Earlier in the year, I wrote a post about “How to race in undesirable conditions.” Little did I know, my streak would continue after my injury and Lady weather luck would not be on my side.
In case you need a short recap of bad weather I’ve raced in this year:
Shamrock Half Marathon (1:26.50) pouring rain, 40 degrees
April Fools Half Marathon (1:24.08) 50 MOH headwind
Broad Street 10 miler (1:01.59) pouring rain, 40 degrees
Newport 10k (37:59) 80+ degrees and unseasonable heat
RNR Va Beach (1:29.56) Hurricane and 40 mph winds
RNR Philly (1:27.37) unseasonable 80-degree heat and humidity
Base Half Marathon (1:25.28): 40 degrees, pouring rain and windy
I am beginning to think you should avoid racing with me if you want to run in good race conditions. You can’t control the weather, and these are just the situations I’m handed. Do I wish the weather was better? Of course!
Since March wasn’t the end of my bad weather streak, I decided to revisit the topic and think about more methods. To be honest, racing in bad weather is best covered by being prepared with the right clothing and layers.
Rain:
- Before the race: Have throw away clothing or trash bags. The goal is to keep yourself as dry as possible before the race. Trash bags are great because they keep you dry and are inexpensive!
Trash bag your shoes and your entire self. This year, at Broad Street, several people passed me at the end still wearing their trash bags.
- Wear form fitting clothing and avoid cotton.The more tightly fitting the clothing, the less it’s going to chafe, rub and become a wet soggy mess.
- Thin socks: This is a must. The goal is to keep your feet as dry as possible. Thicker socks can retain more water like a sponge. There are a lot of thin socks, but my favorite is the low cut CEP compression because they hug your feet and provide support as well as compression.
In all of the races I’ve done this year, I haven’t gotten any blisters because I wore thin noncotton socks.
- Hats: Before this spring I never ran in hats. They never stayed on my head. This year I’ve found hats keep the rain off my face. I like my logo Headsweats hat from work.
- While I don’t race with a phone, I know many racers do. Put your phone in a Ziploc bag to make sure it doesn’t get water damage. About a month ago, I got caught in a downpour, and my phone was toast (luckily I had insurance).
Wind:
The problem with races along the shore can be the wind. Races along the coast are typically flat, but you never know if you’ll face a headwind!
- Run with a Pack: Running with a pack of people isn’t always possible, but it makes running a lot easier both mentally and physically. You can remind yourself; you aren’t facing the wind alone. During Shamrock this year, I got caught in a 2 mile stretch of headwind alone. It was miserable.
- Turn your head to the side to breathe. If you’re running through a headwind, turning your head to the side to breath makes it a lot easier. I didn’t know that until this year!
- Running into a headwind will cost you both time and energy. It’s not a reflection of your fitness level and don’t worry too much (easier said than done).
- Invest in a good piece of wind resistant clothing. The wind can be piercing and chill you to the bone. Many companies make a light windbreaker that will keep you warm.
Heat:
While the cooler months are coming, heat is definitely something to deal still with. The fact that it is 70 degrees is one clue!
If you want to follow in Rupp’s footsteps than try putting ice in your hat. For the rest of us staying hydrated is usually critical.
- Hydration, Hydration, Hydration: Even if you don’t feel like you’re thirsty, it’s important to hydrate before, during and after a race. When I know the temperatures are hotter than I’m used too, I take Gatorade and water at every water stop in distances above 10k.
How much is enough? - Less is More: I’m not saying run naked at a family friendly 5k, but dress for the conditions. If it’s hotter than you are used to, wear a tank top or shorts. Body glide and antichaffing cream will become your best friends, (If we ever race together, believe me, I have a tube in my car you can borrow).
- Sunglasses: Generally heat brings out the sun too. Find a good pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes.
I’m not getting paid to promote any of these pieces of clothing/items, but they are items I’ve had success with:
Rain:
Gortex Running Jacket ($249.99)
Hands down this is my favorite piece of running apparel I’ve ever bought. From my last post: “It’s the most expensive piece of running apparel I own, but it’s worth it.”
Honestly, I feel the same way now as when I purchased that jacket and wrote my previous post. My Gortex jacket is the best piece of apparel I bought last year to deal with the weather.
CEP Low Compression Socks ($20):
I like the low cut socks because I can use compression sleeves as well. My shoe size and calf size are different, so the high socks won’t fit my feet and calves. The socks themselves are thin, and if they do get wet, they won’t weigh you down.
Lululemon What the Sport Short (on sale): $29
I’ve raced in these in all conditions and never chafed. They are long enough that my thighs don’t rub together but short enough that I don’t overheat. Plus they have pockets. They also don’t become see-through in the rain.
Hat: Headsweats Visors
This is the hat I own, and you can get it logo’ed to whatever you like or need. Should I get FueledbyLOLZ team hats (just kidding)?
Sunglasses: The Tailwind from Nike stay on my face. I have a round shaped head so finding sunglasses can be tough.
As I said last time, The best piece of advice for any racing is to stay positive. At the end of the day, you can’t control the weather. You have to make the best of the situation, and if you’re able to think positively, you’ll be able to stay positive throughout the race.
I wasn’t positive during Shamrock half marathon, and I truly believe that is what caused me not to race well. I maintained positive for the rest of the races and dressed appropriately. Now I shrug off weather and just think: “other racers are dealing with the same conditions.”
