Working a marathon within the rain doesn’t must suck when you have the correct gear and mindset. Who remembers the 2018 Boston Marathon after we all had been glued to the TV watching Des Linden (and lots of different runners) grinding it out within the pouring rain?
It didn’t matter what they had been sporting, that they had a mindset of shifting ahead.
Marathons occur rain or shine. It’s why we run coaches are at all times saying it’s vital to observe working in all climate circumstances. You’ll be extra ready for no matter race day offers.
Rain is never trigger for race cancellation. Thunder, lightning, and extreme winds are all explanation why race administrators have cancelled marathons within the wee hours of the morning. And sure these cancellations are often final minute as everybody waits hoping the climate strikes by means of.
Understanding this, let’s speak about what to do if you end up with a wet race day forecast!
Working A Marathon Within the Rain Preparation
Whereas none of us have a magic wand to do away with the forecasted rain, there are some things that you are able to do pre-race to assist make the day go a bit of smoother.
Just be sure you’re checking the race web site, social feeds, and have alerts arrange so that you just don’t miss any communications from the race director.
#1 Be Versatile With Your Plan
A wet race day does NOT imply you’ll be able to’t hit your private greatest targets. However the related temperature or the amount of rain, might require some changes to your plan.
A. It’s a pleasant temperate day and a drizzle – comply with your plan, no modifications.
B. It’s a temperate day with a heavy downpour – you could discover it extra mentally difficult and your sneakers may get heavier as moist. So adjusting paces might be round watching your effort stage and HR.
C. It’s chilly and greater than a drizzle…learn on.
Relying on whether or not it’s a drizzle vs a downpour and the way heat or chilly it’s, you could want to switch your race day targets.
A examine confirmed that when it’s chilly and raining, your physique goes to make use of extra power to maintain heat. That elevated HR might end in a lower in your efficiency or capability to hit these quicker purpose paces.
As a consequence of that elevated power expenditure, you could want to regulate your fueling and hydration plan. Burning extra carbs means it is advisable to soak up much more carbs. Set alerts in your watch if wanted to remind you to take one thing each 20-Half-hour. 
It may be irritating to switch your purpose after coaching for months. However adjusting for climate is simply a part of the sport and further vital in the case of security.
Issues are going to occur on race day which are merely exterior of your management, and being versatile is so vital.
#2 Begin Line Gear Planning
We are going to get to what to put on throughout the race beneath, however first it is advisable to take into consideration how to remain as dry and heat as potential earlier than the race.
Not all race places could have a dry place to hang around, so plan forward. That is about beginning the race feeling good, not about avoiding the rain all day.
- Don’t put on flip flops or slides to the beginning, placing dry socks on moist ft is an efficient solution to get blisters later.
- Contemplate sporting previous sneakers to the beginning line after which swap into your race day sneakers previous to the beginning.
- Or put your ft inside plastic baggage and tape round your ankles. Seems foolish, however we’ll take foolish over blisters. (Clearly take away the luggage to start out working!!)
- Sporting a trash bag is one other go to maneuver for maintaining your higher physique dry previous to beginning.
- Or purchase a huge pack of ponchos on amazon – you’ll be the star of the corral for sharing. We don’t suggest working too far in a single except it’s chilly, as you’ll turn into a warmth bubble.
- Hand heaters and gloves also can assist maintain your physique temp up
Should you can’t discover plastic baggage, bathe caps and smaller trash baggage can even do the trick!
Should you’re going to have household or associates on the course, give them dry gear to carry onto in order that while you run by, you’ll be able to swap out for dry gloves, hat, and even an outer layer.
Positive, it’s simply going to get moist once more, however a bit of break from being soaking wet will for certain give a bit of temper increase.
#3 Re-think Race Day Footwear
Sadly, if it’s raining on race day and also you deliberate to put on some carbon plated sneakers you could have to rethink. Most of them have little or no rubber on the outsole to maintain weight down, however which means they’ll additionally slip and slide.
Pay further consideration on the painted stripes of the highway or for those who’re racing on a boardwalk, be notably alert for slick boards.
Don’t overthink this or freak your self out, however know that footing could also be completely different than on dry days. Once more that is the place having run in antagonistic climate circumstances will make you’re feeling extra assured.
Relying on how heavy the rains are anticipated to be, you can put on waterproof sneakers.
Keep in mind that they’re often path sneakers, really feel hotter or could be heavier. Should you didn’t practice in them, now is just not the time to run 26.2 miles in waterproof sneakers.
#4 Duct Tape Your Working Footwear
This can be a BRILLIANT concept from So What I Run. What’s worse than that second you splash in to a puddle and really feel your sock absorb the water. This isn’t going to maintain you 100% dry, however so significantly better!!
