(This is cross-posted at BlogHer.)
I prefer running when it’s cold. Is it because I started running in January? Is it because I grew accustomed to the cool weather during those first few months (an instrumental time when you’re trying to decide if a new practice is something you want to continue for the long term)?
(For the sake of clarity, let me be more specific when I say that I prefer running in the cold: I’m not talking about sub-zero temperatures. I’m referring to the concept of cold in northern Virginia. Also keep in mind that it hardly ever snows here during the winter.)
The reason I like running in the cold is because I don’t enjoy being ultra-sweaty. When it’s cold, there isn’t nearly as much sweat involved. If I’m sweating, I want it to be due to exertion — not just because the temperature and humidity are so torturous that the sweat starts to pour just because I’ve dared to step outside.
I’d much rather run with my ears covered — and gloves on my hands, and being able to see my breath, and with a runny nose, and dealing with numb thighs and torso (because the clothes I was wearing in the dead of winter weren’t quite thick enough sometimes) — than run in the heat. So I guess that’s saying something.
My body heat tends to rise quickly, which is one of the physical changes I noticed after I started working out regularly last year. This past winter I only wore a heavy jacket to work on a small number of occasions; on most days I wore a light jacket and gloves when I walked to the Metro in the mornings because I warmed up so quickly.
I mention these factors because it’s pretty freakin’ hot outside right now, and I find running in the heat to be quite miserable. I’m fine with temps in the 70s, but the 80s are pushing it. The temps in this area have been in the 90s since this past weekend, which means I’ve stopped running outside while the sun is shining. The heat has wreaked havoc on my routine, and I’m bummed.
So what are my options?
I belong to a gym, so there’s always the option of a treadmill. The thing is though, I’m not a big cardio-machine fan. If given the option, I’d much rather be outside. I didn’t mind using machines when I first started going to the gym last summer, but once I discovered how much faster the time flies by when I’m outside? Every minute spent on a machine inside seems almost torturous.
(Another factor with using a treadmill is that my current gym isn’t as close as I’d like, and traffic in northern Virginia is unpredictable from day to day. I’ll be reconciling this particular factor pretty soon though, once my current gym contract is up and I switch to a gym that’s closer to where I live — but right now proximity still plays a role.)
If I want to continue running outside, another option is to go during a different time of day when it’s not so hot. (My normal running time is right after I get home from work, around 6:30pm, and sometimes earlier in the day on the weekends.) This would mean altering my schedule to accommodate running during the early morning or late evening.
Problems: For months, almost every day, I used to get up at 6am to work out on an elliptical machine. I got used to it, but I never liked it. I try to do stuff now that I actually like to do, at a time of day that works for me — and I really don’t want to change that. Running at night is another idea, but I’m afraid my motivation at that time of day would be greatly diminished (not to mention the increased risk of harassment). I did go out last night around 8:45pm, just as a test. Even though the sun had gone down, the air was still hot and stuffy — so running at night might not work out that much better anyway.
Oh, what do to, what to do? I guess my best course of action is to try the treadmill again. Since it won’t take me as long to drive to the gym pretty soon, I might not curse the machine quite as much if I know I’m not spending half an hour just commuting to the gym and back home. If the treadmill is still unbearable, I’ll try adjusting the time of day that I run. After all, it’ll only be this way for a few months. Once fall arrives and the temperatures go back down to a more tolerable level, I’ll be right back outside.
Taylor Ryan prefers running outside to being on a treadmill.
Treadmill running tends to be boring and many lose interest quickly. While this is good in a sense…it also leads to laziness and just plain skipping out on it.
Also, running on the road offers benefits to your muscles, bones and joints you just can not get on the even constant black rubber belt of the treadmill. Running on the uneven pavement and terrain improves ankle strength and stability and makes you more aware of proper technique. You will also get a better shin and calf workout while you are at it. Also it is much easy to interval train harder outside then having to worry about pushing that button to make you go slower and faster.
