Raining

What a strange sort of day we are having here in Perth. Rain, rain, rain.

Okay well I will admit that this is actually Autumn and that rain in Autumn perhaps shouldn't be that surprising, in addition the rain was actually on the forecast, so perhaps we shouldn't have been so shocked. However, the fact of the matter is that we don't usually get that much rain early in the year in Perth. As an example we got 2.6mm of rain in March last year (not a lot), so people can be forgiven for being a little surprising about getting a day of rain now. But a day of rain we have got.

I headed out training this morning about 6:00 and at that stage it had just started drizzling, I figured it would be stopping any minute so it didn't really deter me. Instead the rain simply got heavier and more persistent.  resulting in a wet morning out. That seemed to be the case for most people around town, many seemed undeterred by the rain, or, like me, assumed it would be stopping shortly. As a result plenty of people were out exercising and getting appropriately wet.

Still, no need to panic quite yet, looks like we have some more rain tomorrow, but after that I think we will be returning to our lovely Autumn days sooner rather than later. This time of year is my favourite for training for a reason. Still it was good to see so many out exercising this morning, despite the unexpected precipitation.

The rain this morning was a reminder for everyone of what is coming and the fact that sooner or later people will need to determine their wet weather training approach. Training sustainably when it gets wet and cold is a challenge but it is definitely achievable, however, it does require a desire to adapt as necessary and the motivation to do so, plus a bit of forward thinking.

For me running and swimming in the rain have never been that much of a problem. Swimming is pretty obvious (you are getting wet anyway), but even running in the rain I have never found to be that bad. Yes you get wet, but it also helps you stay cool. If it is the middle of winter and it is wet and cold then you may need to dress appropriately in a running jacket or something like that, but I usually found those to be too warm for Perth and simply preferred to just get wet instead. Once you have got wet you can't get any wetter and the running usually keeps you warm. If the rain is going to be a real barrier for you though then finding a good treadmill that you can use when the weather turns nasty might be a good alternative.

For the bike it is a bit more complicated. You can definitely ride in the rain and I have spent a lot of time doing so. Riding in the rain comfortably is all about being prepared with the right gear selection. Clothes that are going to keep you dry(ish), warm enough, but not too hot are what you are after. What the right clothes are depends a lot on where you live, but for Perth it was usually a vest, some overshoes and perhaps some good gloves (besides the standard arm warmers and knee warmers of course). These clothes are usually enough to keep you comfortable in all but the fiercest conditions. 

Besides keeping yourself comfortable, the other factor for riding in the rain is keeping yourself safe. This means good lights, being smart about where you are riding and being a bit more careful on the wet surfaces, perhaps taking it a bit easier on some of the corners.

Riding in the rain also means a lot more bike maintenance is required. Winter can be pretty hard on bikes, all that rain and grit getting everywhere, but it doesn't need to be a death sentence if you get in the habit of cleaning your bike regularly, particularly after any really wet ride. Getting in the habit of cleaning your bike is a good idea anyway, but if you are planning on training through Winter then it is essential.

All up, riding through Winter can certainly be a lot more hassle, but is it definitely achievable if somebody has the desire.

Of course if riding in the rain sounds like it is too much hassle there is always the option of just jumping on a trainer instead. The benefits of a trainer is another whole blog, but one big advantage is that they keep you warm and dry when it is wet and wild outside. Definitely something worth considering. 

Now, on a different topic, I fly out for another work trip tomorrow (hopefully my last one for a while). As with the last few trips, the travel will mean that my blogging schedule may well be interrupted for the next few days. I will probably have time this trip, but the internet connectivity can be a bit questionable. Not to worry though, if I don't get online then I should be back and blogging by Friday.