I am in the southern hemisphere so as we go into winter it's more about cold that hot. I like hot weather and have run in close to 40 degree C (100F) temperatures (and high humidity). The bigger question for me is how cold would I run? I'd say that around 2 degrees C (35F) is about my limit. That said, I have to take my own advice and if I was going to enter an event that was expected to be cold, I'd have to train in the equivalent to be prepared.
If 90 is forecasted I’ll run early or short. I’m in Vermont now for Sunday’s Vermont City Marathon in Burlington (just a leg of a relay team for me) but it brings to mind running this race one year when the temperature was 86 by 10am and they shut off the timing system, called the race and told everyone to go to the nearest relay transfer spot & buses would be sent to get everyone to the finish area. Crazy. I ran a 2 person relay, and was done. My niece ran the second half and finished the race rather than stop. At the finish line it seemed like almost everyone finished the race rather than stop. We’re a strange breed.
I prefer running in warm weather rather than cold. I moved from Buffalo, NY to Atlanta. My wife limits me to temps below 90F, but I remember running in Atlanta at lunchtime with temps over 105F and loving it. Of course, that was over 40 years ago, and I am not in as good a shape now.
NYC, 2022: I would never have 'chosen' to run a Marathon in 77° F, but you don't get to choose your race weather, The weather chooses to rain or shine on you.
I'd have to think the Half marathon I ran in Death Valley early that year, helped prepare me for that.
I'm told I got lucky.. race time it was 'only' 74°F :D. And there were people that did not only the full Marathon that day, but the site is also the home to the the (in)famous Badwater 135 ultra (yikes!)
LOL, I ran Badwater a couple of times, and it did get up to 127 F, but that was a few years back, and if I went on there now, I would surely catch fire and die.
Having said that, what I've found is that ambient air temperature is less of a challenge than direct sun exposure. I've run comfortably in 100 F temps in Dallas, but in the late afternoon, when the sun was on the decline. That would be harder to do when the sun is directly overhead. Similarly, warm temps on a shaded course would be much easier than on an exposed course.
So you've run Badwater? Wow, wow, wow... I would love to have you do one of our "Hearing Your Stories" interviews, if you're interested. Just let me know!
I still have the record for the BW Double, as far as I know. I think I sent you some answers to your questions, LMK if it did not come through (I put like 100 pictures in the email)
I’ve run races in the heat although at a slower pace. Hot for me is over 80 degrees. I am a cold weather person and do whatever is necessary to run when it is cooler.
I guess 118F? In 2001, I crewed and paced my friend at Badwater 135, the race that runs across Death Valley in the middle of July. On the one hand, it was a dry heat, but on the other hand the temps were insane that nowhere felt comfortable. It took my friend 38 hours to complete the journey to the Whitney Portal, and I think we went through 60 lbs of ice. The wildest thing is that at night it cooled down to about 90F, and we were all wearing parkas, as we felt legitimately cold.
Wow!!!! You were wearing parkas even though the air temperature was 90?! That really does show you how it's all relative, isn't it? My mind is seriously blown...
I'd never experienced anything like it in my life! It was strange how our bodies adapted. BTW, Death Valley is surprisingly beautiful. Often overlooked and worth a visit.
Living in Texas, if I wasn’t willing to run in 80°, 90°, even 100° heat, I would not be able to run in the summer. I just grin and bear it, so to speak. Not a fan, and boy do I sweat a lot… I used to get up early to run before the heat set in (though the humidity is much worse early, before it has burned off). Now because of sleep issues, I just can’t get up that early anymore. So I try to run midday. In summers here, the hottest part of the day is 3-5pm. So if I run at lunchtime, it’s still hot, but I’m avoiding the worst of it.
You are the Ironman, Chris! I'm seriously in awe -- but I also totally get it, especially since you live in Texas. (And some people really love running in the heat!)
Haha - I’m just so type-A that I don’t like anything getting in the way of my running. So I’ll run in heat, which is good for training anyway (when fall races come around, I’m doing great). But I’ll also run in rain - at least if it’s light enough rain. I’ve run in snow and ice, too, but there’s a danger factor there because I’m more likely to hurt myself!
