As a runner in the UK, you possess’own’nurse to accept that most of your runs are going to be wet. But you shouldn t let that put you off. From personal undergo I can tell you that wet weather trail running is fun. Like really, really fun! There s mud, there s puddles OK, so I might not be doing a intensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent job of convincing you, but trust me when I say that a run in the rain makes you feel more alive, more accomplished, and more energised than a run in the sun ever will. And as long as you ve got the right run kit, there s seriously nothing to stop you from running the trails.

I ve been trail running in/with regard to’concerning’regarding around with regards to’concerning’with respect to 7 years now and it s the wet weather trail running that I love the most. Over those 7 years I possess’own’nurse learnt what items of run kit are a must possess’own’nurse in/with regard to’concerning’regarding wet weather trail running, and I want to share 10 of those items with you in this post.

1. Trail Running Trainers

Wet weather means slippy, muddy ground, so a decent pair of grapple py running trainers is an absolute must. Make sure you invest in the right trail running shoes in/with regard to’concerning’regarding your run. By which I mean, consider the terrain you ll be mostly running on. Do you run on mountain paths, woodland trails, sandy coastal tracks? Each of these terrains require a mildly’faintly different level of grapple , so check the lugs (the raised rubber treads on the base of the trainers) to find a pattern and grapple measurement that will suit your requirements. As an example, the trainers that I m wearing in the picture below, which might I add were kindly gifted to me by the lovely individual at adidas, has a Continental™ rubber outsole. Now if you re claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate ing that name sounds kind of familiar, then yes you d be right. Because it s the same Continental™ that make tyres, so I mean come on, run trainers that possess’own’nurse the same grapple as car types that has got to be a rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent thing!

Aside from grapple , another thing you should keep an eye out in/with regard to’concerning’regarding when buying new run trainers in/with regard to’concerning’regarding wet weather trail running is how waterproof they re going to be. Look out in/with regard to’concerning’regarding trainers that contain some degree of Gore-Tex in them. Acting as an invisible membrane on the shoe, Gore-Tex is a highly durable, breathable, and waterproof fabric that will help keep your feet dry from both the inside and the outside. One thing to bear in mind however, is that if water does acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure in, in/with regard to’concerning’regarding example if you ve run through a peculiar ly high puddle or taken part in something like Tough Mudder or Brutal, then it s not going to come back out, so your feet will at that point be wet. For the most part despite’in spite of’albeit , trainers with Gore-Tex are a great investment during the wetter months of the year.

And eventually’ultimately , one other thing to bear in mind is colour. Because the colour of your running trainers matters, right? And sure some of those lovely pale, pastel, white trainers look absolutely amazing on the website, but just one outing on those muddy trails and you are going to possess’own’nurse a nightmare cleaning job on your hands. Instead, claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate practical, dark colours with a pop of neon to satisfy your desire in/with regard to’concerning’regarding colour.

2. Waterproof Jacket

If it s absolutely tipping it down, it s unlikely you re going to stay 100% dry. However, this is all with regards to’concerning’with respect to dampness limitation. If we can keep ourselves as dry as possible, it leads to a much more pleasant run. First and in/with regard to’concerning’regarding emost, you want a jacket that is lightweight. Running is hard abundant’ample’plentiful as it is, without adding on extra weight. Features to look out in/with regard to’concerning’regarding in a rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent quality waterproof jacket include:

Pockets These are a must in any jacket, as you ll need somewhere to stash your keys, phone, money, snacks etc. You can never possess’own’nurse too many pockets in my opinion. It s also worth choosing a jacket with internal pockets and if you can acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ones that are double lined even better.
Hood Ideally you want a jacket with a hidden hood that can be unfolded from the collar as and when you need it. The merit’virtue’upside of this is that the hood won t be flapping around when you don t need it. A hood with a peaked rim is great in/with regard to’concerning’regarding full head coverage and in/with regard to’concerning’regarding stopping the rain dripping into your eyes. You will also benefit from drawstrings to pull in the hood as close to your head and face as possible, thus reducing the amount of rain you ll come in contact with.
Bright Colour/Reflective Strips It s usually a lot darker when it rains and there can also be acfirm’enterprise ing mist or fog, so it s significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative to make yourself as visible as possible, especially if any of your run route is on road. Choose a waterproof jacket in a bright colour and with reflective strips to make sure others can see you.
Storm Flaps These are the extra flaps of material that cover zips to help prevent water from penetrating a potentially weak zone’district’region . They fold loosely over the zip, or they may also come with extra Velcro strips to assure’guarantee optimum rain conserve’preserve ion.
Taped Seams Seams are also a weak point when it comes to letting rain in, so opt in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a jacket that has taped seams. These are seams that possess’own’nurse had the holes from the stitching sealed up by tape.
Breathable You want a jacket that keeps out the rain but still allows your sweat to escape, otherwise you ll end up feeling wetter than if you hadn t even bothered to wear a coat. Look in/with regard to’concerning’regarding coats that possess’own’nurse a waterproof membrane, a conserve’preserve ive polyester or nylon face fabric, or Gore-Tex.
3. Cap

I m a lover of a running cap at the best of times (my one has saved revealing my out of control morning hair on many an occasion!), but when it s raining, they really come into their own. A hat will not merely’barely keep your hair drier than if you weren t wearing one, but the peak stops raindrops dripping in your eyes. And if like me you re a contact lens wearer, you will know just how annoying it is to acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure water in your eyes. Even more so if you wear glasses when running, but that s a whole different blog post! And if after all that rain, the sun does decide to make a fleeting appearance, a running cap helps with the glare as the rays bounce off of the wet ground.

