Skip to main content

Running, Rain, and Risk Management

Recently we have been getting a lot of rain in Germany and I have been trying to schedule my runs around the rain storms.  For those familiar with risk management as defined by the Project Management Institute, there are a few different options to handle a risk once it is identified.  The four options are risk avoidance, acceptance, transfer and mitigation

Risk transfer is when you can pass the risk on to someone else or another company.  This is great for IT projects, but not really an option as a runner.  It would be great to have someone else complete my run for me, but that doesn't actually help me with my training.

Risk avoidance is a technique which I have been practicing the past few weeks.  I research the hourly weather charts and then try to calculate the best times to run with the lowest probability of ending up in a rain storm.  This reduces the chances that I will be in a rainstorm and getting struck by lightening.  Of course not running would allow me to completely avoid the risk, but just like risk transfer, would not let me train for my goal of running a half marathon

Risk reduction is minimizing the impact of a risk.  By wearing proper rain clothing I am able to minimize the impact of running in the rain.  I also try to reduce the risk by adhering to best practices of running in rain storms to ensure that I don't get struck by lightening.

Risk acceptance is knowing that when the risk occurs that there is nothing else to do.  When I was five miles into my ten mile run it started to pour rain the other week.  I just embraced the rain and ran the five miles back to my start point.  Sometimes just accepting the rain on your run is the best approach.

I find that it is fun and easy to apply basic project management techniques like risk management to every day life.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Life is a Project and so is New Home

 I wish I had posted more during my last DIY Home makeover, but this time I am determined to post more and share my adventures.  The good, the bad, the ugly of a move and home that needs some TLC. I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes well on my house closing this Wednesday - please send positive energy my way.  For those that remember my last house it was a charming little brick cape cod in Arlington, VA built in 1939 with original hardwood floors and radiator heat.  My house in Gary, Indiana is a split level house that was built in 1968.  The home has great bones, but the carpets, kitchen, and bath might be original to the home, so lots of opportunities. As I prepare to move I have created a moving checklist and am putting items together based on what I currently have on hand, what I think is in my U-Haul boxes, and what I know I will need immediately on moving in.  The house does has not appliances, so planning on using a makeshift kitchen...

From Bedroom to Bistro: Making Magic During My Kitchen Demo

  🏠 From Bedroom to Bistro: Making Magic During My Kitchen Demo Renovation Rule #1: Improvise with flair. When I decided to demo my kitchen and install new tile flooring in the main level of my house, I knew I'd be trading convenience for creativity. What I didn’t expect was how charmingly chaotic my workaround would become: I turned one of my upstairs bedrooms into a temporary kitchen.  Yes, a room that should be hosting guest beds and writing desks now hosts my coffee maker , microwave , and a small prep station that would make any food truck chef proud. Another key consideration is that it has been hot; on several days there have been heat warning days. Having a dedicated tiny refrigerator with sparking water, water filter pitcher , and having a table top icemaker has been great for all the water breaks I need when smashing soffit or prying up carpet strips. Grace and gratitude have also become essential.  With only my sister working on the project with me when sh...
  Is Your Life a Project? Unpacking the Project Management of Daily Living Unlike in 2016 when I gave my TedX Talk on Life as a Project , there are a lot of thoughts about the concept now.  As I continue to try to balance launching a new book, DIYing my house, and gardening; I use my fundamental PM tools to get me through.  It is great to see that concept of Life as a Project out there getting talked about! Whether you agree or not, at least it is a conversation point. Ever feel like you're constantly juggling tasks, goals, and those curveballs life loves to throw your way? What if there was a secret weapon, a framework that could help you navigate it all more smoothly? It's called project management , and while it's usually reserved for the business world, an intriguing question is popping up: Can we actually apply these principles to our everyday lives? This isn't just a casual thought; it's sparked quite a lively debate, especially among the pros who live and...