Questions for you:
Have you ever raced in bad weather?
What advice do you have?
Ha – like I said on your last post, you have certainly had your fair share of poor weather conditions which makes me completely admire your grit as an athlete.
Sadly, we can prepare all we want, but we can’t pick our weather. Obviously, you can pick races that don’t coincide with really high or low temperatures during the year to play the odds, but there’s always the day that’s unseasonably hot or unseasonably cold. I have been pretty lucky. Ran the Flying Pirate Half in 2013 in the pouring rain and the 2015 24-Hour Cancer Run in Hampton in steady rain. When you get bad weather, you just have to put your head down and run through it. Funny, but we tend to remember the bad weather races more than the good weather ones.
Wow, you’ve really had a rough year, weather wise!! UGH!
Ran Salt Lake City Marathon a few years ago. It was supposed to be 60 degrees and beautiful! Instead, race day was cold (40 degrees) and it rained the entire time. It was pretty miserable, actually, because my buddy and I did not pack for that. Luckily, because the race was a week after the Boston bombing, the organizers had made “Run for Boston” t-shirts that they handed out at the start. My buddy and I took those (all one size – big!) and used them as extra layers and we shared time with the gloves that I had brought. lol It was actually a pretty decent race – Salt Lake City-ans are so nice!!! – and of course, the sun came out the next day. Sometimes, you just have to grin and bear it and laugh about it later. haha
Great tips- thanks! that first link for the jacket didn’t work for me but I think i found the one from your picture. i am all about keeping that rain off me. thanks for the recommendations. think i’ll be ordering a few things off the gore-tex website to get me through winter 🙂
http://www.goreapparel.com/gore-running-wear/women/jackets-vests/mythos-2-0-gore-tex-active-lady-jacket/JGAMYL.html?cgid=grw-women-geartype-jackets&q=Road%20Running&dwvar_JGAMYL_color=9908&start=5
You’re not running the NYC marathon this weekend are you? It’ll be my first marathon and I need the best weather conditions I can get. No offense. Haha 🙂 I have run in really humid weather and wearing cotton that day was the worst decision I’ve ever made. Rub rub rub. Never again. Haha
No marathoning for me. I ran NYCM in 2014 and had windy weather for that. I hear it’s supposed to be good weather though!
This post came at the perfect time!! I signed up for a race in December and I’m nervous the weather will be bad. Thanks for the tips!!!
I feel like we need tips on how to run in the cold for around 6 months out of the year here 😆 But I seriously admire people who can go out and run in bad weather. I’ll brave all sorts of crazy conditions when I snowboard, but I’m a way bigger wimp when it comes to running. Thanks for these helpful tips!
Oh man you really have had some bad luck with the weather! I did my first marathon up in Seattle in June…the weeks leading into the race called for rain and thunderstorms…really? Being from San Diego where it rains maybe twice a year I had no idea how to prepare so creeped through your blog for some tips! I ended up buying a very similar gortex jacket and thin socks so THANK YOU!
I also had a lot of races in extreme weather and I think the most important point is as you mentioned, stay positive! work with the conditions you’re given and use that as an advantage over your competition. And by the way, I also swear by the headsweats headgear, good choice :).
Exactly! Everyone is facing the same weather!
Do you have a favorite headsweats?
I’ve always been lucky with regards to weather. Had a few times where it was really hot but never rain or high winds. Hope 2017 brings you good weather during your racing.
When I was walking to the start of the Columbus marathon this year in 60 degree temps, someone mentioned that one of the women with our group always ended up with warm temps on race day. I wonder what would happen if you both ran the same race? Would it even each other out? End of the world? Anyway, these are great tips. I definitely had to get comfortable racing in my sports bra this season.
I’ve done my share of rainy bad weather running. Have even been crazy enough to sign up for a half marathon series in the Michigan winter. I have three things I always try to do.
For winter I make a thermos of hot chocolate from protein powder, almond milk, and chocolate syrup (to your taste). It makes a wonderful after race drink and warms you up too. If you use a little strawberry syrup, then you can almost drink a chocolate covered cherry.
For rain, its all about where I park. Just did a soaking Wicked Halloween double, I sprung the fees to be inside a parking deck. It was a great way to stay dry while warming up, changing clothes, and stretching for the runs.
Last tip is the type of car you drive. Trail runs make for no buildings. I borrow the family vehicle: van, wagon, whatever you have, and use that as a portable dressing room.
Those are my tips. Hope they can help someone out there.
I was used to perfect running weather in San Diego for so long that running in the south was a huge wake-up call. Give me rain, cold, I can deal, but this humidity is AWFUL. Sometimes I actually feel like I’m swimming. I’m definitely going to ask for the Tailwind sunglasses for Christmas! I’ve been running with my normal sunglasses and, not only do I look like a total fool, but they bounce around and I always just end up holding them. Not sure why I never got a pair of running ones….after 15 years of running?
Ha, I am never going to run with you. Yikes on your bad weather luck. The good news is that it can only make your good weather runs that much better!!!!
YES on the low profile compression socks. I am definitely buying some pairs of those! Thank you for the advice.
I do not mind running in cold weather or rain, however the combination of the two is not cool. In the end, I believe that strong winds are more damaging to a run then anything. Running into a headwind just flat out drains you.
Nice work this year!