SOAKED

When I woke up this morning it was raining.  It doesn't rain here very much and when it does, it usually lasts 5 minutes and then it's all dry with big blue sky.  Today, it didn't lift.  Do I do my 8 miles easy on a treadmill?  Do I tough it out in the rain?  So, I googled "how to run in the rain".  Recommendations: Wear a windbreaker/water resistant jacket, and a hat.  Well, a few issues....I have one windbreaker and have no idea if it's waterproof since it never rains.  Second I have very few hats just cause I hate my head being hot.  The outcome: 1980s looking runner in a bright orange/red windbreaker with a floppy "Oregon Coast" hat (very fitting for the drizzly weather) with my New Balance Minimus that have that retro look.  I went ahead and braided my hair and headed out.

First obstacle: Giant puddles....drivers here don't care about bikers or runners or pedestrians...it's all about the big trucks and how fast they can go and rev up their diesel engines (sigh-ish growl here).  So, I mostly avoided them...except for one.  I hope I made the driver's day when he successfully soaked me (it certainly would've made my day....idiot out running in the rain).

Second obstacle: Mud.  Wow.  There are some areas without sidewalks.  There are large dirt shoulders and often bike lanes but the bike lanes freak me out because of those above mentioned Dodge Ram and Ford 250 drivers so I often will run on the dirt shoulders.  Well, today they were mud, I was sliding all over.

All in all, a wonderful morning run.  I went faster than I should've gone overall, probably cause the rain was absolutely beautiful and I enjoyed every minute.  This is one of those days that I will reflect on on the morning of November 12....when I am evaluating if I have done everything I could to prepare for 26.2.  Yes.  Today is a powerful day.  8.24 miles in the rain.