I don’t like the heat so I run before dawn, when the air is thick with 100% humidity. It’s still 75-80° but it’s not 90-100°; the sun is my nemesis. It’s not unusually hot here, just the normal Floridian steam.
I’ve maybe said this here before but when I first moved from the upper Midwest to the swamp-jungle of Jacksonville, I just made up my mind. There is no sense complaining about the humidity. It won’t change anything and I chose to move here. It’s worth being able to run outdoors 365 days a year. I don’t love it but I don’t sweat it either. Ok, I sweat it a lot, but I don’t stress over it. I’m convinced the positive outlook makes it infinitely more bearable. I’ve just started marathon training we have 4+ months of summer left. Maybe I’m just a kook.
Be safe. Hydrate. Get up early. Wear the appropriate clothes/hat/sunscreen if you brave the sun and as always, listen to your body but it’s doable.
I love that attitude -- you're so right, complaining about it isn't going to change the weather patterns around Jacksonville! -- and you get so much in return for having to deal with the humidity.
I live just north of Orlando and realized a long time ago that if I wanted to run, I'd have to deal with the heat... I'm not a great early morning runner but have learned that my body can handle the heat... When I lived in Jacksonville I supervised the 3rd shift in a paper converting plant.. I went from work to the beach and ran on the sand... not the easiest runs but it wound me down so I could sleep when I went home...
I used to really struggle in the summer. Humidity is not a friend to someone who has rheumatoid arthritis. I have found that in the humidity, I may need to stop a couple of times in my run to stretch my joints and make sure that I do not hurt myself. The biggest thing I try to do is, "listen to my body". If that means stopping to stretch or even walking for a distance, that is ok because that is what my body needs right now. Also for me, I have to remember to hydrate a little more when that humidity is high out there!
I've lived in So Cal all my life, so I go out earlier in the morning (sometimes with a headlamp) when it's cooler. Our humidity is not like Atlanta, but it's enough to make me slow down. On those days, I consider it a blessing to still be moving forward.
I live just a few miles south of you in Monterey Park. When it gets too hot here, I drive down to Long Beach and run there. it can be 5-10 degrees cooler!
I love training in the heat but am glad the races I do are in the Winter. I feel like the intense summer training sets me up good for the event.
I think its important for me to accept where I am each day, but it is twice as important for me to avoid complacency. It is a fine line for me between going easy/ being lazy.
In regards to the time quote. Why does 24 hours on the weekends feel half as long as 24 hours during the week? Thanks for the topic.
When it gets hot, I measure the smiles, not the miles. I’ll still push, but only when I’m confident it’s just my brain screaming, and not my body. Since I’m in Tampa for my first summer, I’m planning to just run 2.5 miles (20 minutes) as a minimum, and extend that based on how I feel. I’ll be signing up for the Gasparilla Distance Classic tonight, it’s in January. I may pick another half in the late fall to warm up, but serious training is on hold for now. I’m in maintenance mode.
Gasparilla is awesome!! It can be 77° or 47°. But either way look for Meb!! He's usually on the half marathon course to give you a high five and it is life-changing!
I already got my Meb selfie, but I’ll take another! The course goes by a block from my house. I ride my bike to the start. My wife wanders out to cheer me on both directions on Bayshore Boulevard.
I recently moved just outside of the Mojave Desert. It's been between 105-112 all month...which is normal here. In fact, it will be this way until September. Anyway after living on the East Coast for so long I thought "it's a dry heat, I'll be fine" but I think it's the most challenging running I've ever done. No shade and often it's over 100 before 9 am. LOL needless so say I am not handling it as well as I would like. Just doing what I can...more walking...a lot of electrolyte breaks.
When I was in the service, when I came back from Nam they sent me to Barstow CA... Never been in the desert and was shocked at how hot it could be during the daylight hours and could freeze during the night... Three months there was more than enough...
