Believe it or not, this question has received some serious scrutiny from the scientific community over the years.
Running as fast as you can is usually the best way to minimize wetness, according to Franco Bocci, a professor of engineering at the University of Brescia in Italy. The optimal travel speed varies depending on how thin you are, the wind speed, raindrop size and the angle between your path and the wind direction.
There are a few easy-to-identify exceptions worth remembering. If the wind is blowing in the direction you're traveling, attempt to jog at a speed equal to the wind speed. That's the pace at which you feel the least wind and the rain smacking against you. But if the wind is hitting your back at an angle, jog a little faster than you think it's blowing. The larger the angle, the more you should hustle.
Bocci further adds that his work reveals how complicated the running versus walking dilemma really is and the answer will become more complicated the more factors physicists take into its account.
In short, if your goal is to remain as dry as possible, then you should probably run through a downpour. If you are wearing protective rain gear, then you may want to conserve your energy and walk. If you are already soaked to the bone, it really doesn't matter much if you run or walk in the rain. Getting warm and dry clothes and a hot cup of coffee should be the first thing on your mind. Or like we always suggest, be ‘weather-wise’, be aware of the rain situation and current weather in your city before you head out!
Photo by Keith Bacongco.