Running in 93 Degree Weather = SWEATY

Yesterday at 6pm I decided to be brave as I headed out the door to run in the 93F heat. It was supposed to be my rest day but after sitting in my office all day the only thing I felt like doing was running. I needed to get some energy out of my system. The only other activity that would have been accepted was drinking a beer or two! Running is the healthier and cheaper choice so I went for it. :) I ran 2 laps around Mineral Palace Park which is 2 miles. This 2 mile run took me about 23 minutes. Oh my word was it HOT! Michael came home right after I finished and he didn't even want to touch me. He would only give me a peck on the lips nothing more until I showered off. Being sweaty is a good feeling though. It means I did something active.

After checking the heat index (see the chart below) I was right on the line between caution and danger. It was 93 degrees at 6pm last night with a humidity of 18% according to my Weather Channel app. So the air felt like it was between 88F and 90F. Hot, Hot, Hot!

There are things you can do to make running in the heat more bearable. Some of the obvious tips all of the running sites give are to change your route to be to a route with shade, wear an outfit that will keep you cool, and make sure you are well-hydrated. Run with less intensity than usual, listen to your body and run using your effort level as your goal. It takes time to acclimatize your body to running in the heat and if you push yourself too much you could bring on heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Drink water, drink sports drinks to replace electrolytes etc...

I think the best tip is to avoid the heat all together. Wake up early and run before the temperature starts to increase. The hard part about this tip is how hard it is to get yourself off the pillow.