Let’s just get this out right away, my fondness for running in
the rain may have more to do with being born in Eugene, Oregon in November. I’m
sure it was cold and raining and I am equally sure, upon exiting my Mother, I
was screaming to get outdoors. My other reasons for loving to run in the rain,
sleet or snow are:
1) There are less
people. By that, less people on the sidewalks and nobody on the trails. Just me, some deer and the occasional rabbit.
Nobody to dodge or slow down for and even better,
nobody on horseback demanding I get off their trail. On the sidewalk, less
people mean less dodging the
slow walkers waddling their way to the mall or the groups of women (sorry ladies-I've never had this problem with men) walking side by side while
chatting who ignore my polite requests to get past.
2) It’s quieter.
Even when I’m running on the sidewalk, the rain, wind etc. muffle the urban sounds. It’s possible to think. On the trails,
the silence is even more sublime. Just the sounds
of my feet, breathing and the occasional animal sounds-birds chirping or
rabbits scurrying through the brush.
3) The snakes that
can pop up on my trails when its warm are buried deep in their holes and they are welcome to stay there until
summer.
4) Most of my
competition (the Geezers) aren’t on the trails. If they’re working out, it’s in
the gym. Sorry fellas, walking the
stairmaster will never equal going up the steeps. Rainy day runs will be a fond memory when things get grim during a
race. I will know that I can run
keep running no matter what the conditions are. I will have an edge.
5) Sometimes, if I'm up high enough, the rain turns to snow and then its heavenly fun and I laugh and smile the entire run.
Note-this is by no means a call to encourage people to get out
and rain in the rain. Please don’t. I want to be alone on the trails.
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