It’s September in Tennessee.  The days are either brilliant, flawless, clear, beautiful college football days, or drippy, dreary, soggy too-cool-to-wash-the-car-in-the-rain/too-warm-for-a-fire days.  Today is one of the latter.

One of the joys of training for an actual, outside event (as opposed to a PR or distance treadmill goal) is the  opportunity to train in whatever weather the multiverse sends your way.  Today’s challenge of choice is rain.  Steady, moderately heavy rain.  I’ve read since yesterday more than one Facebook status with reference to arks, canoes, and kayaks.

I strap on my Otter (waterproof iPod case), lace up my sneaks, put on a baseball cap, and head down my soggy, soggy gravel drive.  Then I turn onto the soggy asphalt (soggy asphalt?) for my 4-mile loop.  I have never minded running in the rain as long as it’s not too cold (it wasn’t), and I don’t mind running in the cold if it’s not too wet.  I was drenched in a very short time, but the run felt terrific.  Tunes were good, legs felt strong, attitude was right – run was over pretty quickly after it started.

soaking wet
soaking wet
post-run, cooling off, looking into my soggy backyard
post-run, cooling off, looking into my soggy backyard

This series of training I’m attempting to keep up with the accumulated miles running, swimming, and cycling – everyone seems to do that and it’s impressive, so in that spirit, today makes 16 miles running.  (Not that impressive yet). 

Heading to Europe for an extremely quick trip to see exchange-student daughter in France – only 24 hours on the ground, so likely no workout til next week, but I’ll get in a quick strength training tomorrow.  Be back Monday to start it all over again.

Best random shuffle:  Cash:  Ring of Fire; Ray Charles:  I’m Gonna Love You Like Nobody’s Loved You; Dylan:  Desperation Road

Thanks for reading!