Hot Weather Running

I have identical issues/struggles here in south Louisiana. In the winter, I had little trouble running my 5-mile tempo run at my 15K pace, 8-8:15 per mile, as I was training for a 4-hour marathon. Now I have trouble maintaining that marathon pace (9-9:10) over the same five miles.

I keep telling myself "that which doesn't kill us, makes us stronger," and looking forward to October.

So so so so happy I don't have to deal with humidity on top of the heat here -- which is still oppressive in its way. I grew up in Louisiana, but I don't "remember" the humidity. Or I'm blocking it!

Do you use anything like endurolytes? I just bought some because I live in humid northern Louisiana and I'm also struggling. Since I just got them, I don't know if they'll help or not.

Can you try and change your training schedule so that you can do your hardest workouts early in the morning? I know your dew point doesn't change much at night, so you still have to deal with some humidity, but at least the temp drops by 10 degrees or so by sunrise. Just a thought.

I ran cross-country in HS in the deserts north of Los Angeles...although we didn't have the nasty humidity, there were 100+ days that we had our tempo runs. It sucked, but your body adjusts. But I don't think there's a way to adjust to a heat/humidity combo. I don't envy you!

So it's not just me! This is my first full summer of running long and the heat is zapping my run tempo. I went on vacation up to upstate NY two weeks ago and ran 40 minutes in 75 degree weather along the Erie Canal trail and when I finished I was still feeling great! My next two runs I picked up the pace and loved it. Now its back in FL and running inte soup! I have a 8k race in 3 weeks, last year I did it in 7:45 pace, not sure if I should be looking forward to it this year or not!

Don

I'm trying to get some heat-training in in anticipation of my next tri-for-fun in August. Sacramento has brutal heat in the summer. Sonoma County isn't quite so bad. I've been having to do my runs in the evening after swim class, when it's already in the 60s. So, I've been going out with my long-sleeve t-shirt on hoping to simulate the heat.

I know. I'll shut up now.

Poor baby. Having to pile on the clothes in your lovely 60-degree weather to simulate heat. I'm wiping away a tear. :-)

I was reading about ultramarathoners a couple of weeks ago, and some of the runners who do these races in very hot climates train in INSANE amounts of clothing. This one guy was doing long training runs in the summer wearing thermal underwear, sweats, a sweater, a ski jacket, and a rubber raincoat!

I've been having a similar situation here in St Louis -- I went running the other night at 9:30, and the heat index was something like 95 degrees. Every time I passed a water fountain, I would practically bathe in it. Had to cut the run short at 8 miles, and when I looked at my pedometer when I got home, I was at least 1 minute/mile slower than my usual pace. Frustrating.

Tech,

I'm hitting the black top in Norther FL so I feel your pain with the heat and humidity of the South. Some days I really enjoy the extra sweat and exhaustion that come with running late morning or early afternoon, but usually I try and plan longer runs, or sprints or late evening 7-8ish as the sun is going down. Just keep drinking a ton of water in preparation for the run, grab a gatorade afterwards and enjoy that clean honest sweat! Good training to ya,
Matt

I feel the pain as well here in Phoenix AZ!!! Got done with my 45 min morning run at 8:10am and it was already 89 degrees out...grant it that’s been one of the cooler mornings we've had for that time of the day in awhile. I was just mentioning to somebody who also is tri training here that if I'm going to get a successful morning run in anymore I have to start before or around 5am.

Seeing as how I start work at 5:50am, my mornings are now starting at 3:45am just to get in a good workout before work. I don't get my first hour break at work until 8am, by that time it's a killer out!!!

Something about the indoor treadmills just don't cut the mustard for me...not enough scenery plus my lower back kills me after a good 5 mile run.