Last year about this time I swore I would never train for another fall marathon again. I let the heat beat (and discourage) me. This year, I"m not letting the high temperatures stop me!
I don't know if they're all the top tips recommended by the professionals and websites but I do know the following is working for me:
Run as early as possible. I tried late as possible but that became more and more difficult as temps continued to fall in the high 90s at 9:00 p.m. I don't like running by myself in the dark so I figured out I am most comfortable and in my mind most safe beginning at 5:45 a.m.. Wear my Fuel Belt. Even on short runs. Have water on hand no matter what the distance is. Drink often. Not just when I feel like I need to. Take the community pool key. My morning routes are planned around having the option to swing by the pool to refill water bottles. Run through sprinklers. There are a lot of sprinklers on early in the morning! This is not only cooling it's fun and good for a laugh at yourself.
Remember to alter my expectation of pace. Jeff Galloway suggests adding 30 seconds per mile slower for each 5 degrees of temperature increase above 60°F. This same logic would apply to humidity. Plan a short run with the option to go longer if I can and want to. This morning I started with the plan of 5 miles. I felt good and it still wasn't too hot so I ended up running 8.
Yes. It was hot. I was slow. It was humid. But, my attitude about summer training runs is...I'm not letting the heat stop (or discourage) me!
I leave you with a new quote just because I love it!
You're running on guts. On fumes. Your muscles twitch. You throw up. You're delirious. But you keep running because there's no way out of this hell you're in, because there's no way you're not crossing the finish line. It's a misery that non-runners don't understand. ~Martine Costello
See you tomorrow for Fitness Friday!
Question: If you follow a running/training schedule do you make up missed miles?
Congrats on finding a way to work out despite the heat. :) I have to say, I envy you, because where I live we're having a crappy summer with little sun and even less heat. I'd love to take some of yours! :)
Posted by: Undercover Dieting | July 21, 2011 at 10:55 AM
I ran this morning and came home to my neighbor setting up his sprinkler...I tell ya...it was tempting to run through!! :)
Posted by: Jennifer | July 21, 2011 at 11:52 AM
Hi jennifer! Next time run through it. At first they will look at you weird and then they usually laugh/smile :)
Posted by: jillconyers | July 21, 2011 at 11:57 AM
You're more than welcome to some of our heat! Where do you live?
Posted by: jillconyers | July 21, 2011 at 11:58 AM
Great job making it work! I'm lucky enough to have access to an indoor track, or else I would probably not be running in the summer. But running through sprinklers is quite fun!
I try to make up the missed miles, but don't worry too much if I can't. Luckily it doesn't happen *too* often!
Posted by: Sarah | July 21, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Hey Jill- thanks for the blog add- took my computer forever for me to finally be able to follow yours. Lot of good info from the last few posts I read.
In regards to heat- I live in TN so the heat index is generally around 110 and super humid- obviously water helps, but what i've recently found to be handy is carrying a bandana in my hand (lighter than a towel) and consistently wipe off sweat- granted, I"m still quite hot, but it helps to cool down a little :)
Posted by: Lisa J | July 21, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Hi Lisa. Thanks for your persistence in following me. 110! Ugh! Come back tomorrow for the Fitness Friday blog hop :)
Posted by: jillconyers | July 21, 2011 at 01:13 PM
Hi Sarah. I gave up indoor running when I quit the gym to start P90X. As hot as it's been I still don't regret it :)
Everything I read says not to make up miles. It doesn't happen often for me either but when it does I'm always so tempted!
Posted by: jillconyers | July 21, 2011 at 01:15 PM
It's 93 here right now and it's 10 pm, says how my day went. I cleaned out the horse's stall mid afternoon and thought I would pass out. I am a night person so I walk sometimes when I can't sleep. I was out at 2 am the other night. Luckily I live somewhere safe and well populated. Wish I was a morning person like you. Good for you for sticking with it and not letting the heat beat you. I love that you run through sprinklers. So fun!
Posted by: Kim Bee | July 21, 2011 at 09:52 PM
Good for you for getting out early and running. That's what I have to do here since the heat is still awful at night. And it's much easier working around my kiddos schedules in the early AM when they are still asleep instead of in the evenings when everything is going on. Of course, you are making me wish I had a community pool nearby as well!
Posted by: Amy | July 22, 2011 at 12:44 AM