Running in the rain is a wonderful experience, one where you feel you're challenging the elements and taking control of your own fitness at the same time. The warmth of a hot bath after being soaked by the rain is a very nice and rewarding end to a great workout.

There are some points you need to think about when running in the rain. Here are my top 5 golden rules: -

#1 Try to put on a few layers af clothing instead of only one top. Running jackets can occasionally agitate the skin a little after a while, so instead wear a lightweight running vest or t shirt underneath.

If you're wearing a waterproof jacket, the under garment should be made of Coolmax or polypropylene to wick away sweat and moisture from the skin, as virtually all running jackets will raise your body heat a little more than usual.

#2 Wear a wind proof, water proof jacket when you decide to go running in the rain, but be careful of using cheaper jackets as they don't only keep water out, but also keep the sweat in, leaving you feeling clammy and cold.

#3 Running in a hat with a peak will help to stop rainwater running in your eyes. Rain running down your face can be very uncomfortable if you happen to be wearing any hair products such as mousse, gel, hairspray or wax as they may mix with the rain and run down in to your eyes. Also if the place you run in is built up and you tend to have polluted rain which is very acidic, this may cause you a little discomfort if it goes in your eyes.

#4 Put on bright and ideally reflective clothing because if you're running in the rain, not only will your visibility be unclear, but so will that of other road users. This will be especially true if you're out in heavy rain.

#5 Don't overdo it. Ok, it's raining, but that doesn't mean it's cold. Wearing too many layers of clothes without a rain jacket isn't a good idea, your clothes will get very heavy adding more weight and give you more of a challenge to your workout. The key here is to dress according to the temperature of the day.

Another thing to mention after you've been running in the rain is to take care of your running shoes by stuffing them up with old newspaper rolled into balls. This keeps your shoes in good shape by drawing the moisture away from the fabric and insole.