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

  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...

Thank you, Doctor Frederick Mechanik

On 4 August 2014 my 5k training run on a paved trail in my neighborhood, ended badly.  I heard a noise behind me, startled, I looked behind me and landed wrong. I fell to the ground.  A couple with a toddler on a bike came up from behind and asked if I was all right. "I'm Fine," I told them, more embarrassed than anything else. When I got up and started to walk, my foot hurt and I limped home about 500 meters.  I immediately practiced RICE  (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) and figured it would be fine by morning. The next morning I was in pain!  My foot had swollen to the size of grapefruit and I knew this was bad.  I was registered with my team for  RAGNAR  that Saturday and I was concerned.  I figured it was just a sprain and that the hospital could give me some good drugs and wrap it and I would be on my way to running again. The Giant Cast - Day 1 After my X-ray, the technician came in and said "Ma'am, could you please si...

Is it really Facebook that is the problem?

Recently, I have heard people say that they are no longer going to use social media because of how negative it has become.  There have also been many articles that discuss the negative effects of social media on the population.  Many say that the presidential elections in the USA are a major reason why they dread checking their Facebook. Sugar with a beer I have to question both the people and the articles which claim that "Facebook" is the problem. Social media is a tool and a way to communicate like any other.  You can share pictures of your cats or your dog drinking a beer.  You can share important life events like your new grandchild being born or small events like a dinner out with friends. You can also write terrible hateful things and share disgusting photos. Just because other people share, it doesn't mean that we have to be a part of it.  Just like in the physical world, we have the option to walk away.  We have the power as users, to fil...