The older I get, the more I despise hot weather running. At least when it is cold I can add a layer! A little embarrassed to say this, but 70 is about the cutoff for me in ATL, which means I’m on the treadmill basically from now-September/October. So happy the Atlanta Track Club has the Polar Opposite in January now bc the Peachtree Road Race has become a miserable to almost feeling dangerous slog for this middle aged hobby jogger.
I love the Polar Opposite race! I ran it back in 2025, which I think was the first time they'd offered it. It was COOOOLLLDD 🥶🥶🥶 but fun. (I'm with you on the Peachtree now... I'm usually out of town on the 4th, and it's so hot then.)
Years ago I ran in Mesa, AZ when it was 105 (but it was a dry heat) and San Bernadino, CA in 100 degree weather (again a dry heat). But now that I am much older, I can't take the heat or high humidity (here in Northern VA it gets extremely humid in the summer). My temp high end limit is usually 75 degrees. My best running temps are from 32 - 60 degrees.
It gets hot here in summer like sometimes weeks on weeks of 100/105+. I try and run early, but often it'll still be like 80s because it won't cool overnight. The thing that puts me inside on the dreadmill is when the air quality gets as bad as the temps.
I've become such a wimp about running in hot weather. I used to be able to handle high 80s, even low 90s. Now I really don't want to run at all when it's in the 80s. That's when everything becomes painful (literally I get blisters).
I am too! Especially living in Atlanta as long as I have -- and experiencing running the Peachtree Road Race here on the 4th of July multiple times -- I head for my treadmill in the very nice air conditioning when the weather gets like this :)
It was 86 degrees today and I struggled!!!! Even with hydration, I was overheating and had to stop every half kilometer to cool off
I am in the southern hemisphere so as we go into winter it's more about cold that hot. I like hot weather and have run in close to 40 degree C (100F) temperatures (and high humidity). The bigger question for me is how cold would I run? I'd say that around 2 degrees C (35F) is about my limit. That said, I have to take my own advice and if I was going to enter an event that was expected to be cold, I'd have to train in the equivalent to be prepared.
If 90 is forecasted I’ll run early or short. I’m in Vermont now for Sunday’s Vermont City Marathon in Burlington (just a leg of a relay team for me) but it brings to mind running this race one year when the temperature was 86 by 10am and they shut off the timing system, called the race and told everyone to go to the nearest relay transfer spot & buses would be sent to get everyone to the finish area. Crazy. I ran a 2 person relay, and was done. My niece ran the second half and finished the race rather than stop. At the finish line it seemed like almost everyone finished the race rather than stop. We’re a strange breed.
I prefer running in warm weather rather than cold. I moved from Buffalo, NY to Atlanta. My wife limits me to temps below 90F, but I remember running in Atlanta at lunchtime with temps over 105F and loving it. Of course, that was over 40 years ago, and I am not in as good a shape now.
NYC, 2022: I would never have 'chosen' to run a Marathon in 77° F, but you don't get to choose your race weather, The weather chooses to rain or shine on you.
I'd have to think the Half marathon I ran in Death Valley early that year, helped prepare me for that.
How hot was it at Death Valley? (So interesting that a few people here have run it!)
I'm told I got lucky.. race time it was 'only' 74°F :D. And there were people that did not only the full Marathon that day, but the site is also the home to the the (in)famous Badwater 135 ultra (yikes!)
I’ll take got all day long but I’m a big baby in the cold
I hear that, Blue! 🙌
LOL, I ran Badwater a couple of times, and it did get up to 127 F, but that was a few years back, and if I went on there now, I would surely catch fire and die.
Having said that, what I've found is that ambient air temperature is less of a challenge than direct sun exposure. I've run comfortably in 100 F temps in Dallas, but in the late afternoon, when the sun was on the decline. That would be harder to do when the sun is directly overhead. Similarly, warm temps on a shaded course would be much easier than on an exposed course.
So you've run Badwater? Wow, wow, wow... I would love to have you do one of our "Hearing Your Stories" interviews, if you're interested. Just let me know!
I still have the record for the BW Double, as far as I know. I think I sent you some answers to your questions, LMK if it did not come through (I put like 100 pictures in the email)
Oh wow! My bad -- I was actually having trouble with my email these past couple weeks. Let me double check!
I’ve run races in the heat although at a slower pace. Hot for me is over 80 degrees. I am a cold weather person and do whatever is necessary to run when it is cooler.
