Exercise is probably one of the best ways of staying healthy. Burning away the fat, keeping your body in its peak physical condition, and ensuring that your body remains healthy is how exercise benefits the body. Of these exercises, running has completely different requirements for your body and chances are, once you start running and you like it, you won’t be going for any other exercise to keep yourself fit.

Running in the rain can be a bit uncomfortable because you know, you get wet and everything and your clothes get soaked but nothing that a hot shower can’t shake off. We know that the best way to enjoy rain is by being tucked in your warm and cozy blanket with a cup of tea, but believe us, once you get a taste of burning calories in the rain, you will instinctively head out for a run every time it starts raining.

Benefits of Running

While running is good for your cardiovascular health, it burns off the fat, and keeps your fitness goals squarely within reach, rains can still make people nervous about getting on with their daily runs. Although there are no issues with running in the rain itself, you might want to be somewhat prepared for the situations you will face while running in the rain, same as you would prepare for a run in the summer heat or during the biting cold of winters.

There are several more benefits of running in the rain apart from the obvious health benefits. Once you start running, your blood pressure, whether it’s high or low, will come back to the normal range. The rainy runs will keep you cool, boost your stamina, and increase your perseverance. Running in the rain is much less draining for your body as in hot temperatures, your heart has to work a lot harder to cool the body down as opposed to running in the rain.

Research has also suggested that running, in general, reduces stress, relieves tension, and allows you to overcome negative emotions, such as anger, and has also proven to be effective in depression. Running in the rain will bring you much closer to nature and help you maybe even develop your own spiritual connection with the divine. Long-distance runners have also shown signs of efficient bone metabolism without any side effects.

Running in the Rain

Running as an exercise is an excellent avenue for maintaining your health and fitness, but with the added variable of rain, you will need to adjust accordingly. Running in the rain is safe but you will need to take some safety precautions, as you would for a run during summers.

Rain running bears the risk of slippery ground and injuries if you do end up slipping. There’s also the issue of muddy paths if you are a trail runner and the ground getting soft which can put more stress on your ankles and knees. If you are a roadrunner, you have to be careful of puddles, as you can’t be sure of their depth and whether there’s a drain or hole underneath that muddy water.

We will now take a look at the running gear and other important tips to help you have a comfortable run in the rain.

1. Running Shoes

While this one might seem to be a bit obvious, you need to understand that your regular running shoes are not going to be enough. You’ll need running shoes that suit your running needs during the rainy season. If your runs are on paved roads or tracks, consider going for waterproof shoes as they will go a long way in keeping your feet dry. Dry feet mean happy feet and that means a happy you. You don’t want to continue your 5km run with your feet squishing the cushion of your shoes.

2. Avoid Cotton

Cotton is a natural fiber that is great for making comfortable clothes that are soft on the skin, but cotton also takes on and retains water like crazy. Cotton clothes and socks will soak water and bloat up making them extremely uncomfortable to wear and will cling to your body. Then comes the chill from the wet and cold cotton clothes. This makes you extremely susceptible to chafing and cold. Your best choice is to go for fabrics like polyester or even wool. Wool and polyester do get wet, they do not turn cold or soggy and will continue to provide warmth for the duration of your run.

3. Proper Clothing

The one thing that causes the most issue while running, is that rainwater keeps getting in your face and eyes. A cap is an essential piece of gear for your run in the rain. The brim of the cap ensures that the rainwater does not enter your eyes. If the cap is waterproof, it keeps your hair dry and your head warm. Keeping rainwater from entering your eyes will allow you to see well and protect your eyes from the pollutants in the rainwater.

You will also need to have a good idea of how many layers you want to wear. You have to be ready to get wet and cold and thus have enough layers that will keep you warm during the rain. You will also need to ensure that the jacket or layers you wear are waterproof.

4. Preventive Measures

While you get plenty of health benefits from running and even might feel a rush of adrenaline from running in the rain, you also get one side effect, chafing. Chafing and running have a relationship longer than the history of most of the countries on earth. The wet clingy fabric along with sweat and skin folds inevitably results in chafed skin. The easiest way to get rid of chafing is by taking preventive measures. Applying petroleum jelly in the folds of your skin near your joints and areas where the fabric of your cloth clings tightly to your skin will greatly reduce the chances of chafing.

With this piece of wisdom, you can now go on for your runs in the rain and feel the rush of adrenaline by doing something that just feels extreme. Weathering the elements of nature is no easy task and by making the right preparations, you can easily make it your instinctive rainy day activity.