Summer might still be a week away, but the warm temperatures and high humidity mean it’s time to start paying careful attention to the weather and planning runs accordingly. Generally, I do my long runs on Saturday morning. When this past Saturday was forecasted for 90 degrees, I knew sleeping in wasn’t going to be an option. I embrace the added challenge the weather presents, more so in the summer than the winter. It’s all part of the game and I spend lots of time strategizing to ensure that safety and enjoyment remain priorities.
So, on Saturday morning, after a somewhat late night out with friends, I got up at 6:15am. I know to many people that’s not early. But, those who know me know that I love sleeping almost as much as I love running! The sun was already shining brightly and heating things up, so I focused on getting out the door by 7am. When it’s hot or otherwise inclement weather, I try to not venture too far away from home. Often, this means heading out in one direction, circling back to home base, and then heading out another direction. I also prefer this strategy when Dan is joining me for part of the run, which he did on Saturday. We have our meeting spot, where he is good about greeting me with my favorite hydrating beverage. This was the plan we executed on Saturday morning and thankfully, it worked out pretty well. We were far from alone on the trails, as many people were getting their workouts done before the extreme heat set in. In the end, I got my 8 mile run in before 8:30am! Not a bad way to kick off the weekend!
Here’s to a great summer 2016. Enjoy, and be safe out there!