Ali was injured and unable to run for a while. During her “first week of not running,” she made some observations at the gym.
1. What seems like a lifetime on an eliptical trainer, in real time is actually 3 minutes 27 seconds.
2. When you are having a tough run, you still have to get back, you either suck it up or walk. At the gym you simply get off the machine.
3. I am better in a class, where I feel trapped for an hour and can’t leave.
Maria Kang at Fitness Cure gives “Top 6 Tips to start running in the morning.” Here are a few examples:
2) Lay your workout clothes out the night before. Of course, this goes back to preparation, preparation, preparation! As soon as I get up, I take my pills, I put on my jogging sweats and I’m on the treadmill or outside within 10 minutes.
3) Don’t think, just Move! I don’t lay in bed for more than 2 minutes contemplating my day, my tasks or my dreams…I just say a quick prayer for strength and I GO! Sometimes we can OVERTHINK ourselves and then ALL OF A SUDDEN be pressed for time or become less motivated. Don’t think — just go!
At the Runners’ Lounge, a recent blogging prompt was dedicated to running in the heat. Amy Hunold-VanGundy shared 10 Good Things About Hell Heat. Here are a few of the reasons Amy gave for loving the heat:
10. Hot weather brings out compassion in others. In this heat, I turn to a red faced, huffing/puffing monster of a runner. I find that my state of almost dying brings out the best in fellow runners, bikers and walkers. I had three people stop me and ask me if I was ok. […]
8. It is a free body cleansing. All the unnatural impurities that I counted as food this week have been flushed from my body by an outpouring of sweat. The cookies, the beer, the cheetos, the Red70 and other coloring/sugar from kool aid…..all gone. No need to go to a sauna, hot house or have a body wrap. My body is as good as new. […]
1. Cookies and beer. And of course, if I did this bike and run in these miserable conditions, I earn an extra dose of one of my favorite guilt free pleasures. And boy, do they taste ssswwweeeeettt!
I started paying attention to runners a lot more when I was driving around this weekend, running errands in my air-conditioned car. It was hellishly hot, the sun was blazing down, and they were still out there, pounding the pavement. Heat-runners, I applaud you. I just don’t want to join your ranks.
Your preference: hot weather or cold?
15 Comments
I totally agree Zan, I can NOT stand running in the hot weather. It is pure torture to have sweated through my workout clothes before I have finished the first song on my iPod. Give me cold and bundled up any day. I too am not so good at the treadmill, I don’t mind the elliptical when I have to move my workouts indoors but trying to run on a treadmill and I do NOT get along.
Hope you find a solution that works for you. I tend to spend more time biking/swimming in the summer as I don’t notice the heat quite as much doing those things and give myself the summer off from serious running on a day to day basis.
I’m the total opposite. I can happily run in 100 degree weather, sweating like a pig. Does not bother me. I hate hate HATE the cold. Hate it. I have a hard time getting myself out the door when it’s below 50. My muscles feel stiff. My nose runs and then gets chapped. I just HATE it. And the treadmill is totally out of the question for anything over 3 miles for me.
I’m a dedicated morning runner–up at 5am every morning, out the door by 5:15. This gives me plenty of time to cool off, shower, and get ready for work.
That said, I agree with you–you have to do what you ENJOY. If hot weather running or morning running makes you miserable, don’t do it!
I totally prefer running in the cold. i run better in the cold. Running in the heat always zaps all my energy making my runs shorter, poorer, and keeping me from wanting to do much else after the run. I just suck it up in the summer when it’s 90 degrees and humid here in TN and run on the treadmill.
Im still at the GETTING MY ARSE OUT THERE AND DOING IT point.
Ill have to letcha know
I HATE the treadmill too. But then, I also hate running in extreme cold and extreme heat…I’m not really much of a runner these days. When I did run semi-regularly, I liked doing it later in the evening, but yeah, motivation is huge factor in that.
i’d much more prefer the cold – although like you, i don’t live somewhere all that cold in the winter. it doesn’t get all that hot here either in the summer though so i guess i’m lucky.
but i do hate the treadmill, i’ll get on, get bored, and get off in a matter of 5 minutes!
