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Cotton is comfy, for sure…but what feels good against your body when you aren’t sweating can quickly become your worst enemy come race day. While training, the weather likely varied quite a bit, from hot and humid during the summer, to cool and damp in the fall, so no matter what race day looks like, you will likely have some experience running in inclement weather. That said, 26.2 miles is a long time to be uncomfortable in your clothing, even if you’ve been there, done that.
Here are a few, simple tips to minimize chaffing, blisters, wet-clingy clothing, etc., in the event you planned for 60 and sunny, but woke up to 40 and rainy on race day.
1. The temperature isn’t as much of a problem as the rain. Once you are moving, your body temperature will go up, and the temperature outside will likely rise during the race as well. The rain is the bugger. Toss on a trash bag w/ a holes cut out for you head and arms. You can toss the bag into a trash container later in the race if you wish.
2. Apply an anti-chafe ointment, such as BODYGLIDE®, to areas prone to chafing.
3. Even if the temperature outside feels cool at the start at the race, dress only for 20 degrees warmer. So if it is 50, dress for 65 to 70 degrees. You can shed clothes as your body heats up.
4. A hat to keep rain out of your eyes is nice to have, especially if you wear glasses.
5. Old socks that you don’t mind tossing later make nice hand-warmers at the start line, when you sometimes have to wait 20-30 mins before you can run.
Most races collect tossed clothing afterward and donate them, so take layers you don’t mind leaving behind. Also, as you shed your clothing, move to the side and don’t toss your apparel in the way of other runners.
Don’t wear anything on race day you haven’t run in before. A marathon, or even a half-marathon, is not the time to test-drive new apparel. One little spot that chafes at mile 8 will become a major annoyance at mile 23.
Finally, relax. Though rain is not a blast to run in, it isn’t the end of the world. All of the hard work and training you’ve put in up to race day have prepared you for what lies ahead. Just run.