Oh summer running. I love summer running, I really do. Even on the hottest, most humid days I still prefer it over running in the cold. Sometimes though I think that I get summer running amnesia. I start to question if I’ve ever run in such hot weather before. How do I still like summer running even when it can be so challenging?
Runners and the Weather
As runners we complain about the weather all the time. I feel like 90% of the time we are complaining about the weather, 5% or less of the time we are happy with the weather, and maybe 5% of the time we don’t think about it. Would you agree?
Summer Running Amnesia
Anyway, this summer has been really rough. Or has it? I’ve really started to question if I have just struggled more than usual or did I just get summer running amnesia and forget how difficult summer running can be. I thought back on previous summers and didn’t remember it being this bad.
2019
Last summer I was 6-8 months postpartum and just getting back to running long distances again. I wasn’t running a ton of mileage and I did a bunch of treadmill runs when I couldn’t get out early enough. There was only one run that I remember being particularly hot, and that was when we were on vacation at the beach and there was a heat wave. I had a 9 mile run to do that day and it was my longest postpartum run up until that point.
2018
The summer before that, in 2018, I was pregnant. So of course running was hard, regardless of the heat. However, I was in my second trimester throughout the whole summer and that point in time actually felt pretty good compared to the spring and fall. I even ran my own (unofficial) half-marathon for fun that year. 
2016-2017
Back in 2016-2017 I was injured. I had hurt my foot/ankle in June 2016 and it gave me trouble on and off until October 2017. During both of those summers my mileage was not high and I was grateful for every single run. 
Don’t ask me to remember 2015 and before that. Back then I was training for marathons and I was a whole lot younger and I don’t remember much else about those years.
Keeping things in perspective
I guess my point is that it’s all about perspective. This summer I am running at later times of day and often pushing a jogging stroller. Of course it’s going to feel harder than running at 5am solo. I’m also running higher mileage than I have in a few years. 
Earlier this week Marcia made a comment that this is the hottest summer she remembers in all her years of running. Well that’s saying something! Ok, so maybe it’s not all just in my head. I’m struggling big time but there are lots of factors involved. It won’t stay hot forever and I will be missing this in the winter.
[Tweet “Do you suffer from summer running amnesia? Come join us for runfessions! @milebymilerun #runfessions #runchat”]
You may also like:
Runfessions of Quarantine Month 3
Running Lessons Learned During COVID-19
Do you suffer from summer running amnesia?
Do you think this summer has been hotter than usual?
Do you adjust your running in the summer?
I’m linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five and Marcia’s Healthy Slice for Runfessions!
I have to say that no, I don’t suffer from summer running amnesia! Whenever I run in the heat, I am reminded of marathon training and suffering through some miserably hot runs! I definitely prefer running in the cooler weather.
Right now I could really go for some fall running. But I always regret feeling that way when I am suffering through the cold winter runs!
I hate being cold. I don’t hate winter running (much), but the being cold is my nemesis. I don’t have that issue in the summer LOL Fortunately, I have never struggled with the heat much. When I was sidelined (in 2017) and not able to run the entire summer, I realized how much I missed it…the summer running and just running in general. I’m grateful I was able to recover so well, and I am grateful for every run these days, especially those hot summer ones because I’d missed them so much that one summer.
I hate being cold too! I hate all the layers and especially the wind. I think injuries can really make you appreciate running even more!
Like Wendy, I do not suffer from summer running amnesia, lol. As you know, I’m part of the 1% of runners that before Winter running. While I’m not a fan of the snow, the cold doesn’t bother me that much. That being said, the only thing I actually DO enjoy about summer running is that you don’t have to wear a bunch of layers of clothing.
I love that summer running requires less clothing (and less laundry). The only thing that gets annoying is feeling like I need to bring water on every run and cleaning bottles can be a pain. Its always something right?
No amnesia here. I know I really am not a fan of summer running. Every summer I dislike and it feels like a chore. Counting the days until fall 🙂
It will be here before we know it!
Oh my goodness yes! At one point I seriously considered skipping hot weather running altogether this year and just staying inside on the treadmill. Last year I had a “traumatic event” in that the first really hot day of the year was my first half marathon and I feel like I’ve built heat up into a bigger monster than it really is. Now that I’ve had a few months of warm running, it’s just NDB and also we’re starting to have some cooler weather. It makes a big difference when there’s 1-2 cooler days a week rather than no cooler days.
Yes those little breaks from the heat make a huge difference! I could really go for a little break right about now!
Runners and farmers focus on the weather! My dad was a dairy farmer and was outside pretty much all day long every day of the year so his focus on the weather was intense. I’ve always said that his focus on the weather prepared me to be a distance runner. LOL
Ha! Yes, its crazy how obsessed we can be with the weather. But its a huge factor in how we run!
I’ve trained for at least 10 fall marathons and while I well remember filling my hydration pack with ice and running as far as I could as early as I could until I needed to stop at home and refill (and I’d lie, sweat soaked and exhausted on the floor for a minute) before getting back out. My point is marathon training through the summer is never easy but that said, there were some “cooler” mornings where running was bearable for much of those long runs. This year there’ve been very few “cool” mornings. We’ve had several nights that don’t dip out of the 80s. That is warm for us. I’m so grateful we don’t have to train through this!
I definitely remember some rough long runs while training for fall marathons! And I know that there have been plenty of times when I’ve complained about the heat, but usually our heat waves would last a few days or a week and then we would get a break. I could really go for a break right about now!
This summer has definitely been hotter than usual, but actually I don’t think it was as bad as 2018. That was the year I trained for an 18 mile race (my longest) so for me it was memorable. It was a very hot & humid summer.
This summer there has been breaks every once in a while. But I’m so over hot & humid, not gonna lie!
Weather amnesia is a thing though. 🙂
I remember that in 2018 it felt like the heat never ended. I’m pretty sure it was still 80 degrees and humid in mid-October. By that point in the year I’m absolutely ready for cooler weather!
Hah! I’m sure you’re right. Last summer running sucked for me b/c of my undiagnosed thyroid issue. Previous summers I was running longer to train for fall races. So, this summer is actually nice because I feel healthy and don’t have any pressure!
Running with a stroller is so impressive!
Looking at all the different factors that play into how we feel really does help to put things in perspective, right?!
The summer here hasn’t been that hot so far, but our real heat is in Aug and Sept. I prefer cooler weather to run in but at least we don’t have the same humidity that most of the country gets. I do remember reading a lot of comments about the heat last year, so yeah, I think there is some amnesia. LOL.
The humidity can be really rough! August is one of our hottest months and then it (sometimes) starts to cool off a bit in September.
Every year, it feels like the hottest year. And every winter is the coldest winter. LOL!
It’s just always hot. Ugh.
Haha true! And for you, yep, it’s just always hot.
With no gyms open, I don’t have access to a treadmill so this is the first time I’ve been outside through the whole summer, and it’s not as terrible as I feared. The runrises are new though, but I feel like if nothing else covid has taught us to be flexible.
I think i’ve adapted better to summer heat (existing, not running) because I haven’t been in AC as much as normal years. Summer still exists better in the shade with a breeze
All of this has definitely taught us to be flexible! Its great that you have adapted better to the heat this year. But I agree, shade and a breeze is best!