Well I think we can safely say that winter is finally here! It's almost October, it's freezing cold and wet and it's the first NEHL this weekend!
We have been giving tips about how to cope with the rain to our Twitter followers for the past couple of days and have pulled them all together and listed them below. We hope they help you when you need a bit of encouragement to run in the adverse weather conditions. If you have any more to add them please leave a comment at the end of the article
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We have been giving tips about how to cope with the rain to our Twitter followers for the past couple of days and have pulled them all together and listed them below. We hope they help you when you need a bit of encouragement to run in the adverse weather conditions. If you have any more to add them please leave a comment at the end of the article
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Tip 1
Dress for the temperature not the elements - just because its raining doesnt layers - if you're warm you'll be soaking inside and out!
Tip 2
Get out there & run. There is a perverse enjoyment to be had from running in the wet & you look hardcore to anyone passing by @Tucker_DJ
Tip 3
Leave the cotton at home in the wet - that Great North Run finishers t-shirt is purely for down the pub, not for a run - dri-fit all the way!!
Tip 4
Don't avoid puddles, get in them, you're going to get wet anyway. @Nickmunro762
Tip 5
Never run with your hood up, it restricts your vision which can be dangerous when crossing roads. Use a decent baseball cap @Stevecathutch
Tip 6
Don't run on the roads, car driver's vision can be impaired by windscreen wipers and rain on their screen. Run on paths or grass @Stevecathutch
Dress for the temperature not the elements - just because its raining doesnt layers - if you're warm you'll be soaking inside and out!
Tip 2
Get out there & run. There is a perverse enjoyment to be had from running in the wet & you look hardcore to anyone passing by @Tucker_DJ
Tip 3
Leave the cotton at home in the wet - that Great North Run finishers t-shirt is purely for down the pub, not for a run - dri-fit all the way!!
Tip 4
Don't avoid puddles, get in them, you're going to get wet anyway. @Nickmunro762
Tip 5
Never run with your hood up, it restricts your vision which can be dangerous when crossing roads. Use a decent baseball cap @Stevecathutch
Tip 6
Don't run on the roads, car driver's vision can be impaired by windscreen wipers and rain on their screen. Run on paths or grass @Stevecathutch
Tip 7
Invest in a decent jacket – you’ll thank yourself later - a good jacket should keep you dry whilst letting your skin breathe and the sweat out too (clever stuff!)
Tip 8
Beware of cheap running gear - unless you like the 'boil in the bag' chicken look! Cheaper versions might ‘look’ the part, but believe us, all that technology in often higher priced stuff will lead to a more comfortable run
Tip 9
Don't be a fair weather runner, run in the rain as it might be raining on race day too! @lainee_liu
Tip 10
If youre soaked to the bone the dreaded chaffage might well ruin a good session - try bodyglide on your 'sensitive' bits !
Tip 11
If you're investing in rain gear look for light colours or reflective over dark - rain brings bad light - better be seen than sorry!
Tip 12
Stuff your trainers with newspaper if they get soaked through - it’ll dry them out and keep their shape too
Tip 13
If you're racing in the rain wear old trainers to the start - it doesn’t matter if they get soaked and if it clears up you’ve fresh ones ready
Tip 14
Never stretch a cold muscle - if you’re cold when you finish jump straight into a hot shower and stretch after when you’re warm
Tip 15
Chose an out and back route and run into wind/rain first - get the tough bit out of the way while you’ve the mental energy!
Tip 16
Concentrate! Think before you run straight across the road - though tempting to just try to keep running always be careful!
Tip 17
Try wearing something tight over loose - loose stuff will end up clingy anyway once its soaked and it’ll be heavy too
Tip 18
Don't always assume the vehicle not indicating to turn is actually going straight on and vice versa! Drivers do some daft things in the rain! @M0RNR
Tip 19
Don’t forget hydration - just because it's wet outside you’ll still sweat - even more so if you’ve got too many layers on!
Tip 20
People appear to forget how to drive in rain - run to work, get your daily endorphin fix instead of going crazy in the chaos!
Tip 21
Think of running in the rain as an extra type of session - it makes you a more rounded runner the more conditions you run in/on
Tip 22
Don’t avoid puddles by trying to leap them - its a pulled hamstring or a twisted ankle waiting to happen! Just run through them - your shoes are wet anyway
Tip 23
Be even more vigilant of our K9 friends in rain - rain seems to send some even more loopy and that hi-glow jacket is a sure fire target!!
Tip 24
No matter how tough it gets, stick at it! Just think about that nice hot shower waiting for you when you get home
Tip 25
It might sound easy but you'd be surprised how much water can effect your stride - try to run exactly same in rain as dry
Tip 26
Look forward not down – again, you don’t normally focus 1ft in front of you so if you’re being overly cautious and staring at every puddle you’re bound to be changing your gait which can lead to injury
Tip 27
Relax!! We can change our stride and our posture a lot when the elements are attacking us – leading to all sorts of niggles if we’ve the slightest imbalance
Tip 28
Leave the iPod at home - chances are it’ll get soaked anyway or cut of and annoy you, but more importantly listening our for cars, bikes and others is tougher in the rain
Tip 29
Be prepared - keep a decent sized plastic bag in your kitbag so that if it is raining you can at least keep some of your gear dry for the end
Tip 30
Get out there! All that water under foot is often a more forgiving surface to run on as it can feel 'cushioned' - so make the most of it, get your kit on and get out!!
Think of running in the rain as an extra type of session - it makes you a more rounded runner the more conditions you run in/on
Tip 22
Don’t avoid puddles by trying to leap them - its a pulled hamstring or a twisted ankle waiting to happen! Just run through them - your shoes are wet anyway
Tip 23
Be even more vigilant of our K9 friends in rain - rain seems to send some even more loopy and that hi-glow jacket is a sure fire target!!
Tip 24
No matter how tough it gets, stick at it! Just think about that nice hot shower waiting for you when you get home
Tip 25
It might sound easy but you'd be surprised how much water can effect your stride - try to run exactly same in rain as dry
Tip 26
Look forward not down – again, you don’t normally focus 1ft in front of you so if you’re being overly cautious and staring at every puddle you’re bound to be changing your gait which can lead to injury
Tip 27
Relax!! We can change our stride and our posture a lot when the elements are attacking us – leading to all sorts of niggles if we’ve the slightest imbalance
Tip 28
Leave the iPod at home - chances are it’ll get soaked anyway or cut of and annoy you, but more importantly listening our for cars, bikes and others is tougher in the rain
Tip 29
Be prepared - keep a decent sized plastic bag in your kitbag so that if it is raining you can at least keep some of your gear dry for the end
Tip 30
Get out there! All that water under foot is often a more forgiving surface to run on as it can feel 'cushioned' - so make the most of it, get your kit on and get out!!
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We hope you have enjoyed reading our tips and that they keep you going through what is no doubt going to be a tough winter. We would also like to thank our Twitter followers who contributed with their own tips.
If you would like to follow us on Twitter, along with almost 800 others, then we are @northeastrunne1