Same for me, Jenn! I love it cool -- like 45 to 65 degrees is perfect 😎
I guess 118F? In 2001, I crewed and paced my friend at Badwater 135, the race that runs across Death Valley in the middle of July. On the one hand, it was a dry heat, but on the other hand the temps were insane that nowhere felt comfortable. It took my friend 38 hours to complete the journey to the Whitney Portal, and I think we went through 60 lbs of ice. The wildest thing is that at night it cooled down to about 90F, and we were all wearing parkas, as we felt legitimately cold.
Wow!!!! You were wearing parkas even though the air temperature was 90?! That really does show you how it's all relative, isn't it? My mind is seriously blown...
I'd never experienced anything like it in my life! It was strange how our bodies adapted. BTW, Death Valley is surprisingly beautiful. Often overlooked and worth a visit.
give me cold weather running any day (especially now that i have hot flashes…)
I run super early in the am during the summer to avoid the full sun and the worst of the heat/humidity.
I did do the running leg of a relay at Ironman 70.3 Wilmington NC. It was October, but a warm day, and the run didn’t start till about noon.
it was about 85 - and that was warm enough for me!
Definitely! How long was the running leg of the Ironman? That's incredible!
half marathon.
I’m doing it again this October - Wilmington 70.3 is actually on my 60th birthday.
so of course I’m doing it!
Living in Texas, if I wasn’t willing to run in 80°, 90°, even 100° heat, I would not be able to run in the summer. I just grin and bear it, so to speak. Not a fan, and boy do I sweat a lot… I used to get up early to run before the heat set in (though the humidity is much worse early, before it has burned off). Now because of sleep issues, I just can’t get up that early anymore. So I try to run midday. In summers here, the hottest part of the day is 3-5pm. So if I run at lunchtime, it’s still hot, but I’m avoiding the worst of it.
You are the Ironman, Chris! I'm seriously in awe -- but I also totally get it, especially since you live in Texas. (And some people really love running in the heat!)
Haha - I’m just so type-A that I don’t like anything getting in the way of my running. So I’ll run in heat, which is good for training anyway (when fall races come around, I’m doing great). But I’ll also run in rain - at least if it’s light enough rain. I’ve run in snow and ice, too, but there’s a danger factor there because I’m more likely to hurt myself!
The older I get, the more I despise hot weather running. At least when it is cold I can add a layer! A little embarrassed to say this, but 70 is about the cutoff for me in ATL, which means I’m on the treadmill basically from now-September/October. So happy the Atlanta Track Club has the Polar Opposite in January now bc the Peachtree Road Race has become a miserable to almost feeling dangerous slog for this middle aged hobby jogger.
I love the Polar Opposite race! I ran it back in 2025, which I think was the first time they'd offered it. It was COOOOLLLDD 🥶🥶🥶 but fun. (I'm with you on the Peachtree now... I'm usually out of town on the 4th, and it's so hot then.)
Years ago I ran in Mesa, AZ when it was 105 (but it was a dry heat) and San Bernadino, CA in 100 degree weather (again a dry heat). But now that I am much older, I can't take the heat or high humidity (here in Northern VA it gets extremely humid in the summer). My temp high end limit is usually 75 degrees. My best running temps are from 32 - 60 degrees.
One hundred and five! That's some serious heat 🔥🔥🔥
What distances did you run in those temps?
I only did a 5K in the 105. I managed up to 6 miles in the 100 degree temp in San Bernardino. I was in my 40s and 50s then so it wasn't too bad.
It gets hot here in summer like sometimes weeks on weeks of 100/105+. I try and run early, but often it'll still be like 80s because it won't cool overnight. The thing that puts me inside on the dreadmill is when the air quality gets as bad as the temps.
Yeah, anything triple digits is a no-go for me! (Anything above about the upper 70s, in fact!)
I'm delicate 🤣
That 100k event a couple weeks ago was as hot as 85 on the peak with no shade. It was no joke!!!
I've become such a wimp about running in hot weather. I used to be able to handle high 80s, even low 90s. Now I really don't want to run at all when it's in the 80s. That's when everything becomes painful (literally I get blisters).
I am too! Especially living in Atlanta as long as I have -- and experiencing running the Peachtree Road Race here on the 4th of July multiple times -- I head for my treadmill in the very nice air conditioning when the weather gets like this :)
1983...USS America, going through the Suez...ran 10K on the flight deck...
I can only imagine! Wow...