High Country Running: Running in the glorious rain

For many people, rain is a reason to stay inside. Growing up in New England, I dreaded a rainy day as a kid — and rain in the forecast felt far from uncommon. Fast forward to now having spent the last decade of my life in Flagstaff, and rain in the forecast feels cause enough for celebration.

My birthday was this past weekend, and I couldn’t think of a better start to a new year than with a long run through a monsoon. It was one of those runs where within mere moments, everything was drenched, visibility was limited and puddles practically became ponds — so large that there was no way to run around them and no way of knowing how deep they were until my leg was the measuring stick. I laughed at myself as I reflected back on how in New England I’d often grumble about running in the rain, and now I completely relished it and was viewing it as a lucky birthday gift.