New runner: humidity/heat

[ohgillian]

I am not surviving. Seriously. Are there any basic tips for how to deal with the heat and humidity? Go out early I guess is one. Drink water. Get wicking clothes. Others? I feel in danger of being completely derailed.

[al320]

Get out early, bring water amd, lower your expectations - you will be slower, it will be harder. Find a course thats as tree covered as possible, bring cash if you have to stop and buy yourself a cold drink somewhere.

It SUCKS.

[Wines Not Whines]

Find a shady path, wear a hat and/or sunglasses to keep the sun out of your eyes, and go slower. I also carry water or an electrolyte drink on almost every run.

[Deleted]

If you are running in anything but wicking clothes, stop. Go to target and get yourself some (or store of your choosing). It will help a lot. Otherwise, water, go early, run slower and be ok with it.

[pamela]

Definitely slow down and accept that walking might have to happen. I prefer to run late in the evenings because while it might be a degree cooler early in the morning, the humidity is lower at night. I also try to hydrate more during the day so I don't have to drink as much while running. Just know that even though you're slower in the heat/humidity, all that extra effort is going to pay off big when it cools down; that same level of effort will equal increased speed in the fall. I'm a good 45sec or more slower than I was in the spring and since I'm really slow to start with it's a bit demoralizing, but I'm just looking ahead to fall.

[joenali]

Move to Seattle??

[texassmith]

I actually prefer evening runs. The mornings are way more humid and I'll gladly take the few extra degrees of heat in the evening in exchange for some of the humidity having burned off. Take lots of water and don't worry about your pace, just cover the miles.

[patches31709]

Just hang in there, and think of how glorious it will be when it cools off.

I also prefer running at night instead of early in the morning.

[shakeitout]

Ditto everyone else. Also, I like to put a small towel in the freezer before I head out. It feels so freaking good on my face/neck after a hot run.

[shellfish26]

I'm finding that my runs are really impacted by how much water I've taken, even the day before a run. So, even if its a rest day, keep drinking water.

Also, one of my favorite post run cool downs is a wet washcloth that I keep in a bag of ice. It feels amazing to wipe my face and arms with it afterward.

[ohgillian]

I have been running in, um, non-wicking cotton clothes. And since I didn't have a sportsbra, I've been wearing a regular bra under a pull-on bra for support. BUT! With help from my "tell me what to wear" thread from 2 weeks ago, today I went and got a wicking C9 sports bra (thanks al320 for the tips about how to try it on) and also non-cotton socks (thanks grk2012). I already have nonwicking shorts.

I do not yet have a water bottle. I took one of DS's sippie cups with me yesterday. He was all, "Is that my old sippie cup??" You know, because he's 3 and is all nostalgic about something from the way past.

I had bookmarked that electrolyte thread so I will go read it and learn more there, since some of you mention that.

Honestly, though? I think the most important thing is hearing that this is a reasonable thing to do -- so thanks for the encouragement!

[gt7301b]

I'm just echoing what everyone else says; run slow and drink fluids.

IT SUCKS!!!

[katinthehat]

Pick your poison. I do better with less heat and more humidity, so I'm a morning runner during the summer. Others do better with the heat and less humidity and so find evening runs to be better. Play around with it, view this as a time to experiment and try as much as possible to have fun with figuring out what works for you. The run might suck donkey balls but it makes cold watermelon post run the most refreshing thing ever!

[sadlebred]

Come to Atlanta. It's monsoon season. It's raining so hard that you won't notice the humidity. Temps are in the 70s this weekend.