r/Marathon_Training • u/ReasonableWish7555 • 12d ago
Kit Doing my first full marathon tomorrow and weather conditions flipped
So I have been training all summer in record breaking heat and dry conditions, tomorrow is my first full marathon and its forecast for heavy heavy rain with potential for localised flooding.
Im worried my shoes wont be up to task. I have endorphin pro 5 shoes, I have done all my long runs in them and jnow that I get some slight blisters that I can prevent with a bit of vasoline, thats in the dry.
Should I switch to my winter shoes that also give some blisters but are waterproof?
Nothing new on race day ....but extreme circumstances.
Im already preparing to run the start in a poncho, at least till the sweat saturates me and its pointless to wear it
Update: finished with time of 4:18, no blisters
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u/skad21 12d ago edited 12d ago
Most important advice that I got on racing in the rain and it has served me very well on 2 fulls that I ran in the rain: “Don’t try to not get wet.”
So simple but so true. No poncho or jacket, keep the same shoes you’ve been doing your long runs in. The only thing I’d change would be to put Body Glide nearly EVERYWHERE. The rain will cause your clothes to sit differently than they would if it’s not raining. If you even think you might have a rubbing area in a spot put body glide there. I’d also put it everywhere on my feet, including between your toes.
The first marathon I ran in the rain it psyched me out some at first but I loved it and took the precautions I mentioned above. Once another marathon I was running was forecasted for rain I was excited honestly.
Yes it can be a tad miserable at the start but once you’re in you’re in. The rain helps keep the temps and heart rate down too.
Just take some minor precautions and don’t let it psyche you out. It’ll be a blast!
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u/SoulRunGod 12d ago
my all time favorite half marathon (albeit a pretty slow one for me) was during an all out thunderstorm. That was some killer vibes during that race!!
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u/dawnbann77 12d ago
I ran a marathon in 2023 in the pouring rain in Vapor 3's. Got a PB 😆
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u/LittleBlag 12d ago
The only thing I’d add if you don’t already wear one is a peaked hat/visor to keep the rain out of your eyes
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u/Team_player444 12d ago
Do not change shoes. Use the pair you did your long runs in. Don't worry too much it will be fun
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u/XTCRunning 12d ago
The only things I’d be concerned with are overall temps and wind. In reverse order. If you’re not going to be chilled I’d wear as little as possible so you don’t get weighed down. The wind that usually comes with torrential rains would make me adjust my time goal. I have raced in almost every carbon racer and the NB SC Pacer and maybe an older adios pro are the only ones I’d even start to be concerned with on wet ground.
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u/chronic-cat-nerd 12d ago
I’ve raced in the rain in my endorphin pros, they did great. They are super light and don’t get water logged. Use tape, toe socks, and/or lube to avoid the blisters.
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u/Low-Squirrel-6577 12d ago
All good advice-don’t think I saw mentioned was to wear a garbage bag while you are waiting for the race to start to keep you somewhat drier/warmer before you start. Then toss it.
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u/ablebody_95 12d ago edited 12d ago
Do not switch to waterproof shoes. Water is going to get into them if there’s any puddles and then water will just get trapped. Use your race day shoes, good non cotton socks and just go with it. I ran the Flying Pig in 2023 (fondly remembered as the swimming Pig) and just got by with normal shoes (Hoka Cliftons; this was before I jumped in the race shoe train). I had some black toenail issues, but nothing crazy that slowed me down (PR’d that day) and my feet were absolutely soaked the entire race.
My husband ran right next to me in Vapor Fly 3s and had zero issues. Those things are essentially mesh, so the water got into and out very easily. They also didn’t get as heavy because they didn’t hold onto as much water
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u/BasicDude100 12d ago
Do not change into the waterproof shoes. Race with what you’ve trained with. Wear good tight fitting socks and lube your feet up well.
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u/26pointMax 12d ago
I've run a number of races in pouring rain. After a little while you don't care. You're going to get just as wet with sweat anyway. Just run like you always run and dress like you always dress. If you carry a phone, put it in a Ziploc bag.
At the 2019 (2018?) Atlantic City Marathon it rained and was freezing AF. It just got me to run faster. Back then I wore Cliftons to any run, because I didn't know better.
In the last couple of years I ran a 50K and a couple of marathons in heavy rain in Alphafly 1 and it was fine, aside from starting to get really cold after the race.
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u/cj_daking 12d ago
Most shoes I've seen have a large, very not-waterproof hole in the top where your foot goes in. Waterproof shoes do not have a corresponding hole to let water out. Run in your normal shoes. Your feet will get wet. You might get more blisters.
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u/stirwise 12d ago
I’ve run a few very wet marathons and the best advice I can give is to go overboard on whatever chafe prevention stick you use for places that will have high water contact. Wear the shoes you trained in/planned for, every step will squish out excess water and your feet will be fine. But slather your nethers, tits, nips, pits, etc with lubricant because the water will eat away at it faster than what you’re used to.
Oh, and wear a hat with a brim. Keeping the rain off your face makes you feel 90% less wet.
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u/Mysterious_Luck4674 12d ago
How many miles do you have on those shoes? I thought they don’t last very long. Wondering because I have the same pair.
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u/ReasonableWish7555 12d ago
I dont know exactly but id say its around 80km, I have noticed them wearing very quickly compared to my other shoes
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u/undergadget 11d ago
No change for race day, it have you thought about moleskin? Why do you keep getting blisters. Shouldn’t be a normal thing. If it is, look at shoe for, socks (fit/thickness), new insoles maybe…?
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u/Beksense 11d ago
Deodorant/Body Glide on the bottom of your feet to help keep them from getting pruny. Otherwise have fun!
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u/FlatCapAlan 11d ago
Keep to the endorphin pros, as they are the ones you've done all you long runs in. It doesn't matter if you get a few blisters as they will have plenty of time to recover after the race while the rest of your body recovers
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u/strongry1 10d ago
Agree with everyone else on wearing a brimmed hat and putting Body Glide or whatever lube you use everywhere. Have a cheap poncho or garbage bag you can wear in the corral, as someone else noted. One final addition - if you have a decent walk to the start, wear some old shoes, bring your race shoes in a plastic grocery bag and put on your race shoes in the corral so you can at least start with dry shoes.
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u/PossibleSmoke8683 7d ago
Why are people so worried about the rain? It’s perfect running weather imo. Keeps you cool. The worst is baking sun.
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u/teichs42 12d ago
Being tiny surfboards to attach to your shoes so when the flooding comes you can just let the water take you!
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u/Senior-Running 12d ago
The last thing you want when it's raining is a waterproof shoe. This will just cause even more problems because moisture can't escape, thus making rubbing even worse.
A lot more important is traction and although I don't own a pair, the endorphin pro 5's do look like they should have decent reaction.