Last Updated on January 3, 2023 by Andrew Pirie
Can Athletes go training in the rain?
First Published
September 17, 2020
By Andrew Pirie (Enzo Williams)
Vice President of the ATFS
Photo: An athlete I am coaching in Calapan City. Pia, a native of Surigao.
The 22-Year-old Former SCUAA 400m Finalist currently works for the Fruitas company.
Can Athletes train in the rain?
What is your excuse!?
Who is making a comeback to the Sport?
At first, she had all the typical Filipino Mentality Phobias to Train Raining.
But through persistent coaching on my part and reading this article, she now has developed a strong mindset to train even if it’s raining.
I can’ train cause it’s raining! Train Raining
One line frequently heard of, especially more so during COVID being used as an excuse, is
“I Can’t Train Its Raining.”
Fair Enough if you in Manila. You probably will get sick because of all the chemicals in the rain.
One of the many disadvantages student-athletes does not consider when they move to Manila.
The option here is an indoor facility that Manila really lacks.
They have no full-sized (200m round) indoor facility for athletes to train at.
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If we recall the wicked witch of the west from the wizard of OZ.
“IM MELTING” is what the will power of a lot of student-athletes in the Philippines is exactly like.
The flimsiest excuse is when you in the Province and the rainwater is clean, and you certainly will not get sick.
Another thing, who would not like to workout in the Rain?
Doesn’t it make a refreshing change?
When the hot, humid temperature of the Philippines is always in the 30-40 Centigrade range.
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So Pack prepare for Train Raining
- Change of Clothes (especially extra socks heck pack 5 pairs if you want the more, the better, dry shoes also, sandals)
- Towel
- Some Soap
- Shoes with the right amount of grip
- An Umbrella
- Your Game Face
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AND GET YOUR ASS TO TRAINING!
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More Information on what to pack in an athlete’s kit.
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Get a Grip with the right Foot Wear
What you should be more concerned about if it’s raining. It is appropriate footwear, so you don’t slip over.
However, if you are using spike shoes on an “All Weather Track,” you will slip over next to nil chance.
Rubber shoes on the grass well, that is a different situation altogether.
Let’s say if it’s light rain and you in the province. Absolutely no reason to skip training if you have the right footwear.
If it’s heavy rain, then an alternative might be gym, drills indoor, medicine ball, plyo boxes, etc.
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Mental Strength to Train Raining
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For example, let’s say if your an athlete would rather stay wrapped up in the comfort of your room playing Mobile Legends when it’s raining.
Well, what if your opponents are training in that sort of weather.
When I was coaching at the Zamboanga Del Sur Sports Academy, I handled 18 sprinters.
And if it was light rain, my group was the only group on the 8 lanes rubber all-weather oval.
The athletes of the other coaches retreated to the comfort of the dormitories.
If it was heavy rain, my group was training in the basketball arena and the gym doing gym drills, med ball, plyo boxes, strides.
Suppose we look at all the most successful athletes in the Philippines Athletics. Ernest Obiena, Eric Cray, Kristina Knott, William Morrison, Mary Joy Tabal, Marestella Sunang, Henry Dagmil, etc.
Do you think a little bit of rain hindered them from training?
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What if it Rains in Competition?
Seriously if you’re not going to show up in Training, cause fear of getting wet from a sprinkle of rain.
Does this also mean if it rains during a competition, you won’t even show up?
Seriously
Think about it if you have a Phobia or strange obsession with getting sick from the rain.
Then in competition, it will probably affect your performance because you’re overthinking it.
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We will continue this series with more Phobias and Misconceptions regarding training.
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Andrew was elected Vice President of the Association of Track and Field Statisticians in 2020 after being a member for 7 years.
He has worked as a PSC Consultant and Research Assistant from 2013-2015, Consultant, and Sprint Coach at Zamboanga Sports Academy from 2015-2017. And Currently is Consultant Coach with VMUF 2021-
Current editor and chief of Pinoyathletics.info, and has recently done consultancy work for Ayala Corp evaluating the Track and Field Program.
Coaches Sprints, Middle and Jump events he is Level 3 Athletics Australia Coaching Certification in Sprints and Hurdles.
Currently working towards a Masters Degree in Education.
He can be contacted on [email protected]
You can find more information on Coaching here
http://www.pinoyathletics.info/coaching-2/