As the summer heat and humidity settles in and holds many of us captive, I began thinking about all the myriad of thoughts I have while running during the summer. First things first: Heat can be dangerous, so please be smart when deciding if you are going to run outside during these hot days (especially during the heat advisory days that we’ve been having recently on the East Coast). Regardless of whether you take it outside or decamp to a treadmill during summer runs, we all have probably had some similar thoughts. For this week’s Free Friday, I thought I’d share the five stages of summer running (with one bonus stage). Make sure you check out my co-hosts for the linkup – Mar and Cynthia. Have a great weekend!
While getting ready for a run:
- I’m not going to check the weather because I know the forecast—miserable. – I think this just about every single morning.
- How can I wear as few clothes as possible without getting catcalled in the mean streets of DC? – The problems of being a city runner!
When I start running:
- It’s not so bad out here. – Oh, the lies we tell ourselves just to make it out the door. Because as we all know…
Five minutes later:
- Dante’s inferno.
- I hate running. – No explanation needed here. Once the heat and humidity really settles in, it gets rough…
A few miles in:
- Why am I doing this?
- What did I do to deserve this life? – I had this thought a few weeks ago while I was running 8x600s during a morning where the humidity rested around 90 percent. I began hoping that I could atone for whatever I’d done to deserve the misery I was currently in.
When it’s over:
- Well. I’m currently soaking wet. That was not awesome. – I basically look like I just left the pool after finishing up summer runs. It is definitely not awesome and my clothes are definitely soaked.
30 minutes after showering post run:
- How is it possible that I showered 30 minutes ago and I’m still sweating? Global warming is kicking my butt. – This has been most weekdays this summer. I will shower, get ready for work, head back out in the heat and by the time I reach my office, I’m pretty miserable. And gross. It’s hard to look professional when you are covered in sweat.
What goes through your head while running in the heat?
A version of post was originally posted on Women’s Running.
So true! I usually start with “It’s so gross.” Then “It’s not so bad.” Then, “Oh yeah, it is.” And I hate when I’m still sweating after my shower!
I might feel miserable while I’m running but I always feel great when I finish. ( I get excited over little victories..lol). It helps that I have a pool to jump into when I get home too!
I can’t take the heat anymore. I just can’t. I swear I need “I do not run fall marathons” tattooed on my forehead, backwards, so I never do this again.
Ugh yes to all of this. Except that I totally hate the heat, so I’m usually super sick and nauseous from trying to run in it! Kudos to you for actually getting out there when it’s super hot!
This week has actually been really good for running (other than the rainier days the past few days). But OMG my husband deals with #5 on a regular basis. It is actually pretty funny…
The “Why am I doing this” is so true! I’ve said that for a lot of different runs before LOL.
I usually have thoughts about quitting and walking home. Then when I finish I think–I did it!
But the non-stop sweating? Ugh…
Ugh, so true. In particular the “this is so gross, I’m soaking wet” and still feeling hot post-shower. Bring on the winter running!
On some of these more humid runs I’ve wondered during my run how are my feet so WET? That’s the part that annoys me the most!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted…Runfessions – August 2016
yup it’s been rough out there for sure! Sweating while blow drying my hair an hour later is just not good 🙂 Thanks for the link up
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner recently posted…Friday Fitness Finds on Groupon- Retail Therapy Anyone?
So true! Especially stage 2 which usually lasts for me for about 2 minutes – ha! Bring on fall!!
My first thought is on the shower. I’m sweaty, sticky, and itchy once that sweat starts drying. I’ll stretch my IT band when I get home, but then it’s right in the shower.
I laughed so hard at this post! I think we have all had these thoughts this summer, especially “dantes inferno” haha. Bring on the Fall weather!
Since I pretty much run in this kind of weather all year long, I’ve just learned to ignore the internal whining and suck it up. Along with copious amounts of water and cool showers as soon as I walk in the door! 🙂
I’ve had a few runs where I think my water bottle is leaking… but no, It’s just sweat dripping down.
OMG dante’s inferno, I have that thought every freaking morning i’ve run in this miserable heat. other thoughts…how am i already wet and i havent even started running yet (thank you 100% humidity). why am i doing this, cruel and unusual punishment comes to mind 🙂
LOL at global warming kicking my butt. I sweat a lot too. Post run, post shower, I’m still just soaking wet. Darn ozone layer needs a patch in it.
My post here: https://runwright.net/2016/08/26/5-questions-for-runners/
Hahah yes! Summer running is brutal… but it always makes me feel like I accomplished something amazing when I’m done. 🙂
bwahahaha! this is great. I always get caught in the oh, this isn’t too bad when I step out the door and then once I’m away from the shade of my building realize – I’m screwed.
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Fit Retreat 2016 w/City Fit Girls
I was just complaining about that last one this morning. I went for a run, showered, and felt like I was sweaty again as soon as I stepped outside.
Chaitali recently posted…Friday Five – scary moments while running
OMG I am dying, all of it is so true. I”m so thrilled to be in CO now because summer running if far more enjoyable than it was in FL!
I AM SO JEALOUS OF YOU IN CO! 🙂
Think that pretty much covers it. It’s not been so bad here but on those still, humid, hot days when I run I always start thinking about cutting it short after about 5 minutes. I’ve managed to not succumb yet and have finished the run I intended when I left the house but it really is a mind game!
nicola @ Running Happy recently posted…5 Trail Races to run
It always starts with “Why didn’t I start earlier? I’d be done by now!!”
so funny! the getting up early for long runs and you know it will still be hot and humid. For real, the funniest part is coming home and realizing no matter how much sunscreen I put on, I will always get new tanlines in the summer
This was funny! Although I don’t love the heat (I;m in Iowa), I’ll take an outdoor run in extreme heat & humidity (and, go ahead and throw in a couple of hills as well) over an indoor torture experience on a treadmill. I just respect the heat…I know I will not be as “fast” as usual, and I also know the breathing will be more difficult (and I”ll get more fatigued, probably sooner). ANd that’s Ok…..what doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger 😉
hilarious! and so true. especially the “why am I doing this?” and “what did I do to deserve this?” although I have to say if I actually make it through my whole session I feel pretty badass at the end of it.
the sweating thing though… omg so looking forward to fall and winter running (when I can wonder what I did to deserve rain and cold!)
Oh yes, me too!!