Running in the hot and humid South

[mrsjthompson]

This is my first summer doing more than C25K, and its really starting to get hot and humid out there.  My last couple of runs have pretty much sucked, I think in part due to the weather.  It's also making my fingers and feet/legs swell.  I already drink a ton of water, but does anybody have any tips of how else I can better prepare?  I mean, other than running at 2 am or doing my HM training on a treadmill.

[starryfish]

I prefer running at night (dark) because its cooler, I dont have the sun scorching me, and the temp gets cooler instead of warmer (like in the mornings). I usually run around 9pm or so. Or if i have to run in the morning (on the weekends), i just suck it up and run slower and bring water

[finallykrisb]

Early morning (before sunrise) seems to be more humid but you don't have the sun beating down on you.  Evening temps are warmer, though less humid.  You just pick on or the other, adjust your pace, and bring water.

[texassmith]

Your pace will be slower, and you just have to be OK with that. You'll be a sweat hog, and you have to be OK with that too. In short, it sucks. The plus side is that it may make you a bit faster come fall!

[tuggyruns]

I've trained for 2 hot marathons in the Hotlanta summers, where our mottoa is "Welcome to Atlanta, Heat, Hills, Humidity". My best bet was always running in the morning. Yes, sometimes it was humid but that was way better than fending off the bugs in the evening (esp the mosquitos).

[Brit]

I think finallykrisb nailed it. I have been getting out there before sunrise as much as I can lately, but it is still ungodly humid (98% today) so it has become more of a trudge than a run.

[mrsjthompson]

Ugh, that's what I was afraid of. We are NOT morning people. During the week we run at night, but I've got to start getting my butt out of bed earlier on Saturday mornings. The heat is just so draining, and I'm already so slow. I'm really not looking forward to 5 mile Monday night runs in August.

[sadlebred]

Biking is not as bad in the heat.

[runaways]

I'm in Houston and I vastly prefer to run in the evening. I usually find that after a few weeks to acclimate I can maintain my normal distances and paces pretty well. That said, I don't do long runs (more than about 6 miles) in the evening if its really hot, and I definitely have to slow it down for a little while after it warms up.

[shauni27]

Another plus for living in Vermont--I complain if it is 80 and sunny (and 12% humidity!)

We are all talking about how muggy and hot it is here today--it is 78 with 62% humidity.

[mrsjthompson]

May 21, 2013 13:23:00 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

Biking is not as bad in the heat.

They won't let me ride a bike in the half marathon. Will they?   *-)

[Wines Not Whines]

I run as early as possible in the morning, like as soon as it's light enough to see my non-lighted running trail and not trip over things. I aim for 6 am, sometimes earlier. Late at night could also work, depending on your preference. It's still humid, but 65/humid/little sun is a lot better than 85/humid/lots of sun.

[pamela]

Summer running I tend to do better in the evening (guess it is the lower humidity even if a couple degrees warmer). And my pace has slowed by 45+ seconds as the heat hit us suddenly. I'm hoping that improves as I adjust because I think it's slower than I was last summer just starting to run.

[MrsE]

Late at night or first thing in the morning, at a slower pace, and with TONS of water.

[Deleted]

May 21, 2013 12:39:28 GMT -5 texassmith said:

Your pace will be slower, and you just have to be OK with that. You'll be a sweat hog, and you have to be OK with that too. In short, it sucks. The plus side is that it may make you a bit faster come fall!

Yep this. I enjoy running early in the morning as the sun is rising. It's humid, but without the sun it is much more tolerable. I also burn more calories in the humidity because I'm slower - woot woot. 

[lb2006]

I thought i had replied to this - but i have to remind myself that my pace drops a significant amount once it is May - hot/humid.

I can remember my first marathon training, stopping in the middle of my first long run (8 miles) at mile 2 and crying. I said to my husband..."How am I EVER going to be able to run 26.2 miles!?!?!" That was in July. My marathon was in December - 40 degrees in NC. I survived


You'll just slow your pace & go early, it is at least a bit cooler!

[mrsjthompson]

May 21, 2013 14:10:08 GMT -5 doglove said:

May 21, 2013 12:39:28 GMT -5 texassmith said:

Your pace will be slower, and you just have to be OK with that. You'll be a sweat hog, and you have to be OK with that too. In short, it sucks. The plus side is that it may make you a bit faster come fall!

Yep this. I enjoy running early in the morning as the sun is rising. It's humid, but without the sun it is much more tolerable. I also burn more calories in the humidity because I'm slower - woot woot. 

Oh this is good information to have!

