Does Running in the Rain Make You Sick?

It's monsoon season in the D.C. area., which makes both running and simple outdoor photography a challenge. I resigned myself to run on the treadmill again yesterday, three miles at an 8:00 pace, yearning to be free and on the road. There's no rule against running in the rain, but I avoid it out of paranoia that I'll come down with something and infect my newborn. But are my fears unfounded? Instead of blindly following what could just be a myth, I decided to look into it.

Expert opinion - and by "expert", I mean random articles I read on the internet - notes that running in the rain is NOT the root cause of getting sick, but can make one vulnerable to illness if one doesn't dress properly. Another article noted that on rainy days, more people congregate inside, increasing the chance someone sick could infect others. My takeaway is that if you do run in the rain, avoid human contact for at least a few days. Sound harsh? Depends on how much one detests treadmill running. Another key consideration yesterday: did I really want to trek through rainy mud the first time I run with a new pair of sneakers?