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...and the rain rain rain came down down down

Anyone who has had a child or who is a Disney fan (or who, like me, IS a child) recognizes that line from Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day. And what a lot of bluster we've been having lately!!

Monday I went on a "wind run." I did not intend to go on a wind run, but Mother Nature had other ideas. I run near Boeing a few days a week because the Skills Center (where I teach) is located across from Everett Boeing. As I headed south on airport road, I was running into the wind...I swear there were times when I felt like I wasn't moving, but my legs were churning! My first mile was a full 1.5 minutes SLOWER than my regular pace because I was running into the wind

I knew the payoff would be on the way back, though. I would have the wind at my back! Talk about your speed work! My last two miles were below nine minutes miles...and that's pretty durned fast for me!

So I was thinking, as I was battling the wind, "What if we have weather like this on the marathon? What tips can I give my most favorite runners in the world to make it more tolerable?" After all, we do get these windstorms and even if we don't get this weather on the marathon, surely you're running in it now.

Running into the wind can be officially no fun. Your body is almost like a sail and you feel like you're running through Jell-O! So, while running Monday I did some experiments. When running into the wind, pull your jacket tight, zip it up, and turn your hat around if you're wearing a hat with a bill. Put your head slightly down to lessen the resistance, and because wind carries particles. Watch the road in front of you but keep your eye lids a little "low" so the dust or muddy water ends up in your lashes rather than in your eyes. Pull your arms in and reduce the pumping action of your arms. Bring your elbows close to your side and keep your hands in "front" of you rather than to the side. Try to run with your mouth closed, especially if running near traffic. You don't even want to KNOW how much road-muddied water ended up in my mouth on Monday. On the marathon, tuck in behind other runners and draft on them. If you stay within five feet or so, they should completely block your wind and provide you with easy going. Just watch them carefully because it's hard to keep a steady pace in heavy winds. Lean into the wind just a little...and think small. I know for some of us, like Tall Lee, it's hard to think small ... but think about reducing the amount of surface area you're facing into the wind.

As for pace, don't fight it. You'll waste WAY too much energy trying to maintain a specific pace in a headwind. Instead relax, ignore your watch, and if it is a training run, consider changing course or shortening your run a little.

When the wind is at your back, have FUN with it! Let it push you gently, but be aware that gusts can cause you to trip, so keep your head up and your eyes open! Lean a little forward so that the wind stream is moving up and over you for added stability.

With any extreme weather running, you have to think safety first. If wind gusts are extremely high and you're in an area with a lot of debris, you may want to just head to the dreadmill at the gym. Remember, too, that the wind will chill you more. It will also cut RIGHT through knitted items (hats, gloves, etc.) Consider Thinsulate, Goretex, or even neoprene gloves for cold and windy conditions. I like biking gloves because they are designed to shield your hands from wind. I also just picked up a pair of Thinsulate fingerless glove/mitten combos (the mitten comes down over the fingerless glove to provide warmth as needed) that are AWESOME! A balakalava made of thinsulate is a really nice idea, too. You don't have the scarf flailing in the wind behind you, and the wind isn't cutting straight through the yarn in a knitted scarf. (I am liking my "Turtle Fur" balakalava I got for $8 at REI. Yes, it is made of REAL turtle fur!) You can also easily pull it up over your nose and mouth for added warmth and protection from road spray.

Also, be aware of how gusts can affect you. I was standing at a crosswalk waiting for the light when a big gust pushed me off the sidewalk! After that I stood sideways into the wind whenever I stopped! Keep an eye out for sticks and small mammals blown into your running path, and be sure to watch for slippery leaves and mud puddles.

Personally I enjoy the challenge and the change of our wacky weather this time of year! It can turn a "ho hum" run into a thrill ride! I spent a lot of time laughing out loud and thinking back to childhood days when we'd play "Wizard of Oz" in the Steensland's backyard during windstorms. (I always wanted to be Toto.) While I am definitely a fair-weather biker, I am an all-weather runner! Why? Because if you wait for the perfect running weather in the PNW ... you're in a for a LONG wait!