Running in Thunderstorms

[IanDarkpeak]

Note to other runners, if you're caught outside in a thunderstorm the official advice is to avoid sheltering under trees, and squat with your feet close together. It's the potential difference between your feet (as the current flows through the ground) that kills you if you're not hit by a direct strike.

I don't know if there's any advice for runners as the only thing better than having both feet on the ground close together is having just one foot on the ground!

Kneel down with bottom in air, if struck the current will flow through your legs and earth without it passing through any vital organs, However you may feel like you've had one hell of a curry

[bigfella]

Was up in the hills in south of France close to the Spanish border last summer, thunderstorms around but some way off. Turned around and noticed the kids hair was all standing on end which they thought this was pretty funny. Was this a dangerous sign or not? decided to lose height pretty quickly just to be on the safe side.

[stumpy]

Rather coincidentally my 'Trail' mag arrived today with advice on what to do in an electrical storm!

DO sit on a rucsack in open space
DO lay ice-axes or poles to one side
DO keep your hands and feet off the ground (yogic flying anyone?)

DON'T stand in an exposed position
DON'T stand in gullies or ravines
DON'T shelter in caves
DON'T crawl beneath boulders or hide in holes and rock fissures
DON'T shelter beneath a tree
DON'T stand by a rock pinacle
DON'T hold a pole or ice-axe aloft (No sh#* sherlock!)

More advice in "the Hillwalker's Manual" apparently.....

[wheezing donkey]

Do you mean you didn't get the shock of your life?

Wrong! I did get the shock of my life, but it wasn't the shock of my death

Yes, I was scared witless and purposely 'over reacted' by counting to 1000 between flash and bang as much to give me time to regain my composure, as anything else. The first clap of thunder, after throwing myself down, was a count of just 2 after the flash of lightning.

W.R.T. hair standing on end, you had a very lucky escape. My namesake - the late, great Ian Roberts of Holmfirth - was killed by lightning in late July of '78 or '79 on a peak in the Dolomites. I'm certain that his climbing partner reported that immediately before the strike, their hair stood on end!

[Penguin]

Penguin - I'm happy to run near you - your half a foot of extra height would make you the prime target rather than me!

why thank you stumpy, just hope you can keep up on the descent..


other point dont' have anything made of carbon fibre as it is a great ligthning conductor

[stumpy]

why thank you stumpy, just hope you can keep up on the descent..

Usually there'd be no chance of that - I'm a crap descender, but who knows if the option is a zillion volts through my body?!

other point dont' have anything made of carbon fibre as it is a great ligthning conductor

What about titanium? I've got a 5" plate of it in my shoulder

[gej]

When walking in the Dolomites, I wondered what you were supposed to do if on a via ferrata in a thunderstorm.

[Al Fowler]

What about titanium? I've got a 5" plate of it in my shoulder

I wear glasses on my face....does that mean my head is a lightning conductor....haha....oh well at least i wouldnt feel much and it would happen quickly ha

When I hear thunder and lightning i seem to get an adrenoline rush so if i was out running in a storm it would probably help me to push on harder ha.....you only live once eh. ha

[stumpy]

When walking in the Dolomites, I wondered what you were supposed to do if on a via ferrata in a thunderstorm.

pray

[Grouse]

Put your wellies and marigolds on.