Is it okay to run in the rain?

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I try to exercise every day, and that's my exercise of choice. Is it dangerous to run while it's raining, even if I'm wearing proper rain gear?

the rain itself? nah.
be a bit careful on wood and similar surfaces though, those can get slippery when wet.

Nope!

As was already mentioned, just be careful of slippery surfaces.

I never used to run in the rain until I mentioned to my friend that I wasn't likely going to go for a run on account of the rain and he looked at me funny and said he loves running in the rain... so I thought wtf, may as well give it a try! I did and it was great. Nice and cool, no overheating. It's a bit on the cold side still right now to want to go for a run in the rain.. but I've gone for several good runs in the rain in the same shorts/t-shirt/shoes as when it's dry - no need for special rain gear or anything. I just get a little wet. Although I have worn a light nylon jacket once or twice.. but usually the temps are high enough not to bother & I just get a little wet.. and like my grandmother says "you're not made of sugar, you aren't going to melt!" Only time I really wear anything different for a run is if it's really quite cold out, like freezing or just below freezing - then I wear long underwear under my shorts and a long sleeve waffle weave shirt under my t-shirt.

Also, I confirmed for myself something I had read about getting wet in the rain.. I read that you get wetter if you run than if you walk slowly on account of running into a lot of raindrops vs. just having the ones hit you from directly above. So, they recommend walking to/from your car if you want to stay dryer vs. the intuitive "run for it" that most of us do. It's true. After a run in the rain my back is nearly dry, except for a few drops of rain and some sweat of course, and my front is quite soaked due to running into all the raindrops that would have otherwise just fallen in front of me. Common sense physics, but it might me smile when I got to observe it for real the first time.

I run, and hike, in the rain. I like to be out in all kinds of weather.

It's dangerous if you're the Wicked Witch of the West.
Or if you have terrible balance; running+slippery ground+balance issues= bad.

I agree with everyone above: It is not dangerous as long as it's not slippery.

I don't do it, though, because I don't enjoy it. I hate it when my feet get wet. But that's just me. I'm a wimp. I do hike in the rain, because the hiking season is short. I love hiking so much that even if it's raining I'll go out. But I don't like sweating under a raincoat and rain pants. Actually, I enjoy it if I'm hiking downhill, and not sweating. I only dislike hiking in the rain on the uphills, when I'm sweating.

I used to run out of doors, but I'm an old coot now, and sometimes I get aches and pains. If I'm running indoors (on the treadmill) I can stop if I need to.

But if you enjoy running in the rain, or it's the only way you can run, then do it! Be careful of slippery surfaces.

No, not that I know of … slipperiness aside but that's already pointed out … can't think of any danger ... did you have anything specific in mind??

Visibility? - I'd wear something reflective in combination of rain and dark.

As for another safety note, when it's cold I'd pay extra attention to breathing through nose (= not gasping air through mouth) even when doing cardio like running and such - nose warms and filters air so the cold / bacteria etc has less chance to reach your lungs.

Watch for blisters if you're doing a reasonable distance and not wearing waterproof footwear.

Also - if you're running hard you'll sweat anyway - many runners don't bother with a waterproof top, as it can make them even more sweaty/sticky.

Running in the rain, especially for fast runners, puts the runner in an ideal situation as far as hydration is concerned.

I heard being out in the rain is bad for the immune system & make you more susceptible to illnesses like colds.

Not if you're healthy.

It's not that great to run in a COLD rain....but it's 15-20 Celsius and it's raining, I would consider running in that an absolute godsend.

I can see where this comes from - it is,

1) if you keep gasping cold air through your mouth over a period of time, yes. Mouth does not filtrate air and the bacteria is more likely to reach your lungs.

2) Also, if you don't dry your feet afterwards and leave them wet and cold it can affect your circulation and put unnecessary strain to your immune system.

3) Or if you already have cold …

Solutions.
1) If you pay attention to breathing through nose (with filtrates and warms air) even when running and

2) dry up + warm up properly after you've got back indoors

then there is no problem whatsoever.

As for 3) - if you are already unwell, get well before going to play in cold rain!

That is a myth, nick007. I think (mostly older) people believe that because cool rain can cause you to get chilled.

If you're in good health, a little bit of cold won't hurt you and can actually boost your immune system. It's if you start to get a bit hypothermic that's a problem. Even then, you'll only "get sick" if you've already been infected and were priorly asymptomatic.

If you're exercising at a moderate to vigorous intensity, it's unlikely that you're going to get cold though. Unless it's raining really hard and the temperature is below 21 C.

Personally, I feel like I'm on fire when I work out, even with just one layer of clothes on in -3 C weather.

I've gone on runs when it's been raining moderately hard before. Didn't bother me at all. Actually helped me stay cool.

ajpd1989 beat me to it, but I'll say it again for reinforcement: It is a myth that getting cold can make you get sick. We remember the times we got sick after having gotten cold (coincidence) and we forget all the times we got cold but didn't get sick.

And as others have pointed out, you're not likely to get cold while running. I don't run in the rain because I don't like it. But when I lived in rural North Dakota I ran out of doors in winter, sometimes down to zero degrees Fahrenheit and a wind chill factor as much as 20 below. I did wear good insulation and a breath mask under those conditions. Breathing cold air will not in itself make you sick, but breathing hard at very cold temperatures is painful. So it's a comfort issue, not a disease issue.

I personally work in it and I have been quite fine, in the summer it is wonderful though.

What a fantastic feeling of freedom it is! There's no reasons not to!