I had one bad experience that almost killed me... I had a head cold and took 24hour Contact D for two days before a 10K... I was having the best race of my life! I saw the two leaders and foolishly thought I could catch them... My body couldn't cash my brains chips... When I heard a voice say "What's your name?" and couldn't answer, I knew I was in trouble... Five hours later and after what had to be a gallon of fluids pushed through my body I finally could pee... they were not going to discharge me until I did... I over did my self medicating and didn't hydrate enough... I still push my body to it's limits but now let my body dictate just how far it'll let me go.
Shade!! I know! I just ran in Denver area recently, thinking that since it was 15° cooler than Florida I'd be fine. But at 7:00 a.m. I had full sun. At least in Florida when I run at I still have shaded area.
It was out in Summerlin a few days ago. I do hope you folks get some rain soon. It has been a long dry year. Saw the monsoons were supposed to be back this year. . . keep your fingers crossed. :)
I love running in the heat, but the record heat we had in the PacNW for the last few days was a bit much. Even I had to get out before 9AM to have a comfortable run!
As a Trail Runner, I start slow, speed up if I can, but the trail, roots and rocks dictate how fast I can go.
Orca Running had its Craft Classic Half and 5K (Redmond, WA) on Sunday when the temps were their hottest. I noticed a lot of runners veered off the trail (asphalt) and stayed in the shade or walked. I did the Half in 2019, but I cannot remember it being as warm.
Yes it has. 101, 102 and higher. The humidity doesn't help.(50 to 70%) On Sunday, the temps were 110 to 111, but the Real Feel Weather (which I go by for running) was 114 degrees. Night time is the worst because it doesn't cool down.
It seems to be back to 88 now, but in reality, it is normally in the 60 to 80 degree range. The forecasters say the temps are above normal. :)
I grew up and started running in Alabama and now live in Tennessee, so I am no stranger to heat and humidity. I've also never been a morning runner. At this point, I'm used to it, but definitely still have to take precautions in the summer months! This may be obvious, but on days when its really a scorcher I just start slow. Like, really slow. That way if I'm feeling good after a few minutes I can pick up my pace, but if I'm not feeling so good I can keep it at an easy jog and still get a good sweat in. Gatorade is my best friend, and a hat and sunscreen are a must!
I hear you. I've lived in Georgia my whole life, and I'm not sure if I've ever really gotten used to the heat! But taking it slow is always good advice when conditions are like they are now.
Training for a marathon in September, which is in Utah and I live in Tampa. I am not used to running in this humidity and I am a little nervous about the long runs coming up. I get out there in the mornings early, but it is still hot and humid. So here is to hoping. HA HA! :)
Hello from Italy! They predicted in April but we did not want to believe... it will be the warmest summer... and here it is. It is hot here too! Very hot! So we run at 6am trying to get the fresh air from the night. At 6am is already 28 and is hard. So with my group of friends we learned to avoid continuos long runs and put in the middle some repetition, some up and down from hills, stairs. Some days seems we run with 2 big magnets on the feet... Does it sounds familiar? But we do not give up, we have two more months like this. For those who want to think to a different holiday I recommend this run 16K 51 Bridges in Venice on the 28 August. Running in the night with a lamp in this magic city! I will be there
I live in Las Vegas, NV, where heat is the norm from May-October. (But it’s a dry heat!😁) It sounds weird, but you adjust, to a point.
I run after school during the school year & in the mornings during the summer break. My personal heat limit to run in is 100 degrees. Anything below that, I can handle. (I also have a shady route to run when it’s hot out.)
(BTW: I joined a gym a few years ago just to use their treadmills in May, August, September & October after school. I just couldn’t handle over 100 degree heat runs after school anymore.)
How I handle 90+ degree runs is to wet my tank top & my hair, carry plenty of water & Nuun, as well as salt stick tablets, & run my shady route. It is usually 90+ degrees by 6AM during the summer, so I get up early & get it done ASAP. 💪🏼
I'm in Las Vegas too - and my limit for running is the low 90s (as unfortunately my routes are not shaded at all). I got a treadmill during the pandemic so before where I would just not run much in the summer - I'm now using my treadmill to get my runs done 🙃
My husband owned a T-shirt that he wore until it was falling apart. It had a skeleton surfing on a sand dune and it read, "but it's a dry heat!" We loved that saying!!!! We have searched for a replacement shirt, but have never found one quite like it.
