Running in the Rain - 5 Golden Rules

Running in the rain is a wonderful experience, one where you feel you're challenging the elements and taking control of your own fitness at the same time. The comfort of a hot soak after being saturated by the rain is a very uplifting and rewarding end to a great running workout.

There are some factors you need to think about when running in the rain. Here's my top 5 golden rules: -

Jacket Adidas

#1 Wearing layers of clothes is better than just one top. Running jackets sometimes agitate the skin a little after a while, so instead wear a lightweight running vest or t shirt underneath.

Running in the Rain - 5 Golden Rules

If you're wearing a waterproof jacket, the under garment should be made of Coolmax or polypropylene to pull away sweat and moisture from the skin, as nearly all running jackets will raise your body heat a little more than usual.

#2 Wear a wind proof, water proof jacket whenever you're running in the rain, but be wary of using cheaper jackets as they will not only keep water out, but also hold in the moisture from within, leaving you feeling clammy and cold.

#3 Running in a hat with a peak will help to stop rainwater running in your eyes. Rain running down your face can be particularly uncomfortable if you happen to be wearing any hair care products such as hairspray, gel, mouse or wax as they may mix with the rain and soak in to your eyes. Also if the area you run in is very built up then you tend to have polluted rain which is very acidic, this might cause you a lot of discomfort if it goes in your eyes.

#4 Ensure you're wearing bright and ideally luminous clothing because when you're running in the rain, not only will your visibility be reduced, but so will that of other road users. This will be especially true if there is heavy rain.

#5 Don't overdress. Ok, it's raining, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's cold. If you don't wear a rainproof jacket, your clothing will get thoroughly soaked adding more weight and give you a greater challenge to your workout. Choose the amount of clothes you wear to suit the heat of the day.

One last point to mention when you've been running in the rain is to look after your running shoes by stuffing them up with crumpled newspaper rolled into balls. This maintains your shoes in their proper shape by absorbing the moisture away from the fabric and insole.

Running in the Rain - 5 Golden Rules