Running gear for rain - tech fabric

When running or walking for exercise, please wear gear made of technical fabric! Wick-away fabric or, as Nike calls it, Dri-Fit:

• Keeps you cool when it's hot and dry (and therefore warm) when it's cold
• Removes sweat from your skin, preventing rash
• Is gentle against your skin, so you won't get chafed nipples, underarms or thighs (should I have put that reason first?!)

Today, I'm appreciating how quickly wick-away gear dries. It has been raining for a week in the San Francisco Bay Area, which means I've been running in the rain. When wet, cotton is oppressive - either hot or cold, heavy and baggy. Tech fabric, on the other hand, often looks and feels pretty much the same wet as when it's dry. Yes, eventually, it will get soaked through but, as soon as you get under cover, it will start to dry. My shirt from today's run was almost completely dry by the time I got upstairs, set up the camera and took this photo. Just the dark patch below the collar was damp. Simply amazing.

My favorite brands for wick-away tops:
Nike
Road Runner Sports
Asics
Puma and Lululemon also make some nice tanks, but I haven't found shirts that work.

Temp: 49 degrees (~9C)
Wind: 10 mph
Humidity/Precip.: High/Steady rain
Terrain: Rolling hills
Distance: 3.75 miles

What I Wore: Road Runner Sport long sleeve t, Nike shorts and hat (with brim to keep rain off face), Amphipod LED arm band (running at dusk in the rain = hard to see).

Did It Work: No. Thanks to the headwind on the way home, my hands and behind my ears were really cold. Outbound was perfect, homebound was uncomfortable. Next time, a thin skull cap and I'll carry light gloves.

60 at sunrise

Temp: 60, sun just rising
Wind: Little
Precip.,Humidity: No rain, moderately humid
Terrain: Rolling hills to flat
Distance: 3 miles

What I wore: Nike shorts and dri-fit t-shirt, regular sports bra

Did it work: Yes, but I wouldn't have minded either gloves OR a light-weight, long-sleeve tech top, instead of short sleeves. I was pretty chilly when I first stepped out but warmed up after the first half mile. Still, without the sun's heat, my arms and hands were pink by the time I got home.

Wow moment: Thanks to still having a bit of jet lag, I was out as the sun was coming up. Despite the cold, I was stopped in my tracks by the sight of the sun reflecting on the low clouds that were clinging to the mountain side here in Queenstown, NZ. Beautiful and a great way to start the day!

75 and humid

Temp: 75 in sunny Sydney, Australia
Wind: 10 mph
Precip./Humid: No rain but felt humid
Terrain: Hills and stairs mixed with flat
Distance: 5 miles

What I wore: Brimmed hat and sunscreen to protect myself from Australia's notoriously high UV index. Nike dri-fit t-shirt, regular sports bra and shorts.

Did it work: Yes, but I could have easily run in just the sports bra and shorts. The humidity made it feel much warmer, quickly. I love dri-fit though - it really does the job of keeping you comfortable.

The more you know: I travel a fair amount and almost always run outside when I'm on the road. Running in a place that you are visiting is a great way to take in the sights, see what the local running culture is like and get acclimated to a new time zone. However, before I head out, I make sure I know where I'm going, how safe it is and, on long runs, what the water situation is like. I'm not overly cautious - I don't run with Mace or refuse to go out alone - but I usually let someone know the general area that I'll be running and cover those three points (safety, water and route) ahead of time.
The free website www.mapmyrun.com is a great source for figuring out your route. The other two may require some scouting and talking to locals. Like I said, running is a great way to get to know your native runners!

Today, I ran along the edge of Sydney's Botanic Garden, along the harbor and around the Opera House. It was pretty cool to run around one of the most recognizable building in the world and a beautiful run. I took this shot from a ferry - it shows almost half of my run route.