When the rain comes...

29 days of rain during the 31 days of January. And 3 days into February with straight rain. This is Vancouver. And I'll admit it. It's getting to me. It's really getting to me.

I ride a Vespa to work everyday. And everyday I get into my rain pants and rain jacket. And I ride in the cold and wet. I ride home in the cold and wet. Then I get into my run gear and I run in the cold and wet. I get home and toss all my clothes into the wash so I can start the routine all over again tomorrow.

And it's getting to me.

I never thought I'd crack in the rain. It never bothered me in the past. Rain would appear for a few days but there were always decent breaks of sunlight (and no snow) to make it all worthwhile. But then last Tuesday, I had a heavy run day. Because of scheduling, I needed to do 2 runs that day. I woke up early for my first run and heard the steady drumming on the roof. It was pouring.

I steeled myself for the run and ventured out. 50 minutes later I was back. Soaked and shivering. 1 down. I tossed the clothes in the wash then headed to work. Of course, as soon as I headed out to work, the rain had stopped. A small consolation for the Vespa though I wished I could have run in this.

8 1/2 hours later and I'm making my way to my Tuesday run clinic. And it's pouring. Really pouring. The kind of pouring I'd bail on any day if I weren't a run leader at this group.

I arrive and am surprised to see just how many runners have shown up. I put on my best "let's go team" face and ready for the run.

And it's wet. And gross, and cold, and every awful thing I can think of. I commit to puddles so that i can just get the soaker over with rather than run with half and half shoes. I have to admit, I'm impressed with the people I'm running with. I can see they're all miserable, but they're committed to the run. They're doing it.

When my group finishes, we congratulate ourselves on finishing in such horrendous conditions. Everyone agrees this is the worst rain we've all ever run in. And we take some small pride in having ventured out in it.

But the next day (Thursday - hence the 2 runs on Tuesday), it's raining again. And I can feel something snap in me. When it was raining today as well, I didn't know what to think. I just ran it thinking of Boston every step I took. But honestly, I just wanted to toss my shoes in the dumpster and crawl into a warm bath.

Tomorrow's Saturday. At least I'll be able to choose my time to run...when it'll be raining the least.