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Weather |  |
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See the Index for more topics, information, hints and tips.
Runners go out in all kinds of weather. Here are some things that I’ve learned. I live in a warm climate so I can’t help you folks that have to deal with that white stuff on the ground during the winter.
Some cold weather gear and rain gear can get quite expensive. Wait for sales in the off season starting in January for the best deals.
When you sign up for a race, maybe months in advance, you have no idea what the weather will be like. It is best to train in all types of weather so that you are prepared for whatever happens on race day.
Embrace tough workouts and workouts in adverse conditions. They build mental toughness that you will need during a race. They help you grow stronger, improve, and teach you. Now you know that you can survive and deal with the challenge, the next time you encounter something similar, you will know more what to expect and that you have what it takes to persevere.
Check the temperature both at the start and end of your run. Clear spring days can sometime have wild temperature swings in both the morning and evening if you are out for an hour or two or more. Higher altitudes and desert/low humidity areas may experience the same large temperature changes.
Recently my running club had an interval workout scheduled for a track. Since I'm a pace leader I'm expected to attend. Well, it was a miserable day. It was about 40 degrees with a light rain and about a 40 mile per hour headwind down the back straight. Only a few other people were brave enough to show up and no one else from my group was there. So I decided to train with a faster group.
The pace was fast for me, but I stayed with the group. The headwind made it feel like you were going up a steep hill. Shortly after we started, the light rain turned to sleet which was probably good since we didn't get wet because the ice pellets just bounced off our clothing.
On our last interval I was still feeling pretty good so I went ahead of the group and ran it a minute per mile faster than the previous intervals. I consider it to be a great workout.
But as good as that workout was for me physically, I think it was even better for me mentally. I went out and performed in adverse conditions. I think I am tougher mentally for embracing that tough workout.
You never know what race day is going to throw at you. So by training in all different conditions you will be mentally tougher and be able to persevere in spite of being uncomfortable. That will give you an edge over less toughened competitors.
For more information see this page on Dealing with Weather.
