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| July 19, 2009 yes, I'm wearing a cardigan. |
Perhaps you were clued into this fact by a Facebook post or Tweet by some non-runner who dared step outside their overly air-conditioned shelter only to post "oh my gah I'm so sick of this weather like mother nature get it together before my make-up sweats off!!!1111!" [dramatization]
Or by one of the many posts and tweets by runners who like to act all badass about running in 90 degree temps and/or 100 percent humidity. ['sup]
Or perhaps you have read one of the many articles titled something like "666 ways to deal with running in the heat. #1 hydrate. #2 run early before it gets hot."
Or maybe you looked at your calendar and noted that it is July and like every other July before this one (except for 2009 which was just a crappy summer - see photo proof), it gets a little hot.
I'm sure you have your ways of dealing with running in the heat. Good for you.
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| Oh hai there sprinklers |
- Suck it up and run in the heat. If you were a genius like me an registered for a half marathon in the middle of August, this is probably a good idea to acclimate yourself to the heat. Eventually you will get used to it and temps in the low 80s will feel good.
- Find a forest preserve that does not have a story about some lonely jogger being murdered in it, and run there. (Alternate option for bad neighborhoods: Bring pepperspray or a buddy. I have found husbands who are 6'4, 250 pounds to be effective at assuaging my fears of running in the forest.)
- Wait until the sun is setting so at least you can get mostly shade during your run. Sadly I have found that no one has their sprinklers on at this time of day. Jerks. (Could also be the watering restrictions.)
- Get over your body insecurities and run in as little clothing as possible. I guarantee that no one cares more about the way your body looks than you do.
- If you are running and see a sprinkler, run through it. Multiple times if it has a weak spray and doesn't get you wet enough. (TWSS?)
- Or: While running, stick your face in every drinking fountain you pass. (Drink some water too.)
- Same idea but I haven't done this yet: After putting on your running clothes but before heading out the door, turn the shower to cold and jump in.
- Or: A few hours before your run, get your running shorts wet and put them in the freezer. Put them on. Make "oooh!" sound and feel simultaneously cold and hot & bothered.
- Last resort: Run on a treadmill. Feel like a failure the entire time.
I just do what everybody else does....run at dawn, bring extra water, electrolytes....and I run in my skirt. =) And if it's really grody out, it's a good day for a swim!
ReplyDeleteJust read your comment about what to do with race bibs and medals. I'd really like to get one of those medal display things, but I think that will have to be a reward for me a little down the line. I've been writing my times on my bibs and putting them up in the basement, which is where I workout when it's not nice outside.
ReplyDeleteYou could just get a tie rack or something and hang your medals from that. Something like this: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=14387757
ReplyDeletenever tried freezing my shorts that is a thought. thought i actually did freeze my water bottle and during a 5 am run in miami it was thawed out by 20 min in! how crazy!! summer is just summer, i figure we can't complain about it and winter!
ReplyDeleteLove this post! Akin to your shower idea, I've found that completely soaking my head in water before heading out keeps me cool for at least the first 20 minutes, then I can reapply as necessary via water fountains. <3 your garmin map - I always try to run through the sprinklers in Central Park but they ALWAYS fence them in!!
ReplyDeleteLikewise, I hate when I pass a house with sprinklers on, but the water is all aimed at their lawn. I don't want to be rude and run through someone else's lawn. So sometimes I'll stand on the edge of the sidewalk and bend toward the water and at least try to get my arms/legs/head wet.
ReplyDelete