Running 9 Miles in the rain...6/1/2006

Usually running in the rain sucks. It’s accompanied by cold, blustery weather that is also paired with soggy clothes, chaffing, and other general discomfort. I usually try to avoid days like this, or just wait for a break in the clouds and then I’ll move on.

TODAY WAS AN EXCEPTION…

I was up in Seattle, WA, which is known for its rain and long periods of gray sky. People will always comment on Seattle and its beauty…the water, the lush, green vegetation,Mt. Rainier towering in the distance (on a clear day). However, they quickly follow up with a comment on Seattle having the highest suicide rate in the country along with the fact that they could never live there. Maybe the gray would grow on me, but to visit…not a problem. As for the suicide thing…I can’t comment, I’m okay in the head.

So back to the running in the rain thing…

Today was unusually warm, very humid, and gray and dismal at the same time. I wasn’t too up on going out, but the second I got going, I could feel in my stride that it was going to be a great run. Things just felt easier…legs felt fresh…and my entire posture felt lighter. The rain was mild at first, just a mist. But then, as I started to push a little harder, so did the rain. The mist became a steady drizzle, then just a complete downpour. The heavier it rained, the harder I pushed, all the while feeling effortless. As for the usual cold rain, that too just seemed different. The warmth in the air made this storm seem almost tropical, with the water being as warms as the air that surrounded it.

Soon I looked at my odometer…3.5 miles...effortless.

The pace: 7:15 and getting faster.
The clothes…wet but not cumbersome.

I ran to a point that was just at 4.5 miles, then turned around. I did not feel anything until mile 8, but to me, the next 6 to 7 minutes meant "PUSH IT"…all out to finish up.
The whole time, just me, the rain, the trail…and two other bikers. Normally I would be running with a perfect view of majestic Mt. Rainier in the distance. On any sunny June day…this trail would be packed. Today, I owned it…it was all mine. 9 miles of wooded trail tucked into the heart of suburbia. Who cares about the rain and the gray? If I want the perfect picture of Mt. Rainier, I’ll buy a postcard.