Weather is no barrier for cross country running! The muddier, the better. We’ve had rain for days but track training must go on. Although Saturday, I did cheat a little bit by taking my 6-miler to the treadmill. Usually treadmills make a 4 mile run seem like 9, and the clock moves in slow motion. But this time, I actually felt so good at 6 miles that I decided to just finish running the rest of the hour and completed 8 miles on the treadmill. I had a fantastic view from the second floor of the gym overlooking the north part of campus and the overcast grey skies. With my music, I literally lost track of time while ticking off each mile on the tread. That never happens.

I wasn’t even going to anticipate this uncharacteristically-pleasant treadmill run to repeat on Sunday, so I planned my Long Run outdoors come rain or shine. (But most likely rain…)

Ankles were definitely covered in mud by the end.

Since I already had some Sunday plans, I needed to get an early start on the 12-miler. Not in the mood to go solo, I enlisted my friend/teammate Kerri to keep me company. She rode her bike next to me through the nasty weather, and played photographer for a little bit too ;)

I was so grateful to have her there, because I know I would not have made it all 12 miles without some company. That little voice in my brain would’ve told me to just cut it short so I can brew some coffee and climb back in bed. I’m glad I didn’t! That was the longest I had run since July. Amazing feeling (:

Running in the rain has it’s perks:

1. PUDDLES:  You are already wet; might as well make a little giant splash.

2. Dark Clouds & Rainbows: Just too pretty.

3. No one can tell how much you are sweating because you are already soaked!

4. Feeling like you are in a Taylor Swift song.

5. Totally earning a steaming cinnamon coffee afterward.

If you aren’t such a fan of this gloomy weather, then as Gary Allan says, “Every storm runs out of rain.” (He also has a song called “Songs About Rain” ……) I could literally come up with a whole playlist of Rain Songs.

• Bruno Mars, It Will Rain.
• Hilary Duff, Come Clean
• Adele, Set Fire to the Rain
• Luke Bryan, Rain is a Good Thing
• We the Kings, Rain Falls Down
• Taylor Swift, Fearless

Okay so that turned out to be a shorter playlist than I thought. My point is, even on a dreary day we can find the bright side! Hope your week is off to a great start. : )

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