Hey guys, it’s summertime, so it’s time to just embrace the heat and humidity. There’s no escaping it, no hiding, we just need to push through!
Are there ways to minimize it? Yes!
- Try running earlier in the morning or in the evening hours
- Find shady trails and running locations to get out of direct sunlight
- Go indoors to run on the treadmill in the AC
- Bring extra fluids to drink before, during and after the run
- Make sure you’re sipping on water throughout the day; you lose more than you think during your runs
- Bring a change of clothes and change immediately after you’re done running. That is one of my biggest peeves post-running, to be in wet sweaty clothes.
- Bring a towel to dry off a little and then change, whether that’s in your car, parking lot or hopefully a bathroom close by.
In the month ahead of total heat, you can try heat acclimatization, wearing an extra layer or two to prepare your body for higher temperatures. A big perk about the heat is that I don’t dread the ice bath afterward as much. If you have a natural ice bath nearby – creek, stream etc., plan ahead to finish your run close by so you can hop on in. Otherwise, visit your local recovery facility or make an at home ice bath to go in. Then, you can thaw out in the sunshine with a snack. That is one of my favorite things to do post-running.
Most days it will be hot and humid during the summer, depending on where you live, but you’ll begin to get used to it. Then, you will appreciate the cooler, less humid days that much more.
Happy sweating!
Maegan Krifchin, Professional Distance Runner for Mizuno USA
Maegan is originally from Long Island. She attended Syracuse University where she was part of the XC and Track and Field programs. She continued running post-collegiately and found her strength on the roads specifically in the half marathon and marathon distance. She’s training for the 2020 Olympic trials in the marathon.
Published: July 2018