Mainly, it’s precisely what it appears like!! You’ll be utilizing that tape to create a barrier for water and assist maintain your ft dry with the hopes of stopping blisters.
Simply keep in mind this additionally means your shoe is much less breathable or may really feel much less versatile.
If you do not need to duct tape your sneakers, you can put on an previous pair of trainers to the beginning after which proper earlier than the race begins, swap over to dry sneakers, after which simply embrace your ft getting moist because the race goes.
#5 Nonetheless Do Your Heat Up
I’ve been there loads of wet race day mornings the place all I wished to do was merely stand nonetheless within the corral and ask myself over and over why I’m doing this. That is possible when your heat up is much more vital as a result of your muscle tissue are tight and stiff from shivering or being tense.
As near the beginning time as potential, do some dynamic warm-up to get your physique heat and able to run, but additionally distract your self from ready round for the race to get began.
Keep away from doing the warm-up too early as a result of then your physique goes to chill down and get chilly once more.
#6 Embrace the Climate
Crappy climate on race day sucks. However as an alternative of being depressing, change your mindset concerning the day and embrace the climate.
Should you begin the race with a unfavorable mindset, it’s going to set the tone for the complete 26.2 miles.
Take into consideration while you had been a child and also you couldn’t wait to get exterior to leap round within the puddles. The identical goes for working a marathon within the rain. This can be a wild expertise and have a look at you out right here simply DOING IT!
What to Put on for a Wet Marathon
Our group has tried SO many items of drugs that if we added all of them to this listing, it could go on ceaselessly. So we’ve put collectively our prime 10 classes to assist make working a marathon within the run a bit of extra pleasing.
#1 A Good Jacket
When deciding between a water-resistant jacket and a water repellent working jacket, it’s vital to contemplate the circumstances you’ll be working in. In case your race is forecasted to have heavy rain, a water-resistant jacket could also be a more sensible choice. If the forecast exhibits mild rain or drizzle, a water repellent jacket could also be enough.
In both case, it’s vital to search for a jacket with good air flow choices to forestall overheating and discomfort throughout your marathon.
Take a look at our listing of the 10 greatest rain working jackets right here >>
It’s vital to know the distinction between waterproof and water resistant. Grabbing the mistaken sort of fabric may end up in you chucking it to the aspect of the course and simply being moist, regretting it later.
Waterproof
Because of this it’s designed to completely block water from reaching your physique. The results of this most frequently is a jacket that’s a bit of stiffer (assume Gore-Tex) and doesn’t enable your physique to breathe, making it like a bit of sweatbox.
Increasingly more jackets are claiming to be waterproof and breathable, which is clearly significantly better for runners however most nonetheless report these jackets can get heat.
Water-Resistant
These are what you may typically consider as a windbreaker, they’re often very light-weight and good in a light-weight drizzle or a brief mild rain. They aren’t going to maintain you dry in heavier or longer-lasting rain.
Based mostly on the above if it’s heat exterior, you’re in all probability higher off simply embracing the moist.
However when it’s cool, the jacket is vital as a result of it’s going to forestall your physique temperature from dropping. In case your core is working exhausting to heat up it’ll pull blood from fingers, toes, and limbs.
#2 Moisture-wicking Socks
Common cotton socks simply gained’t do when it’s raining, they’ll absorb all of the water and also you’ll have blisters.
Search for moisture-wicking socks which is able to assist stop blisters and likewise maintain your ft as dry as potential.
We extremely suggest wool socks for any temperature, listed here are a few of my favourite wool working socks. Bonus factors as a result of they’re fast drying and heat on cool days, however not on sizzling days.
⭐️#3 Hat with a Brim
You desire a hat that can maintain the rain from going straight into your eyes. This reduces the annoyance issue a LOT.
A water-resistant one is a superb choice within the chilly as that can even maintain your head protected (and heat!). If it will get tremendous chilly exterior, you’ll be able to layer it with a scarf or a beanie, beneath the waterproof cap.
Sumolux has working waterproof hats that are available in quite a lot of colours for simply $15. A terrific choice to have available!
However ANY hat will do because the psychological issue is large.
#4 Compression Shorts or Tights
Whereas it may appear counter intuitive, we really don’t need free clothes. The nearer match goes to wick quicker and often dry quicker.
Sporting tighter-fitting working gear can even stop your pores and skin from rubbing collectively and inflicting undesirable chafing. Even for those who loaded up on physique anti-chafe balm, there’s nonetheless an opportunity for it to occur so for those who can keep away from it by sporting compression shorts or tights it’s price it.
Oh, and keep away from cotton in any respect prices, you’ll thank us later!!