[venice2007]

Earrly am like as the sun is just about to come up, lots of water, and slower pace. Ugh I hate hate losing pace yet it's all I can do so I can keep running all Florida summer long :-(

[mrsjthompson]

May 21, 2013 14:10:22 GMT -5 lb2006 said:

I thought i had replied to this - but i have to remind myself that my pace drops a significant amount once it is May - hot/humid.

I can remember my first marathon training, stopping in the middle of my first long run (8 miles) at mile 2 and crying. I said to my husband..."How am I EVER going to be able to run 26.2 miles!?!?!" That was in July. My marathon was in December - 40 degrees in NC. I survived


You'll just slow your pace & go early, it is at least a bit cooler!

This has been going through my head quite a bit lately.  Thanks for the encouragement and making me feel better.

[perkyderky]

And though it's never "Oh goody goody, it's 100 degrees with 110% humidity out" I do feel like once you get into a routine and you do it for awhile you and your body will adapt to it. (I don't want to say "get used to it" but you'll feel more comfortable at the slower speed and you'll get used the drinking that extra gallon of water, etc etc. So it does, sortofkinda get better. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?

[Deleted]

You've received some great advice here, but I'd like to add that you'll be glad you paid your dues over the summer because you will be so much faster/stronger when the first batch of cool weather comes through.

Try and get out at whatever time is most comfortable for you and if you miss those times take it in for a treadmill run that day.

Good luck!

[emuni04]

Based on your race bib in your photo, I think you live near me I go in the early AM, although I do find it slightly more humid than an evening run. I'm just too lazy to get the motivation run at night.

When I was marathon training in the dead of August, I always trekked over to the North Shore to do my long runs. The Tammany Trace provides lots of shade, and I always find it to be like 10 degrees cooler over there.

Otherwise, just drink water and prepare to sweat-A LOT!

[venice2007]

i also prefer am runs as I can never guarantee an afternoon run with Florida afternoon storms almost daily best for me to get them in early as the afternoon storms make it even hotter and more humid out after yuck!
Good luck you'll adjust!!!

[katinthehat]

I prefer morning runs even with the extra humidity because then they are done for the day.

A very general rule of thumb is that for every 10* above 50* it is, you can expect your pace to slow by 3%. So if it's 80* out, you'll be about 9% slower than a cool weather pace. Keep that in mind and don't get discouraged!

[pamela]

May 21, 2013 15:12:22 GMT -5 emuni04 said:

Based on your race bib in your photo, I think you live near me I go in the early AM, although I do find it slightly more humid than an evening run. I'm just too lazy to get the motivation run at night.

When I was marathon training in the dead of August, I always trekked over to the North Shore to do my long runs. The Tammany Trace provides lots of shade, and I always find it to be like 10 degrees cooler over there.

Otherwise, just drink water and prepare to sweat-A LOT!

Me too! Maybe I should try a north shore run, but that's about an hour drive. 

[joenali]

Come to Seattle! It's never humid!!!

[sadlebred]

May 21, 2013 13:31:52 GMT -5 mrsjthompson said:

May 21, 2013 13:23:00 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

Biking is not as bad in the heat.

They won't let me ride a bike in the half marathon. Will they?   *-)

Did they say it's against the rules? I get your point, though!

[spunkypenguin]

I was only up to about 7 miles last summer, but as soon as it started being over 80 after work, I had to switch to mornings. I hated mornings at first, but now I'm just used to it.

I'm trying to come to terms with my slower pace this year (I was just a beginner last year, so had nothing to compare it to).

[emuni04]

May 21, 2013 19:12:23 GMT -5 pamela said:

May 21, 2013 15:12:22 GMT -5 emuni04 said:

Based on your race bib in your photo, I think you live near me I go in the early AM, although I do find it slightly more humid than an evening run. I'm just too lazy to get the motivation run at night.

When I was marathon training in the dead of August, I always trekked over to the North Shore to do my long runs. The Tammany Trace provides lots of shade, and I always find it to be like 10 degrees cooler over there.

Otherwise, just drink water and prepare to sweat-A LOT!

Me too! Maybe I should try a north shore run, but that's about an hour drive. 

It's about an hour for me as well, so I only went over there for my super long runs (15, 18, 20 miles). The cooler weather and shade on the Trace is nice, plus where I live -- down the bayou -- we really don't have many trails to speak of.

[mrsjthompson]

May 22, 2013 9:17:17 GMT -5 emuni04 said:

May 21, 2013 19:12:23 GMT -5 pamela said:

Me too! Maybe I should try a north shore run, but that's about an hour drive. 

It's about an hour for me as well, so I only went over there for my super long runs (15, 18, 20 miles). The cooler weather and shade on the Trace is nice, plus where I live -- down the bayou -- we really don't have many trails to speak of.

I'm close, but not that close.  I'm over in Mobile.  But I know who to call for a run next time I'm in NOLA for work!