I spent my teenage years in Northern VA, where high heat and humidity were the norm from May-October and I was fine. Now that I'm in Connecticut (where it hit 100 today!), and I'm in my late fifties, I find I can tolerate it a LOT less! Last week I ran in high humidity, but the temp was in the mid 70's (and it was early). Not my favorite conditions, but I realize that some races occur with these conditions and you MUST train for it. Yesterday, it was 80 degrees at 6:30 am, and my poor little dog almost passed out from a 1 mile walk. I ran indoors yesterday, knowing I would do the same. I NEVER sign up for summer races, and the key is to get out as early as possible. Fall races are my FAVORITE!!!
I'm not sure if we are seeing the effects of global warming or if it's just a freak weather pattern... my only warning is that, heat can kill, especially if you don't hydriate before your run and during it... I had a close call years ago when I was younger and thought I was invincible ... I wasn't and took a trip to the hospital when I physically over did what my body was capable of durning a 10K race... The last thing I remember was trying to reeling in the guy in front of me....
I love running when it's warm and hate being cold... but like someone wrote today.. Let my body dictate what you can and can't do... I would hate to see us lose anyone during this extremely hot weather pattern... Be Safe!!
The half marathons I trained for all took place in the early spring, so I became used to training over winters (in Ohio snowbelt winters too, where it'll snow 2 feet overnight and no one blinks an eye), but now I'm in training for my first FULL marathon, set this October.
It's definitely an adjustment running in the heat and humidity vs the cold, but I think it is allowing me to appreciate the beauty of all seasons!
I just feel lucky to have healthy legs and lungs at this point!
Hi Terrell. I live is Spokane, Wa. on the east side of the state. We reached an all time high yesterday of 109 degrees. It was like turning on an oven and leaving the door open. I'm a part of a running club here and we are on a break until after the 4th of July but all of us are still trying to put in the miles but respectful of the heat. Most of us have been going out at around 4-5am when it's only 70+ degrees. Still affects us though as most are not sleeping well and so the efforts seem hard. I'm giving myself grace, like I did this morning when the goal was 5 miles but I did my 3 out of 3 instead. I like this a lot!
I saw yesterday on the news that they took a mid-day temp reading on the asphalt and it was over 140... How hot does it have to get to fry and egg on the pavement?
I am not sure but one of the local news agencies in Spokane did a temperature check on the asphalt and got a reading of 157 on the day we hit 109. Should be hot enough to fry an egg but I know it was hot enough to fry my poor flowers.... sadness
Loved the comment from "Where the Crawdads Sing," which I recently finished reading. Excellent book. As for hot weather running, I schedule my halfs for spring and fall, and use summer for the fall build up. That way the really long runs are when things are getting cooler. Otherwise, I do the things other people said earlier, except run before dawn. Wish I was more of a morning person!
I don’t like the heat so I run before dawn, when the air is thick with 100% humidity. It’s still 75-80° but it’s not 90-100°; the sun is my nemesis. It’s not unusually hot here, just the normal Floridian steam.
I’ve maybe said this here before but when I first moved from the upper Midwest to the swamp-jungle of Jacksonville, I just made up my mind. There is no sense complaining about the humidity. It won’t change anything and I chose to move here. It’s worth being able to run outdoors 365 days a year. I don’t love it but I don’t sweat it either. Ok, I sweat it a lot, but I don’t stress over it. I’m convinced the positive outlook makes it infinitely more bearable. I’ve just started marathon training we have 4+ months of summer left. Maybe I’m just a kook.
Be safe. Hydrate. Get up early. Wear the appropriate clothes/hat/sunscreen if you brave the sun and as always, listen to your body but it’s doable.
I love that attitude -- you're so right, complaining about it isn't going to change the weather patterns around Jacksonville! -- and you get so much in return for having to deal with the humidity.