#5 Anti-Chafe Balm
Blisters attributable to chafing generally is a actual downside whereas working within the rain. The extra friction from moist garments makes it extra widespread to seek out your self chaffed.
Seize an anti-chafe balm and even petroleum jelly equivalent to Vaseline and rub it anyplace you’re feeling you’ll want it equivalent to your ft, arms, legs, and even the seam strains of clothes.
#6 Clear Glasses
Even for those who’re sporting a hat, relying on how dangerous it’s raining, you could get fairly a little bit of water in your eyes. Should you’re somebody who wears contact lenses, having an additional layer of safety like a pair of clear glasses will stop any points and allow you to see clearly.
This pair from Vinco is ideal they usually gained’t fog up.
I began sporting comparable sun shades which are clear or transition lenses and it actually simply provides to that psychological reduction of not feeling such as you’re being pelted.
You can too use an anti-fog lens cleaner to keep away from any fogging!
Chilly Wet Marathon Gear
Just a few bonus gadgets for those who’ll be coping with chilly temps.
First keep in mind that is when that water proof jacket goes to really feel higher and subsequent it’s time to layer up.
#7 Gloves
I believe having moist and chilly fingers is the completely worst a part of working within the rain. I keep in mind after one race I couldn’t even use my telephone as a result of my fingers had been so chilly and pruny.
Layering your gloves goes to be key. Put a thinner pair on the underside after which one other pair on prime to maintain your fingers further dry. The highest layer might be something from a daily pair of gloves, rubber gloves, and even like on this image gardening gloves.
Purchase throw away working gloves to put on firstly of your race and whereas standing firstly line. Once you heat up a couple of miles in, you’ll be able to toss them with out feeling dangerous about it!
#8 Wool Layers
The proper working base layer goes to be actually helpful on a chilly moist day. We wish one thing subsequent to your pores and skin that may assist to drag moisture away and maintain you from getting chilled.
Whereas it’s tempting to go away in your throw away layers, don’t. Coach Amanda vividly remembers leaving on her lengthy sleeve cotton throw away as a result of it was chilly and moist, solely to comprehend by mile 13 it was making her really feel even worse! That layer is now holding in all of the chilly rain and maintaining it in your physique.
You could be shocked to seek out that much less is extra in conditions the place it’s cool, however not chilly sufficient to snow.
We did a deep dive on what to put on working at each temperature that can assist you make decisions >>
#9 Hand Heaters
Don’t ditch these hand heaters from the beginning line! You may put one below your hat for awhile or shove them in a sports activities bra or simply carry them.
Keep in mind that your physique will first attempt to maintain your core heat to guard your organs earlier than it worries about your extremities. That’s why the layers or a working vest might help your fingers to really feel higher.
BUT you’ll warmth up the longer you run. So hand heaters might help get you thru these early miles the place all the pieces feels actually chilly as your physique warms up, thus making certain you aren’t overlayered.
#10 Hydration Vest
Even for those who’re going to depend on the help stations on the course, use a vest or working belt to retailer your whole private gadgets and vitamin. Put your cellphone, ID, and even keys in a ziploc bag and throw it in one of many many pockets that hydration vests typically include.
You simply must embrace that all the pieces goes to be moist, however for those who can put some layers between it’ll assist maintain issues from being completely soaked.
Considered one of Coach Amanda’s favourite hydration vests is the On Working Extremely Vest. It’s tremendous light-weight and is available in sizes XXX to XL.
Submit-Race Working a Race within the Rain Reminders
To keep away from blisters or different points after a working a race within the rain get your moist gear off as quickly as potential.
Pack a dry towel in your automotive to dry off your ft and placed on heat socks. Now you’re prepared for contemporary sneakers or restoration slides if that’s extra comfy. Sure, we approve of socks and sandals on this scenario.
- If you could find heat broth or different liquids, that’s a super solution to get your core temperature again up and begin refueling.
- You’ll possible begin to really feel a lot colder about 20-Half-hour after ending. Don’t simply stand round and await associates, have a checked bag to rapidly change in to heat dry clothes.
- DO NOT throw your trainers within the dryer. Right here’s how one can dry trainers >>
- Proceed refueling and luxuriate in each little bit of that lengthy sizzling bathe while you make it house…hopefully blister free because of all of the following tips!
One of the best ways which you could put together for working a marathon within the rain is to not keep away from it throughout coaching. Wet coaching runs will allow you to see what gear works or doesn’t be just right for you.
You’ll additionally be taught what your physique wants, whether or not it’s slowing down, extra gasoline or simply including further layers to remain heat. With out practising any of this, you’re going to be in for lots of surprises on race day that you can’ve doubtlessly averted.
We hope that the following tips and methods allow you to really feel extra ready to race in wet day circumstances.