4. Water

Even despite’in spite of’albeit you ll possess’own’nurse water coming at you from eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully angle if you re trail running in the rain, hydration is still a key component to not merely’barely your perin/with regard to’concerning’regarding mance during the run but also your recointensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully afterwards. For a short 5K run you ll probably acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure away with it, but anything longer than that and you should really take some water with you.

What you use to store your water in is kind of a personal choice and as far as I am aware you possess’own’nurse 2 choices:

Hydration Pack This is like a lightweight rucksack, which contains a bladder to hold your water and has a straw that sits on your shoulder. The benefit of this is that it is super easy to drink simultaneous’synchronous as running. Make sure you squeeze the air out of the bladder bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e filling with water (Google this in/with regard to’concerning’regarding how to do this properly as some techniques work better than others), otherwise it will slosh around when you run, and it s really annoying!
Bottle You can acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure either ergonomically detoken ed water bottles that possess’own’nurse a hole through them allowing ease of grapple when running. Or you can acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure smaller, squishy bottles that fit into a waist belt. The downside to this is that they don t hold as much water and it s not as easy to drink on the run. However, it is a cheaper option and in/with regard to’concerning’regarding mildly’faintly shorter runs, arguably less of a hassle.
5. High Perin/with regard to’concerning’regarding mance Running Socks

What socks you wear when you run is way more significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative than you might claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate . In fact, choosing the correct pair of running socks is just as significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative as choosing the right pair of trainers. A rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent quality pair of running socks should fit properly, cushion your feet, keep your feet dry, and feel comin/with regard to’concerning’regarding table. There are lots of different styles available and what you choose will in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the most part be down to personal preference. These are the things to look out in/with regard to’concerning’regarding :

Material Avoid socks made of cotton, as cotton holds onto moisture and puts you at a greater risk of suffering from blisters. Instead opt in/with regard to’concerning’regarding polyester or nylon, or merino wool if you prefer a more natural fabric. These fabrics are breathable, sweat-wicking, and durable.
Cushioning Taracquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ed cushioning on the zone’district’region s of the feet that receive the greatest impact is essential to shun strains and irritation.
Asymmetric Fit These socks are detoken ed to fit your left and right foot exclusively. This means that the cut of the sock, the cushioning, and the stitching are placed in exactly the right zone’district’region to suit each foot and makes in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a more comin/with regard to’concerning’regarding table run.
Toe Socks Toe socks are socks that possess’own’nurse separate sections in/with regard to’concerning’regarding your toes a bit like gloves in/with regard to’concerning’regarding feet. Aldespite’in spite of’albeit they look mildly’faintly freaky, they re actually a really rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent choice of running sock as they help to decrease’lessen’cut’allay the chances of acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ting blisters between your toes, they keep your feet and toes cool and dry, and allow you complete unrestricted movement in your feet and toes when you run.
Two Sock Technique As the name would suggest, the two sock technique is literally wearing two pairs of socks instead of one. The idea being that the inner sock helps decrease’lessen’cut’allay friction and stops your foot moving around so much and the outer sock is your waterproof layer.
Compression Most running socks are detoken ed to gently compress your muscles. This enhance’promote’polish up s blood circulation, decrease’lessen’cut’allay s muscle fatigue, and boosts recointensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully time. You just need to choose whether to go in/with regard to’concerning’regarding ankle, mid-calf or knee length compressions socks based on your own needs as a runner.
Waterproof If you re keen to keep your feet as dry as a bone, waterproof socks are the way to go. They consist of multiple layers of waterproof membrane to help keep water from penetrating through to your feet.

6. Snacks

If you re on a long run of say 10 miles or more, you need to start claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate ing with regards to’concerning’with respect to fuelling. Some runners are happy using gels and electrolytes, however personally I find them too sickly and so I prefer to fuel with proper food. Now the thing you need to consider when wet weather trail running is how you re going to store your snacks so that they don t acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure wet. Things like nuts, dried fruits, jelly babies etc. can be put in small Ziploc bags and then put in the pocket of your waterproof jacket or in a pocket of your hydration vest if you re wearing one. Avoid snacks that are packaged in paper or cardboard, as these will invariably be soggy by the time you need to eat them.

7. Phone

The beauty of trail running is that it allows you to escape your phone in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a while, and heaven knows we could all do with that. However, to me running without a phone is as daunting as running naked. OK, maybe not quite as daunting, but in terms of safety I definitely feel less vulnerable as a female solo runner knowing I possess’own’nurse a phone on my person. Aside from the safety element, I also use my phone to track my runs, use maps, check the time, and to also stop and take the odd run selfie or two.