Same here Sarah. I'm from South Florida and I'm back home from my daily running before Sunrise.
I must avoid the sun, that's what takes away my energy.
I'm halfway of a marathon training.
I just get up earlier on the weekend for the long runs.
I live just north of Orlando and realized a long time ago that if I wanted to run, I'd have to deal with the heat... I'm not a great early morning runner but have learned that my body can handle the heat... When I lived in Jacksonville I supervised the 3rd shift in a paper converting plant.. I went from work to the beach and ran on the sand... not the easiest runs but it wound me down so I could sleep when I went home...
Amen!!
Love your attitude! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
I used to really struggle in the summer. Humidity is not a friend to someone who has rheumatoid arthritis. I have found that in the humidity, I may need to stop a couple of times in my run to stretch my joints and make sure that I do not hurt myself. The biggest thing I try to do is, "listen to my body". If that means stopping to stretch or even walking for a distance, that is ok because that is what my body needs right now. Also for me, I have to remember to hydrate a little more when that humidity is high out there!
I love that, Nelda, and I'll walk for stretches as well when it's really hot like this too. Walking = good stuff 😃
Agreed, listening to your body sometimes is an effort
I've lived in So Cal all my life, so I go out earlier in the morning (sometimes with a headlamp) when it's cooler. Our humidity is not like Atlanta, but it's enough to make me slow down. On those days, I consider it a blessing to still be moving forward.
It so is, isn't it? Very much so.
I live just a few miles south of you in Monterey Park. When it gets too hot here, I drive down to Long Beach and run there. it can be 5-10 degrees cooler!
I love training in the heat but am glad the races I do are in the Winter. I feel like the intense summer training sets me up good for the event.
I think its important for me to accept where I am each day, but it is twice as important for me to avoid complacency. It is a fine line for me between going easy/ being lazy.
In regards to the time quote. Why does 24 hours on the weekends feel half as long as 24 hours during the week? Thanks for the topic.
Seriously! 😀
When it gets hot, I measure the smiles, not the miles. I’ll still push, but only when I’m confident it’s just my brain screaming, and not my body. Since I’m in Tampa for my first summer, I’m planning to just run 2.5 miles (20 minutes) as a minimum, and extend that based on how I feel. I’ll be signing up for the Gasparilla Distance Classic tonight, it’s in January. I may pick another half in the late fall to warm up, but serious training is on hold for now. I’m in maintenance mode.
Gasparilla is awesome!! It can be 77° or 47°. But either way look for Meb!! He's usually on the half marathon course to give you a high five and it is life-changing!
I already got my Meb selfie, but I’ll take another! The course goes by a block from my house. I ride my bike to the start. My wife wanders out to cheer me on both directions on Bayshore Boulevard.
I recently moved just outside of the Mojave Desert. It's been between 105-112 all month...which is normal here. In fact, it will be this way until September. Anyway after living on the East Coast for so long I thought "it's a dry heat, I'll be fine" but I think it's the most challenging running I've ever done. No shade and often it's over 100 before 9 am. LOL needless so say I am not handling it as well as I would like. Just doing what I can...more walking...a lot of electrolyte breaks.
Well over 100 before 9 AM! Wow... I've been thinking about you out there, seeing the heat and hoping you are well, my friend! 🥵
When I was in the service, when I came back from Nam they sent me to Barstow CA... Never been in the desert and was shocked at how hot it could be during the daylight hours and could freeze during the night... Three months there was more than enough...
And Barstow isn't even really hot! What's the matter you don't like Temperature Extremes?? Where is your Spirit of Adventure?!! :)
I had one bad experience that almost killed me... I had a head cold and took 24hour Contact D for two days before a 10K... I was having the best race of my life! I saw the two leaders and foolishly thought I could catch them... My body couldn't cash my brains chips... When I heard a voice say "What's your name?" and couldn't answer, I knew I was in trouble... Five hours later and after what had to be a gallon of fluids pushed through my body I finally could pee... they were not going to discharge me until I did... I over did my self medicating and didn't hydrate enough... I still push my body to it's limits but now let my body dictate just how far it'll let me go.
