It’s almost time for one of the best seasons for running! (In my opinion…I know others may disagree!) While some parts of the country seem to not even have spring weather yet, other areas are already dealing with heat and humidity. Before we know it, we will all be in our shorts and tank tops complaining about the warm weather. While we wait for that day, we might as well get ourselves ready! Are you prepared for summer running?
There are a few things that can be done now, before the warm weather arrives, to prepare for summer running. If you are already dealing with the heat, it’s not too late to make sure you’ve checked these things off your list!
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Stock up on supplies
There are a few things you may want to get to prepare yourself for summer running. You may already have these items from last year, but if not, it’s a good time to buy them. Especially because we are avoiding unessential trips to the store and delivery times are more delayed right now due to COVID-19. Here are a few things you will want to have:
Body Glide
Sunscreen (FRÉ Protect Me is my favorite! Code MILEBYMILE saves you 15%)
Nuun or another electrolyte product
Coconut oil for your hair (helps prevent tangles from the humidity!)
Bandaids for chafing or blisters
Change out your clothes
Some runners only keep one season of running clothes in their closet at a time to save space. Whether you need to dig out your clothes from storage or just find them in the bottom of your drawer, now is a good time to check them out. Do you have enough clothes to get you through the summer? Do they still fit well? Is everything still in pretty good shape? Make sure you have good running socks that will prevent blisters. Maybe give them a good wash if you haven’t worn them since last summer. Also remember to pull out things like hats or visors and sunglasses.
Prep your gear
While you may no longer need a headlamp for morning or evening runs, there are a few items that you may not have used as much all winter. Hydration packs and water bottles come in handy during the summer months, and you will definitely want to bring those with you rather than rely on water fountains this summer due to COVID-19. You can get them washed and ready to go now so you won’t have to worry about it the first time you head out for a run and realize the forecast is 80 degrees and humid. If you happen to be someone who has worked out indoors all winter/spring and are preparing to start running outside again, make sure you have a Road ID, something to hold your phone like a Flip Belt or Koala Clip, and that your GPS watch is charged.
Bonus: Acclimate
It can take weeks to get used to running in the heat. While I am looking forward to warmer weather, I’m not ready for extreme heat and humidity yet. You can slowly prepare yourself by running on the treadmill without a fan in warm clothes or wearing more layers outside than you really need. I’m not sure that anything can truly prepare us for the challenges of running in summer weather, but that may help a little. If nothing else you will mentally know you have started to acclimate.
As much as I will complain about summer running, I do really enjoy it. I find it easier to get going and I appreciate the extra daylight. And at this point I am pretty much over having to wear tights, headbands, and gloves for my run! Less laundry is always a good thing.
And it’s time to get ready for racing season!
Are you prepared for summer running?
What else do you do to prepare for summer running?
Are you a fan of running in the warmer weather?
Great tips!
I love summer running! I find it easier to deal with heat and humidity than icy cold weather.
Fortunately, all my running clothes fit in one cupboard so I don’t have to dig too long for the shorts and tank tops. Hopefully, they’ll soon be in use!
I keep my summer clothes out all year too, especially since I use them when I run on the treadmill!
Considering winter showed up last week, no, I’m not ready! But I’m anxiously awaiting it! We rarely get a gradual increase in temps and humidity. It’s always cold one day and then BOOM! Hello summer! Ready or not. Hahaha! I can’t wait!
Yep- same here! I’m usually caught off guard when that happens but this year I’m just anxiously awaiting the change in temps.
This reminds me that I need to order more Nuun! I’m not looking forward to summer running, although I need to remember that it felt so hard last year (my first summer back in the Midwest in years) because of pregnancy!
Hopefully it won’t be quite as hard for you this year!
Hee hee none of us are ready for summer running. I am so ready to break out my tanks and shorts. I do have a hard time running in the heat but hey, I’m more than ready to take the challenge on. I’m going to try salt tablets this year to see if they help.
While its hard to run in the heat I just prefer it to the cold. I know it will be a struggle, especially in the beginning!
I can say this with true honesty…I will NOT be complaining about the heat when it finally arrives 😉 Summer is MY season, dammit LOL 😉 (that said, I do appreciate a little period of acclimating…maybe a week)
Haha there’s no such thing as an acclimation period! I always end up complaining about the humidity, even though I prefer it to the cold.
I definitely run better in the cool weather, but frankly, I’m ready to start complaining about being hot! LOL
Same here! We’ve had enough time to complain about the cold!
I am definitely not ready for the intense humidity and heat we have around here. I hope these spring temps stay around a little longer! I am a much better cooler weather runner
I wouldn’t mind spring weather sticking around for awhile. I would just like the mornings to warm up! I’m tired of wearing gloves and headbands.
Summer running in NH can actually be quite nice. I am so ready for the warmer temps, the sweat and the tank tops! Body glide is at the ready for sure for the longer runs.
I used to go to Maine in the summer and it was so nice there for running! The humidity here is what makes it really tough.
Summer is my favorite season to run. I love hazy, hot, and humid and I love to sweat. I have never heard of coconut oil for hair to prevent the frizzies. Thanks for the tip!
I heard of it a few years ago and its so helpful! I used to have such a hard time getting the knots out after a sweaty run, and the coconut oil keeps it from getting tangled.
I don’t have much of a clothing change. I wear long sleeves in the winter, tanks in the summer. That’s about it! Though I do have a couple of pairs of tights in my drawer. 🙂
This year we jumped up to very hot so quickly I was definitely not prepared! Fortunately, it’s cooled off a bit this week. I hope the temperatures will climb a bit slower now.
That sounds like a good running wardrobe to me! All the layers, gloves, hats, etc take up so much room. Its so hard when it jumps to being really hot so fast. I have a feeling that will happen for us soon.
Our summer running is like your winter. I have to figure out how to get up and out before the sun, because once that sun hits it’s game over. So far, we have been lucky with lower humidity but I can start to feel it changing. Ugh. However, it’s all part of the process, so yes. I’m ready to get out there and do it!
My in-laws have a house in Florida and we have gone there in May a few times, and it can be brutal for running! Hopefully this year isn’t too bad. Getting out early is definitely your best bet.
I’m the opposite! We are now getting ready for winter and I’m so excited! Having said that, our winters can’t compare to yours at all so I guess for me it’s just the relief from the heat. It does get darker earlier though so I have to get my runs done before then.
I bet it will be nice to have a break from the heat!
Great tips, Lisa! To answer your question, once I get my first mile behind me and I’m warmed up I probably enjoy winter running more because I get too hot very easily. I do love how much easier it is to get my stuff laid out the night before in the summer, though. And less laundry? Oh yeah, I love that!
The laundry is SO much better in the summer! Running in the heat can definitely be challenging. I know my paces slow down but I just feel more comfortable out there when its warm out!