IIf there’s one thing I’ve learned from endurance running, it’s this: You can control a lot of things (nutrition, hydration, pace, etc.), but the weather is NOT one of them. As I arrived in Washington D.C. today to run the Marine Corps Marathon, I never imagined that a hurricane (aka Sandy) would be coming with me. Thanks to her spontaneous charm, the current weather forecast has yo-yoed from a 90 percent chance of rain to now 50. It is also calling for 72 percent humidity, 18 mph winds, and temps around 55 to 60 degrees F (way too warm for my liking).

That’s the thing about marathons. You never know what kind of day you’re going to have. You just have to believe that you’re ready. That all that training in the heat of the summer will kick in. And that you’ll be able to push through, even if that means crossing the finish line looking more like you just swam the English Channel rather than having run 26.2 miles.

I’ve never raced in the rain before, or run 4 hours in pouring rain for that matter. So I decided to reach out to all the awesome runners I know on Facebook and Twitter for some advice. If you’re running in Marine Corps this weekend or if you ever find yourself faced with similar race conditions, here are some tips from real runners who have been there.

7 Tips for Racing in the Rain from Runners

1. Use lots of Aquaphor or BodyGlide to prevent chafing.

• Harry G: AQUAPHOR!!! There is no such thing as too much lube. Apply liberally before the race. Carry some with you. Stop and apply as needed so a blister does not stop you. Take the time. If you do get a blister, remember that it’s not going to be permanently debilitating. You’ve put a lot of hours into training – a few more hours to get to the finish is the price of admission for the medal waiting for you.
• Olga H.: When rain is involved, I’ve found the combination of a base layer of BodyGlide followed by a layer of Aquaphor to be very effective in helping prevent chafing and blisters.
• ‏Meg L.: Put Vaseline on your feet to stop blisters! Use mad BodyGlide everywhere. No cotton socks!
• Christy: Use LOTS and LOTS of BodyGlide! Stay positive! And if possible, have family with an extra layer somewhere half way through the race in case you get cold!
• Maria C: Use lots and lots of Aquaphor! I ran the Portland Marathon in the rain. The best you can do is lube up and hope for the best.
• Alison N.: Put Aquaphor everywhere! I did the Flying Pig Marathon in the rain and had 360 sports bra chafing. So for Portland (where it also rained), I put Aquaphor everywhere and didn’t have as many problems. Don’t forget to put it on your neckline where your shirt rubs. I also had chafing from my shorts, so wearing compression shorts under my jeans later that day worked well.

2. Wear a hat or visor to keep the rain out of your eyes.

• Abby: Wear a hat to keep the rain out of your eyes.
• Taylor B.: Triple the hat/visor. Rain in the eyes and face is annoying.
• David J.: Wear a visor/hat to stop rain from stinging your face.
• Pam M.: I did the Philly half marathon in pouring rain the entire time. We hung out in a parking garage before the race, but once it started, we got wet. It’s not as bad as it sounds, but definitely wear a hat.

3. Be one with garbage bags.

• @runnrgrl: A garbage bag is essential to wear while waiting in your corral to keep you dry.
• ‏@SheSoloDolo: Garbage bag!!!!!  I ran the LA Marathon and it was a torrential down pour from start to finish! I made the mistake of tossing my garbage bag. As people were ditching their bags, others were picking them up. Keep it on!
• ‏@Likethecolor: Never take off the poncho! Trust me!

4. Protect your feet.

• @runnrgrl: Make sure you put a lot of waterproof lube on your feet. Wright socks are great also because of their double layer. No blisters!
• ‏Andrea H.: I didn’t have any issues with the rain. It actually made things more fun. Look into a good pair of socks. Consider putting an extra pair in a Ziploc bag and give it to one of your spectators
• @ThunderChooch: I would use my water resistant gear depending on the weather. Bring a couple of extra pairs of performance socks in Ziplocs.
• Smitha B. My 21-mile long run before the New Orleans Marathon was in the rain. I didn’t mind the rain, but the puddles were what I hated. The squishy feeling was icky on my feet. Compression socks with lots of Aquaphor helped.
• Jen R.: Wear wool socks and coat your feet with Aquaphor.

5. Dress for the conditions.

• Barbara B: Consider short sleeves, arm warmers and a thin water repelling vest (like the Brooks Hi Viz) if you are more cold natured. There are no jackets I’ve heard of that are breathable enough.
• Andrea H.: If it’s sunny and you wear sunglasses, consider spraying them with Rain X.
• Olga H.: Wear short sleeves, arm warmers, and light layers.
• @krissymmurphy: Choose the right fabrics (no cotton), protect electronics, and watch your footing.
• Pam M.: I did a half marathon in pouring rain, and it’s not as bad as it appears. Once you get wet, there’s nothing you can do. Just think that everyone else out there is soaking wet too, so you aren’t alone. Don’t wear too many layers thinking it will be cold. Make sure your layers are something you can take off, like arm warmers. You’ll be ok. And if you get a bunch of blisters, you’ll still get through, because you have all next week to rest.

6. Consider ditching (or at least protecting) your music.

• Smitha B.: Don’t run with your iPod. No matter how many baggies you use and how carefully you tuck it into your water resistant belt, you will kill your iPod or iPhone if you use it for music (water goes in through the headphones slot). If you must have music, run out to Target and get a cheap mp3 and dump your playlist into it.
• Andrea H.: If you must have music, then remember to keep your iPod/iPhone dry during your run! You don’t want to get stuck without the music if you depend on it. If possible, save the music for the second half so that if something happens, you are already half way done!
• Barbara B.: You can buy waterproof cases for your iPod with ear buds.
• Cherie E.: If you run with an iPod, put it in a small Ziploc baggie (I use the snack size), and pin the baggie to the inside of your shorts to help keep it dry. I ran with my shuffle in Portland in a baggie inside my shorts and my iPod was fine.

7. Just roll with the punches and stay positive.

• Steve T.: In my first marathon, I was completely drenched. The rain happened from about miles 5 to 15. There is nothing you can really do about that, other than run wearing a trash bag, or something similar. But, once you do get wet, it doesn’t matter at that point how much it rains. The rain no longer bothers you. You can just keep on going. Bottom line: do not be afraid.
• Andrea H.:  Think positively, focus, and get excited.
• Corona H.: It rained for 20 miles of the Portland Marathon the year I did it. I ran a PR.

Good luck to everyone racing in the rain in Marine Corps Marathon this weekend, and to everyone running and racing. Stay dry friends!

Have you ever run long distances in the rain? If so, what tips would you add to this list?