[pct-l] rain theory

[betseylou at mac.com (Elizabeth)]

Dan, I agree wholeheartedly when it comes to exercising in the rain for 
long periods of time. I've been a rower for 6 years and I have Plenty 
of experience spending hours/days/weeks in the pouring rain. Throughout 
high school my team rowed through so many wet seasons that instead of 
trying to stay dry, we bragged about who was wettest. There is 
something triumphant about lifting a shell over your head and have all 
the water in the bottom of the boat pour onto your head.  Maybe its 
just my mindset.

When we sit in front of our computers typing, nice and warm, its hard 
to imagine why we would want to be anything else. But two days ago I 
was on mile 4 of a thirty mile bike ride when the heavens let loose. 
Rather than turn back, I trucked on and ended up throughly enjoying 
every minute of sogginess. There is nothing like the sensation of being 
cold and wet on the outside and hot and exhilarated inside. True, when 
I got home I could get a shower, but even if I hadn't, this feeling 
would have been the same. I understand tents/tarps don't stay dry. But 
I think as long as the inside of your bag (synthetic) and the clothes 
you're going to sleep in are dry (ziploc), the glowing satisfaction 
that accompanies triumph over nature's worst is more than enough to 
keep me warm.

Happy when it rains,

E