Looks like you learned the hard way, but you learned and that is what counts!!
Barstow!!!! The gateway to Death Valley!!!
That it is!
Shade!! I know! I just ran in Denver area recently, thinking that since it was 15° cooler than Florida I'd be fine. But at 7:00 a.m. I had full sun. At least in Florida when I run at I still have shaded area.
I was born in Nevada and lived their most of my life. Slow Down, don't stay out so long, drink water. You'll get used to it. :)
In Vegas, where my brother lives, 91 is a cool day! :)
Yep! 91 as a high in the summer would be awesome!!!
It was out in Summerlin a few days ago. I do hope you folks get some rain soon. It has been a long dry year. Saw the monsoons were supposed to be back this year. . . keep your fingers crossed. :)
We had a couple of rainstorms in June, but would love more! Yes—keeping my fingers crossed & praying for rain!
Just a few sprinkles, I understand. I keep hoping it will change back to the normal weather pattern in the SW. :)
I live in Las Vegas & can relate! You can do it!
I love running in the heat, but the record heat we had in the PacNW for the last few days was a bit much. Even I had to get out before 9AM to have a comfortable run!
As a Trail Runner, I start slow, speed up if I can, but the trail, roots and rocks dictate how fast I can go.
Orca Running had its Craft Classic Half and 5K (Redmond, WA) on Sunday when the temps were their hottest. I noticed a lot of runners veered off the trail (asphalt) and stayed in the shade or walked. I did the Half in 2019, but I cannot remember it being as warm.
It's been well over 100 -- like even as high as 110 -- out there this week, hasn't it?
Yes it has. 101, 102 and higher. The humidity doesn't help.(50 to 70%) On Sunday, the temps were 110 to 111, but the Real Feel Weather (which I go by for running) was 114 degrees. Night time is the worst because it doesn't cool down.
It seems to be back to 88 now, but in reality, it is normally in the 60 to 80 degree range. The forecasters say the temps are above normal. :)
114!! Wow. That's like Death Valley temperatures right there.
I think Death Valley set a new record of 125. :)
I grew up and started running in Alabama and now live in Tennessee, so I am no stranger to heat and humidity. I've also never been a morning runner. At this point, I'm used to it, but definitely still have to take precautions in the summer months! This may be obvious, but on days when its really a scorcher I just start slow. Like, really slow. That way if I'm feeling good after a few minutes I can pick up my pace, but if I'm not feeling so good I can keep it at an easy jog and still get a good sweat in. Gatorade is my best friend, and a hat and sunscreen are a must!
I hear you. I've lived in Georgia my whole life, and I'm not sure if I've ever really gotten used to the heat! But taking it slow is always good advice when conditions are like they are now.
Training for a marathon in September, which is in Utah and I live in Tampa. I am not used to running in this humidity and I am a little nervous about the long runs coming up. I get out there in the mornings early, but it is still hot and humid. So here is to hoping. HA HA! :)
Good luck, Mindi! Bring LOTS of water with you 😃
Yes for sure! Thank you!
Hello from Italy! They predicted in April but we did not want to believe... it will be the warmest summer... and here it is. It is hot here too! Very hot! So we run at 6am trying to get the fresh air from the night. At 6am is already 28 and is hard. So with my group of friends we learned to avoid continuos long runs and put in the middle some repetition, some up and down from hills, stairs. Some days seems we run with 2 big magnets on the feet... Does it sounds familiar? But we do not give up, we have two more months like this. For those who want to think to a different holiday I recommend this run 16K 51 Bridges in Venice on the 28 August. Running in the night with a lamp in this magic city! I will be there
Che piacere vederti, Alessandra! (Tell me if I got my Italian wrong 😃 ) That race sounds amazing -- thank you so much for sharing it!
That run sounds amazing!!!! Adding that to my "dream" goals!
I live in Las Vegas, NV, where heat is the norm from May-October. (But it’s a dry heat!😁) It sounds weird, but you adjust, to a point.
