26.2 Quest: Running With The Kids..... In A Thunderstorm

I just went out to run with my older daughter Ashlee and was going to run with my son Brady after we got back. I checked the weather and it said 95% chance of thunderstorms starting in 30 min so I took both of them with me at the same time instead, knowing that Brady wouldn't get a run in if I didn't. We ended up only going about 2 miles because it was too hard to keep an eye on both of them since they run such a different pace.

It started to thunderstorm about half way through so I told Ashlee to go ahead and head home and finish and then I stayed with Brady until getting back home. During that second mile I ran hard to catch up with Ashlee and then came back to Brady to keep an eye on both of them. Little did I know it was going to also be a bit of an interval run as well :)

Once I got back it was storming pretty good and my other daughter Payton and her friend were still out for their 4 + miler. They really should have been back by then so I went out to try and find them. I was running a pretty hard pace, but I guess that is how it is when you are a dad :) I knew where they had gone since I told them where to go so I knew I would find them if I just kept going. I found them just over a 1/2 mile out and turned and ran back with them. They had stopped and hid under a gazebo because they were scared running in the thunderstorm.

All in all it was a good run. I had wanted to get a bit more in but it was a good training run with the differences in speed and effort throughout the run...... and I ALWAYS love running with my kids.

Would you run in a thunderstorm? Why or why not?

Tim Wilson - blog.262quest.com - subscribe - follow blog - virtual4now

16 comments:

Happy Feet 26.2Apr 24, 2010, 7:15:00 PM
Yes, I have unfortunately been caught a few times in thunderstorms. The last one was last summer, really scary. I hope I am smarter next time.
Tim WilsonApr 24, 2010, 7:22:00 PM
It doesn't bother me personally that much, however when my kids are out there in it, it bothers me a bit more.... esp when they were hitting as close as they were.
DrewApr 24, 2010, 10:22:00 PM
I do not run in thunderstorms. In fact, it's just about the only time I run on a treadmill. When I do so I always wonder if I'll lose power, the treadmill turns off and I run into the wall. :P
Tim WilsonApr 24, 2010, 10:32:00 PM
LOL! :) Truth be told it is probably not any safer to run on the treadmill with the possibility of the power going out :)
The Green GirlApr 25, 2010, 12:17:00 AM
As a Southern Californian wimp, I'm going to have to say no.

Thunderstorms used to be a real rarity around here so this question would have been completely hypothetical but this past year's weather has been really unusual and this could actually apply to us now. Crazy.

I'm also impressed your weather reporters are able to make a prediction with such a high level of probability. Heh.
Tim WilsonApr 25, 2010, 2:48:00 PM
Speaking to their "high level of probability" they just got lucky.... and when a storm is as big as this one was it isn't hard to say there is going to be some major storm in 30 min..... plus I was looking at weather.com only minutes before walking out the door :)
PhilApr 25, 2010, 8:33:00 PM
Tim,

As a general rule, the only time I run in t-storms is when they come up pretty quick, and I'm not in a position to turn around and head back.

I live in Marietta, and do most of my runs on the trails at Kennesaw Mtn National Park, and the majority of my routes are loops (thus the comment about not being able to turn around & head back easily).

We had some awful t-storms yesterday including marble-sized hail and high winds, etc.

Saturday is my long run day, and there was no way that I was going to get that in between bands of t-storms.

I did manage to get 6 in from home, and wasn't inside more than 5mins when the rains/hail came down.
LindsayApr 25, 2010, 9:21:00 PM
no way! i am too wimpy - i hardly go out in the rain. heck some days if it's cloudy and "looks stormy" i won't go out for a run. way to tough it out, glad everyone made it home safely.
Tim WilsonApr 25, 2010, 9:43:00 PM
@Phil - that was the same stuff that hit us yesterday, however it sounds like you got it a bit worse.... no hail here (this time - ran in some hail a few weeks back.... scary!) I understand the loop type runs and not being able to turn around.

@Lindsay - Thanks for the comment..... I like rain.... just not thunderstorms :)
AnonymousMay 2, 2010, 10:41:00 PM
i dont run in thunderstorms if i'm running country roads. in the city, if they're distant enough, i probably would. feels nice to run in warm rain.
M HastingsMay 3, 2010, 8:41:00 PM
I am way too much of a scaredy cat to run in a thunderstorm!! Wow!
Tim WilsonMay 3, 2010, 9:51:00 PM
I chickened out this morning as well. It was pouring and thundering and lightning out this morning at 4:45 when my alarm went off. I rolled back over and went back to bed....
KatieMay 5, 2010, 9:57:00 AM
My general philosophy on running is that all weather is good weather for running...I do admit though as I get older some weather does make me nervous. If it's just a little thunder, no problem. But I once got stuck in a massive lightning storm. It was terrifying. The field adjacent to where I was running was struck by lightning several times as I was running by. I've never been so scared on a run...
The un-Zen RunnerMay 9, 2010, 6:42:00 PM
Yes, As long as one of my buddies wears the hat with the long metal rod coming out the top...
Alice Van-WeedMay 17, 2010, 4:11:00 AM
running is really a good bonding activity with kids..but my 50ish parents can run, we just walk...
The un-Zen RunnerMar 16, 2011, 2:56:00 PM
Yes, As long as one of my buddies wears the hat with the long metal rod coming out the top...