Is it Raining? I hadn't noticed
For months I've been dreaming about rain and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Let's face it, the climate in Britain this summer has been crazy, a lovely novelty at first, a chance for those of us who are old enough to get lost in nostalgia, reliving the summer of 1976, but I think we all reached the point where we were fed up and wanted 'normal' British weather back. We got sick of having to rely on noisy but feeble electric fans in our bedrooms all night long. As one of my friends put it, it's about as effective as trying to bail out the Titanic with an empty Stork margarine tub. (In my case, I don't even have an electric fan. I have had to rely on a rather pathetic handheld bamboo freebie from our local Chinese takeaway.)
So, I've been longing and longing for some rain, In particular, I've been dreaming about running in it. In my fantasies I knew how good that rain would feel. It would be a delightful, refreshing, almost sensual experience. I imagined myself half-running, half dancing, half showering in a beautiful downpour, a big, joyous smile on my face, feeling alive and cleansed.
In reality, of course running in the rain is not quite so fulfilling. Fantasy rain is always gentle. It splashes you in the very places you need to be splashed, cools you instantly. Real rain isn't cool; it's blooming cold. It doesn't splash. It pours mercilessly down the back of your neck. It pelts you in the eye. It trickles annoyingly down your arms making your fingers so wet that you can't grip your water bottle and of course it makes a complete mess of your hair. Women in movies always seem to look radiant when they've been out in the rain. It gives them an alluring shimmer, without them looking like they've been trapped inside a car wash.
That said, I will take the rain over the insane, baking sun any day of the week. I think rain does make me a bit speedier. I think it's something to do with my ingrained sense of, "Let's get this over and done with and get back home to the chocolate Hobnobs." It does make me think though that all weather conditions bring with them some challenges for runners. Snow and ice bring obvious risks of falls. Cold days make you wish you'd stayed under the duvet and there's the added issue of what to wear, knowing that you'll inevitably go from freezing to boiling within the space of one kilometre. Sun brings the danger of heat stroke. Windy days are really hard work, like running with a resistance band. (Also, in race photos on blustery days, I always look like Hair Bear.) I've never run in fog, which is perhaps just as well, given my ability to take wrong turns and get lost even in good visibility. I'm yet to experience hailstones and hope I never do.
One thing I've learned is that conquering the weather can feel as triumphant as conquering the distance or achieving a good time. This summer I've had to redefine my understanding of what a 'good run' is. One of the runs I am the most proud of this season was actually one of my slowest times, but just the knowledge that I kept going through the searing heat makes me feel worthy of a medal.
I'm really looking forward to autumn. I think this is the best season for running, not only because it's cooler but also because the scenery looks fantastic. Just the thought of seeing a carpet of golden leaves beneath my feet as I tackle 'Run Like Chuff Hill', that infamous incline at Thornes parkrun, is enough to put a smile on my face. Of course, I'm probably romanticising it again. In reality, I'll be too knackered to take in the autumnal beauty at all as I scramble and gasp my way to the top. But right now, as I contemplate crisp Septembers and early Octobers, I can hardly wait.
So, I've been longing and longing for some rain, In particular, I've been dreaming about running in it. In my fantasies I knew how good that rain would feel. It would be a delightful, refreshing, almost sensual experience. I imagined myself half-running, half dancing, half showering in a beautiful downpour, a big, joyous smile on my face, feeling alive and cleansed.
In reality, of course running in the rain is not quite so fulfilling. Fantasy rain is always gentle. It splashes you in the very places you need to be splashed, cools you instantly. Real rain isn't cool; it's blooming cold. It doesn't splash. It pours mercilessly down the back of your neck. It pelts you in the eye. It trickles annoyingly down your arms making your fingers so wet that you can't grip your water bottle and of course it makes a complete mess of your hair. Women in movies always seem to look radiant when they've been out in the rain. It gives them an alluring shimmer, without them looking like they've been trapped inside a car wash.
That said, I will take the rain over the insane, baking sun any day of the week. I think rain does make me a bit speedier. I think it's something to do with my ingrained sense of, "Let's get this over and done with and get back home to the chocolate Hobnobs." It does make me think though that all weather conditions bring with them some challenges for runners. Snow and ice bring obvious risks of falls. Cold days make you wish you'd stayed under the duvet and there's the added issue of what to wear, knowing that you'll inevitably go from freezing to boiling within the space of one kilometre. Sun brings the danger of heat stroke. Windy days are really hard work, like running with a resistance band. (Also, in race photos on blustery days, I always look like Hair Bear.) I've never run in fog, which is perhaps just as well, given my ability to take wrong turns and get lost even in good visibility. I'm yet to experience hailstones and hope I never do.
One thing I've learned is that conquering the weather can feel as triumphant as conquering the distance or achieving a good time. This summer I've had to redefine my understanding of what a 'good run' is. One of the runs I am the most proud of this season was actually one of my slowest times, but just the knowledge that I kept going through the searing heat makes me feel worthy of a medal.
I'm really looking forward to autumn. I think this is the best season for running, not only because it's cooler but also because the scenery looks fantastic. Just the thought of seeing a carpet of golden leaves beneath my feet as I tackle 'Run Like Chuff Hill', that infamous incline at Thornes parkrun, is enough to put a smile on my face. Of course, I'm probably romanticising it again. In reality, I'll be too knackered to take in the autumnal beauty at all as I scramble and gasp my way to the top. But right now, as I contemplate crisp Septembers and early Octobers, I can hardly wait.
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