You’ve probably heard this one before, but everyone wants to be a television (or radio) weather forecaster. Why? Because it’s the only job where you can get it repeatedly wrong and still not get fired. This time, though, even the normally accurate weather.com and weatherunderground.com were way off, leading to a very wet opening to the three runs I’m hosting this fall.
Just an hour before the run, the forecast was for rain in Scripps Ranch between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. One television meteorologist said the rain would miss us entirely. And yet the skies opened just as we started the 7 a.m. warm-up stretch. It was pouring by the time everyone hit the first of three hills on a 9-mile route I call the Lake Rim Run because you climb up and around the perimeter of Lake Miramar. It also includes two short trails, one of which qualified this as a mud run too.
Everyone in my track club's fall training program took the conditions in stride, considering it good training if they encounter a rainy race. More than one said this was a character-building morning. I was too cold to really soak in the comments and was just grateful to those that stuck it out and seemed to enjoy the chocolate milk and homemade cinnamon muffins I brought as their reward. It's funny because normally newbies mention the hills that make this course tough. Not today.
My volunteers, as usual, were terrific. (Yes, I’m talking about you, Louise. And I’ll go ahead and include my husband, who stood w/o any rain gear longer than anticipated. It's time to stop scowling, Gilbert.)
Next month it’s a trail run. The preserve hasn’t been open for the past three weeks due to rain. I better start on a backup plan.
13 comments:
I know, we're so wimpy. It looks like those that arrived, had a blast!
I love SDTC runners... we'll complain about running in less than outstanding weather, but put a camera in front of us, and we'll look like it was the BEST DAY EVAH!!!
My first (and only so far) xcountry race was in the rain and I had a blast! Like a kid. Though perhaps a little cold.
Homemade buns would have made my day.
Regardless of a little precipitation, you guys look like you were all having a nice time. Smiles all-around. Hope you dried off and warmed up...a nice cup of tea was probably calling you name :).
Congratulations guys lloks like a blast I am training for the Spartan Race http://www.spartanrace.com you should check it out.
I think organizing, and volunteering at, a race int he rain is much harder (and colder!) than running one. Nice job! I hope the next two have better weather though.
How cool that you are organizing races...good job making it work in those conditions :)
Awesomeness to you for hosting runs. That is harder than actually running I think. Kudos to all race directors out there and club organizers as well. Running in the rain is something else, I love it when my weather bug reads one thing, yet I look out the window and it is something else. Take care.
Meh. It's good to have a change every now and then. Besides - our "bad" weather is actually not all *that* bad. That being said, I will still wait inside for the next sunny day. What a wimp!
Volunteering is colder than running! I am always so thankful for those who do. I have done a few too and enjoy being on the other side.
I am with Gretchen: organizing and volunteering at a race under the rain is much harder than running one. However all of you look happy for the good job done.
Congrats.
It rains in San Diego??????? Who knew....
A little run in the rain with friends is good for the soul every once in a while.
Post a Comment