So, I claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate we ve established that we ll likely possess’own’nurse our phone with us when we run, which means we then need to claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate with regards to’concerning’with respect to how we re going to stop it acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ting wet. Aldespite’in spite of’albeit most smartphones these days are relatively waterproof in their own right, they still need conserve’preserve ion, especially if you are expecting to be out in the rain in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a long time. And pockets are great, but if you re caught in a torrential downpour, pockets are nowhere near abundant’ample’plentiful . Invest in a waterproof pouch or dry bag to give your phone optimum conserve’preserve ion from the elements.

8. Buff

One of the cheapest items you can buy as part of your wet weather run kit is a buff. Also called a neck gaitor or a snood, a buff is fundamental ally a tube of material that is worn around the neck. And boy do we need that when it rains, because with rain often comes wind and cold temperatures and once you acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure cold it can be intensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully hard to warm up again. A buff stops cold breezes and rain drops from acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ting down your neck and so adds another conserve’preserve ive layer to your wet weather running armour. Buffs are also great in/with regard to’concerning’regarding wiping away rain from your face and out of your eyes, plus as grim as it sounds, they re handy in/with regard to’concerning’regarding wiping your nose on. I mean come on, as if a tissue is going to last 5 seconds in this kind of weather!

9. Wet Weather Running Clothes

You ll probably start your run feeling cold, but it won t take long bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e you warm up and you ll be desperate to shed some layers. But of course, if it s raining there s the risk you ll be soaked to the skin if you start taking too much off. I ve already talked with regards to’concerning’with respect to waterproof jackets, but what with regards to’concerning’with respect to the rest of the clothes you should wear when trail running in wet weather?

Keep your running clothes as lightweight as possible and choose items that are made out of nylon or polyester. Look out in/with regard to’concerning’regarding clothes that possess’own’nurse moisture-wicking properties. These will wick sweat away from your body, thus preventing you from acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ting too cold, and will also keep the clothes feeling lighter as the fabric won t be absorbing unnecessary moisture.

Wet weather running is all with regards to’concerning’with respect to those layers. Wear a water-stand up to withstand ant outer layer, then layer up beneath with a moisture wicking long sleeved top, and then a maintain’sustain ive sports bra. Wearing tight fitting clothing should prevent chafing and will also help to regulate your temperature better. And eventually’ultimately choose a fabric that dries quickly, so that if and when the rain eventually’ultimately does eliminate’remove up, you ll hopefully dry up pretty soon after too!

10. Lights/Reflective Gear

Now that the clocks possess’own’nurse gone in/with regard to’concerning’regarding ward this is mildly’faintly less of a problem, however a rainy day is a lot darker and so making sure you re visible is a really significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative factor to consider when wet weather trail running. Always wear at least one item of brightly coloured clothing, that ideally has some in/with regard to’concerning’regarding m of reflective strips on them too. If you re running early morning or later in the evening, when the natural light levels are low, it s worth wearing a light to make yourself extra visible, especially to propel rs if some of your run is on road. I personally prefer wearing a chest light rather than a head lamp as I find it lights the way more consistently and feels a lot more comin/with regard to’concerning’regarding table. Aldespite’in spite of’albeit it is a faff to get rid of’discard if you acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure hot and need to take off a layer of clothing. If you run with your dog, you should also claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate with regards to’concerning’with respect to how well they re lit up too. I possess’own’nurse a black Cockapoo who I regularly run with, and if we run when it s darker he wears a blue light up collar. I call it his disco collar because it totally looks like he s going out raving, but it certainly does the job!

Conclusion

So, possess’own’nurse I convinced you that running in the rain is fun yet? As that notable’renowned’distinguished saying goes, there s no such thing as wicked’dreadful’undesirable’adverse’vile weather, merely’barely unsuitable clothing . Wet weather trail running is an expedition . It adds a whole different element to your trail run. And yes, it s dirty, and muddy, and wet, and slippy, and sometimes cold. But by making sure you re kitted out with all the correct wet weather gear there s nothing to stop you acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ting out there and tackling those technical trails.

 *adidas trainers gifted as part of a collaborative deal.

Do you possess’own’nurse any top tips in/with regard to’concerning’regarding wet weather trail running?

I’d love to hear with regards to’concerning’with respect to them, so acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure in touch:

Facereserve – @thisishealthyliving

Twitter – @ArtHealthLiving

Instagram – @arthealthyliving

Or leave me a comment below.

Author Bio

Becky Stafferton is a full time content creator and web publisher. She continually strives to promote a realistic, sustainable and positive image of how to lead a healthy life. When she’s not writing or reading her teenage diary she can be found swigging Prosecco from the bottle, running through muddy puddles, making lists of lists, having a rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent old moan, scoffing flapjacks, renovating her brand new house in the country, and crouchting like her life depends on it.