Running in the Pune Monsoon

The monsoon is my favourite time to run in Pune. The heat breaks, the tekdis turn green, and the air smells like wet earth. It is also the season when most people stop running, then spend October trying to get their fitness back.

You do not have to stop. You have to adjust.

The rain is not the problem

Running in rain is fine. You get wet, you dry off. Nobody has ever been hurt by a drizzle.

The real risks in a Pune monsoon are these:

Slippery surfaces. Painted road markings, metal covers, smooth tiles and mossy steps get very slippery.
Hidden potholes. A puddle can be an inch deep or a foot deep. You cannot tell.
Traffic that cannot see you. Visibility drops, wipers are on, and drivers are distracted.
Waterlogged and flooded stretches. Never run through moving water.
Lightning. If there is thunder, go home.

Plan around those and the season becomes a gift.

Adjust your route

Pick routes you know well. Monsoon is not the time to explore a new trail in the dark.

Choose roads with good drainage and decent lighting.
Avoid low lying stretches that flood after a heavy spell.
Short loops near home are better than one long point to point route. If the weather turns, you are never far away.
Tekdi trails get muddy and slippery. Walk the steep parts, shorten your stride, and skip them entirely after very heavy rain.

Run facing traffic, and be seen

Run on the side facing oncoming traffic so you can see what is coming. Wear something bright. A reflective band or a small clip on light costs very little and makes a big difference at dawn when the sky is grey.

Earphones are a bad idea in any season. In the monsoon they are worse. You need to hear the bike coming through the puddle behind you.

What to wear

Light, quick drying clothes. Synthetic fabrics, not cotton. Cotton holds water and gets heavy.
A cap. It keeps rain out of your eyes. This is the single most useful piece of monsoon kit.
Shoes with decent grip. Check your soles. Worn out shoes are dangerous on wet roads.
No raincoat. You will overheat. If it is cold enough for a jacket, a very light shell is enough.

Look after your feet and skin

Wet running brings two problems that dry running mostly does not.

Blisters. Wet socks rub. Wear thin synthetic socks that fit well, not cotton. Some runners use an anti chafe balm on their toes and heels.

Chafing. Wet fabric rubs in places you will discover in the shower. Use anti chafe balm or petroleum jelly under the arms, on the inner thighs and anywhere straps sit.

After the run, take your shoes off quickly. Pull out the insoles, stuff the shoes with newspaper and leave them somewhere airy. Do not put them in direct heat. If you run often, a second pair to rotate helps a lot.

Slow down and let the pace go

Wet roads and humidity mean you will be slower. That is fine. Run by effort, not by your watch. If the effort feels the same as a normal easy run, you are doing it right.

This is a good season to build base fitness with easy runs and to add strength work at home. Do not chase personal bests on wet, broken roads.

When to stay indoors

Skip the run, or move it indoors, when:

There is thunder or lightning nearby.
There is a heavy rainfall warning.
Roads near you are flooded.
You are feeling unwell. Monsoon colds are common, and running through a fever is never a good idea.

On those days, do a strength session at home. Twenty minutes of squats, lunges, calf raises and planks will make you a better runner than one sketchy run in a storm.

Hygiene matters more than usual

Muddy water and open cuts are a bad mix. Clean any scrape properly when you get home. Wash your running clothes the same day so they do not stay damp. If you get a cut on a muddy trail and it gets red or painful, see a doctor.

The best part

Monsoon runs with friends are some of my favourite memories. Everyone gets soaked in the first five minutes, then nobody cares any more. It is the season when you find out who really loves this.

Plan monsoon runs with others in the WhatsApp community. Company makes the wet mornings easier, and it is safer than going out alone.

When the rain stops in October, the big race season starts. If you kept running through the monsoon, you will start that season ahead.