

kat&kevin · April 2012

I relayed a 10 mile run and my half of the run, it poured. I was happy I had my visor to keep the rain out of my eyes. Besides that, I would wear tight shorts or capris and a tech shirt. Thankfully the people I was running with had towels in their car, so I got the biggest one since I was soaked. I immediately took off my shoes and socks. The rain didn't bother me until it started raining sideways. It was fun to run in the rain.

Have fun!

aeroluv327 · April 2012

My half in December was freezing and raining! The temps were in the mid 30's to start and just kept dropping. The rain was really bad, too. I knew I would be soaked no matter what, so I just made sure to wear a cap with a brim to keep it somewhat out of my eyes.

thom2022 · April 2012

You ladies are awesome; the good advice keeps comin'!

Breezy8407:
I haven't raced in the rain, but some of my best long runs were in the rain. Definitely use lots of Body Glide. I always regretted not having a visor or hat, too. I don't mind getting drenched, but it's hard to see if it's really coming down. the good thing about saturday is that you can wait inside right up until the start. (I still get lost at halenbeck, but there is an out of the way restroom and locker room on the third floor...never have to wait!)
I will keep hoping for no rain for you!

Thanks for the tip! I always get turned around in the maze of Halenbeck!

Brit's Luna154 · April 2012

I don't have time to read the previous responses right now, but I can provide a recap of my experience running the Flying Pig Marathon in the rain: http://eatrunbrit.com/2010/05/03/cincinnati-flying-pig-marathon/

I wouldn't worry about it, but I would wear a hat! Good luck!

trigal · April 2012

My racing in the rain story is pretty extreme. It was Ironman Lake Placid in 2008. It poured. All. Day. Long. I have NEVER experienced rain like that. It started raining while we were swimming and it didn't stop until about 9:00 that night. The IMLP08 weather is legendary. When I wear my finisher's hat (with the date on it), other people comment on the weather. It was that memorable and awful.

But... I trained for it and there was no way I wasn't going to race. I didn't see anyone drop out because of the rain (in fact, they had one of their highest finishing rates that year). Just remember that everyone is experiencing the same thing. Get over it very quickly and focus on what you can control.

Mush-Tastic · April 2012

If it makes you feel any better, Patrick Hammer from KSTP just said the chance of showers this weekend are "spotty at best." Big Smile You might be OK.

thom2022:
Well, the forecast for my long awaited half this weekend is looking more bleak. Temps should be good, 40s or 50s, but the chance of rain is up from 20% to 40%. I think every time I've looked the chance of rain is climbing. And I really hope the wind stays away. I know I can't change the weather, so I need to just chill. I'm also hoping you'll tell me your stories of racing in the rain. Did it go well? Did you do anything special that helped out? Thanks

Tell me your stories of racing in the rain

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