Last week I found myself alone on the Williamsburg Bridge.
(If that wasnt clear.)
So, my hack for getting an entire bridge all to yourself?
Head out in the pouring rain.
It takes mental fortitude tostick to your marathon training planand get in a run when the weather sucks.
This years persistent heat and humidity has me relying on the treadmill way more.
Ill skip a three-mile recovery run if the humidity has the air outside feeling like a brick wall.
That example comes from the mental gymnastics I was doing at six a.m. this past Sunday.
What was negotiable: My pace and distance.Somelong run is better thannolong run.
However, accepting a slower pace meant sacrificing some distance.
Understanding diminishing returns is the name of the game.
A lot of evaluating whether or not a run is worth it comes with experience.
I mentally max out on the treadmill at anything over 10 miles.
The risk of slipping on ice is never worth a post-snow run.
Hopefully, its rare you gotta cut your losses like that.
Treadmills can get boring, so consider doing intervals or changing up the incline to keep it interesting.
Layer up if running outside.
Wear warm technical fabrics that wick away sweat and keep you dry.
Otherwise, you risk unfathomable chafing.
I recommend investing in an anti-chafe stick for this purpose (more on that in a future post).
Add a waterproof jacket and hat if its raining.
Thermal tights and socks help in cold weather.
Visibility gear like reflective vests are a must in low light conditions.
Look for routes with tree cover or buildings to block wind and rain.
Run in well-lit areas if its dark out.
Avoid trails if they are likely to be muddy or slippery.
Adjust expectations and pace.
Bad weather inevitably slows you down.
Dont worry about speed as much and just enjoy being outside.
Shorten your distance if needed.
Consider the treadmill at your gym.
Many have TVs or streaming capability so you’re able to distract yourself from the monotonous belt.
Or run outside to the gym, warm up on the treadmill, then finish with an outside run.
Schedule to meet a friend for a run.
Having someone else count on you’re able to provide motivation to get out the door.
Do a home workout like strength training or yoga on really bad weather days.
Rearrange your training schedule to get in long runs on good weather days.
With the right preparation, you might adapt and avoid skipping workouts.
