Misty Morning Run

I went to bed last night knowing it would probably be raining when I woke up. And it was—drizzling, at least. But that didn’t stop me from lacing up my shoes and wearing my “rain appropriate” running clothes.

Whenever it rains, I wear my NYC 1/2 Marathon dry-fit shirt. It’s more breathable when it gets drenched and it makes me feel hardcore. It’s raining, I’m still running, and I’m reminded that I ran a PR at the NYC 1/2 back in March. I love it, and it gives me a big mental boost.

I didn’t want to do my full 5 miles in the rain, though, so I shortened it to about 3.2 and added in stops to do dips and incline push-ups using the park benches and railings. It was great to start my day with some upper body work in addition to the usual run/then do a million crunches routine.

There’s something wonderfully soothing about running in the rain. I chose not to bring my iPod out with me because I have a paralyzing fear of getting it wet and ruining it. I almost always run with headphones—I never thought I’d be able to run without music, actually—but today it was nice to just hear what nature NYC has to offer.

Most people probably wouldn’t want to start their day getting wet, splashing through puddles and running in the dark. But that’s exactly what I needed this morning. Some alone time, and some peace and quiet. So until I find a yoga class I actually like, I think rain runs (it sounds good, right?) are the closest I’ll get to meditation.

Have a great day, everyone!