Dreadmill or Run Outside in the Heat? (Page 2)

I ran 9 miles last night starting at 8PM and forced myself to slow my pace about 45 seconds a mile.  I originally had 12 on the schedule but I planned to shift 4 miles to tonight and get 8 miles in.  I felt decent enough and paced slowly enough that I was fine to get an extra mile in, completing my 9 mile run.  When I left on the run the temperature was 93 with a heat index of 110.  When I returned it was 88/99.  I also had a decent breeze blowing for much of the run and that helped keep me from passing out.  I lost 4 lbs (which isn't uncommon for me) on the run and just made sure to get as much hydration as possible until I wenn to bed.

Maybe since I live in the desert, and there are few days in the summer that are NOT over 100...  I choose to run outside.  I CAN'T STAND the treadmill for anything over 30 minutes, and even that sucks...

Plan my route accordingly to reload on fluids, pick the better times of day (later in the afternoon, when there is more shade, than at high noon when there isn't any), realize my pace my be slower since the HR will go up due to the heat, etc.

Unless it's typhoon, bitter cold and/or icey conditions (which is never a problem here), I run outside.

For those that voted "run outside"...

I hate you all!

Ended up going outside for me run during lunch hour.  Suncreen on, visor on, sunglasses on, Fuelbelt on and loaded up.  Took me an hour to do 5miles.  I was taking it slooooow.  Felt pretty good for the first few miles but then hit the wall at about the 3.5mile mark.  Deadman shuffle it was. I don't think it was the heat but rather the humidity. 

Scout's advice (as usual) is sound.  I still think I got a decent workout in but probably not as good as it could have been.  As to which sucks more, I think it's a toss-up between the dreadmill and the heat at this point. Both were equally sucky.

Also, not a sprinkler to be found.

Very true. When the dew point was in the low 80s, and the temps in the low 90s, it was like running in soup. But when it was 104, with low humidity...it was like running in a blow drier, but not that bad, all things considered.

X2 --- I was running at lunch for a while, but now that we have had almost 30 days straight of 100+ temps, I am waiting until around 7pm when the sun is setting a little and then I head out. Its not too bad, you just have to plan for it. Carry water with you and make sure you know where water fountains or stops are along your route.

When I went out for my run on Friday, it was either 100, or 104, depending on whether you believe weather.com or accuweather. Feels like 115 to 130, again, depending on which site you believe.

People thought it was only one more piece of evidence that I am crazy! 

Not trying to be a smartazz or belittle you, but is 5 miles really a long run? Did you have something longer planned and opted out due to the heat?

I'm guessing when many people read the term "long run" they're thinking of something in the double digits. I don't start thinking it's a long run until at least 14-15+ miles.

Regardless, I would do it outside. I've run when it's over 100 and 20 below zero. The only times I use a treadmill is during blizzards or lightning/hail storms. As others mentioned, go early before the sun reaches full intensity - or go late after the sun sets.

There are benefits to running twice a day, but two separate runs are not the same as an equivalent mileage long run.

To the OP, good job getting it in!

There are several X2's in this that I'd agree with.  Balance out gotta do it, but keep yourself out of the ER.

There are benefits to running twice a day, but two separate runs are not the same as an equivalent mileage long run.

To the OP, good job getting it in!

There are several X2's in this that I'd agree with.  Balance out gotta do it, but keep yourself out of the ER.

Actually according to my trainer and to some new articles that have come out recently (and my sports medicine dr) doing two runs a day can equal one long run if you do it the right way.

IE: if I am supposed to run 12 miles for the day on my morning run Ill run half that distance @ 6miles and on my evening run Ill run 3/4 of that distance 9 miles.  You will run on tired legs and your body will get the same affect as one long run.. Since I've started doing this I have also seen an increase in my endurance and my speed.

Like I said, there are benefits to running twice a day.  And you also ran 15 miles in your example, not 12 as the earlier post would suggest.  The 9 miles is longer than the 6. 

I'm in North Texas and the high has been 100F+ for a while now.  I won't run long in the hottest part of the day (I do my long run in the morning - not super early, but around 90F by the end which I can still deal with). 

For shorter runs (my short ones are 1.5-4 miles), I'll run them after my swim or bike which means right around sunset and temps are still in the upper 90's.  These are easier runs though..with just some surging/tempo for 30 sec or so.  I think running a bit in the heat is good as you are psychologically prepared for it.  I save any 'quality' type workouts like intervals on the treadmill right now.

i hit the dreadmill yesterday and had a GREAT run, actually ran my best pace in years. I've been mentally beating myself up about my run times and pace, suspecting it's been due to the ridiculous humidity, and I was psyched to prove it. I won't stop running outside altogether in the summer though, because that being said, if the race day weather is humid, it's humid, and I gotta run. But I can't describe how happy I felt knowing how fast and quality my fall running is going to be! Viva l'A\C! I

that being said, I HAAAAAATE riding an exercise bike. Don't mind a fluid trainer at all, but those upright bikes are the devil. I would rather drop 10lbs riding through humid soup and being incapacitated for the rest of the day than ride indoors on a gym bike. Just sayin.