I run after school during the school year & in the mornings during the summer break. My personal heat limit to run in is 100 degrees. Anything below that, I can handle. (I also have a shady route to run when it’s hot out.)
(BTW: I joined a gym a few years ago just to use their treadmills in May, August, September & October after school. I just couldn’t handle over 100 degree heat runs after school anymore.)
How I handle 90+ degree runs is to wet my tank top & my hair, carry plenty of water & Nuun, as well as salt stick tablets, & run my shady route. It is usually 90+ degrees by 6AM during the summer, so I get up early & get it done ASAP. 💪🏼
I'm in Las Vegas too - and my limit for running is the low 90s (as unfortunately my routes are not shaded at all). I got a treadmill during the pandemic so before where I would just not run much in the summer - I'm now using my treadmill to get my runs done 🙃
Good idea!!!
My husband owned a T-shirt that he wore until it was falling apart. It had a skeleton surfing on a sand dune and it read, "but it's a dry heat!" We loved that saying!!!! We have searched for a replacement shirt, but have never found one quite like it.
Love it!!! 🤣🤣🤣
P.S. Love that quote about time!!!
I spent my teenage years in Northern VA, where high heat and humidity were the norm from May-October and I was fine. Now that I'm in Connecticut (where it hit 100 today!), and I'm in my late fifties, I find I can tolerate it a LOT less! Last week I ran in high humidity, but the temp was in the mid 70's (and it was early). Not my favorite conditions, but I realize that some races occur with these conditions and you MUST train for it. Yesterday, it was 80 degrees at 6:30 am, and my poor little dog almost passed out from a 1 mile walk. I ran indoors yesterday, knowing I would do the same. I NEVER sign up for summer races, and the key is to get out as early as possible. Fall races are my FAVORITE!!!
I'm not sure if we are seeing the effects of global warming or if it's just a freak weather pattern... my only warning is that, heat can kill, especially if you don't hydriate before your run and during it... I had a close call years ago when I was younger and thought I was invincible ... I wasn't and took a trip to the hospital when I physically over did what my body was capable of durning a 10K race... The last thing I remember was trying to reeling in the guy in front of me....
I love running when it's warm and hate being cold... but like someone wrote today.. Let my body dictate what you can and can't do... I would hate to see us lose anyone during this extremely hot weather pattern... Be Safe!!
The half marathons I trained for all took place in the early spring, so I became used to training over winters (in Ohio snowbelt winters too, where it'll snow 2 feet overnight and no one blinks an eye), but now I'm in training for my first FULL marathon, set this October.
It's definitely an adjustment running in the heat and humidity vs the cold, but I think it is allowing me to appreciate the beauty of all seasons!
I just feel lucky to have healthy legs and lungs at this point!
Me too, Haley! 👍
Hi Terrell. I live is Spokane, Wa. on the east side of the state. We reached an all time high yesterday of 109 degrees. It was like turning on an oven and leaving the door open. I'm a part of a running club here and we are on a break until after the 4th of July but all of us are still trying to put in the miles but respectful of the heat. Most of us have been going out at around 4-5am when it's only 70+ degrees. Still affects us though as most are not sleeping well and so the efforts seem hard. I'm giving myself grace, like I did this morning when the goal was 5 miles but I did my 3 out of 3 instead. I like this a lot!
I saw yesterday on the news that they took a mid-day temp reading on the asphalt and it was over 140... How hot does it have to get to fry and egg on the pavement?
That's a great question. In places like Death Valley, ground temperatures sometimes can top 200 degrees. (That's not a typo, unfortunately!)
I am not sure but one of the local news agencies in Spokane did a temperature check on the asphalt and got a reading of 157 on the day we hit 109. Should be hot enough to fry an egg but I know it was hot enough to fry my poor flowers.... sadness
Loved the comment from "Where the Crawdads Sing," which I recently finished reading. Excellent book. As for hot weather running, I schedule my halfs for spring and fall, and use summer for the fall build up. That way the really long runs are when things are getting cooler. Otherwise, I do the things other people said earlier, except run before dawn. Wish I was more of a morning person!