Running in the rain

Today was the first part of my training where I was challenge to take the day off. I waited until about 7:30pm and the voice in my head told me to get my butt out there. After the initial shock of chilly pouring rain, I actually enjoyed the 4 mile run. Who knows, race day could be rainy so I better be prepared.

Things I've learned:

1. Wear a hat (preferably polyester) to keep water off your face
2. Wear as little of clothes as possible
3. If you have to wear a shirt, make sure you Vaseline, band-aid or bodyglide your nipples to prevent chaffing.
   
4. Don't waste energy by dodging puddles (you are running in the rain and should expect to be wet)
5. People will think you are crazy which is kinda cool
6. The air you breath is refreshing
7. The shower afterward is amazing
8. Stuff some newspapers in your shoes afterward to help soak up the water
   

Running is a pain in the foot

My left foot is acting up. I'm experiencing a dull ache on the bottom of my foot after runs and first thing in the morning. After some web searching, I believe I found the culprit (plantar fasciitis). Maybe I'm jumping back into running too fast, maybe I'm not properly stretching, or maybe it's time for new shoes. At least I'll fix at least 2 of the 3 problem areas. My new asics Kayano XII are in the mail and I stumbled across an Achilles Tendon Stretch and Plantar Fascia Stretch via runnerworld.

Running Tips

It's always a good idea to review the basics. My favorite is tip #35.

100 Beginner Running Tips via Complete Running Network.