I don’t like running in the heat either, but since I’m in AZ, I have no choice.
How about running in the early morning? I like to be out there running by 5 AM before the heat sets in. I just can’t stand the treadmill.
I definitely don’t run outside in the winter; I agree with Jen in that my face would be running with snot by the end of the block. Plus, it gets really icy here, and that freaks me out.
I’m happy to run outdoors in the summer, but I try to run at cooler times of the day. For me, that is typically in the evening (8 or 9ish). I do play ultimate frisbee from 6 to 9 twice a week, and it’s not so bad. I mean, I get sweaty running anyway, so why worry about a little extra sweat from the heat? I just make sure that I have plenty of water available.
I hear you about the heat and running. I keep trying to remind myself that the temperatures will go down soon enough. I think next week here, it’s supposed to be in the 70s.
Anyway, answer to your question: I’m definitely a fan of running in cool weather–50/60 to me is the optimal temperature. I can withstand the heat once my body is acclimated to it, but my pace and time suffer. I also prefer running outside to inside. Treadmills are like torture for me. The time is just so slow.
Right now, I’ve been trying to either do runs in the evening or early mornings. The early morning ones are really tough on me, and I pretty much have to just get up and go.
Hope you find something that works.
I get sweaty really quickly and still find it embarassing and unpleasant even now.
When I was away in Tenerife (hot hot hot) during my recovery I used to run outside really early in the morning by the beach. It was really peaceful and watching the sun come up was so aesthetically calming and distracting that it was infinitely more pleasant than doing ANYTHING in the gym at the same time back at home! So I reckon you should pick somewhere scenic and run early – it’s an amazing time of day to be up and about (if you’re outside and not on an elliptical machine anyway!)
TAx
I split my time between Boston and New Hampshire so running in the cold is common. And I agree with you that it is way more preferable to running in the heat. Unfortunately snow and ice disrupt outdoor running every winter so I’m forced to use the treadmill for a few months each year. I don’t love it, but you can get used to it.
One thing I like about the treadmill is the feedback you get. Distance, speed, calories burned etc. To pass the time I set short goals i.e first mile by 9 minutes, 2.3 miles by 20 minutes, etc.
My running partner likes to watch the news while running and she often runs 8-10 miles on the treadmill. I can’t do that. I’m good for 3 and then I’m done.
I’ve always been a morning workout person so I avoid the heat in the summer by running between 5am and 6am.
Did you read my blog this week? I did a rant on sun and heat training. I ran 10 miles on Monday in the middle of the day and almost died! I made it though with the use of some gels, G2, and lots of water. Cold water.
You need to HTFU and run in the early morning just a couple times a week. Not every day. Just a couple days. You’ll be happy you did too.
I definitely prefer running in cold weather, though I think what I like best is moderate weather (spring temperatures 60s or 70s). I always go running at night but I am about to go on a vacation to Southern Spain which is a bit warmer than Northern Spain (temps no lower than 85 every single day of my vacation) so I may try getting up early to go running.
I HATE, HATE, HATE running in the heat (like you I am so in love with winter running). But I hate running on the treadmill even more, so I suffer through it. Hyper-loading on water before the run, running with what seems to a metric ton of water in my camelbak, pouring my clothes off of me as they seem so full of water. Sometimes you just need to suck it up and do it (pretty much describes most exercise).
I have to agree that running in the cooler weather agrees with me more. The treadmill is the devil, and only good when the weather is so bad outside that cows are being tossed around. There are some advantages to running in the heat though. I’ve read that running in the heat for extended periods of time is almost like hill training. The same article stated that if you are training for a race (like the marathon I’m training for)that it is better to train hot/run cool, than the other way around. You can lose up to a full minute per mile in higher temps! I usually do two intermediate temp runs 2 nights a week, and get up super early on Saturday for a long run. By running the two afternoon runs, I take a beating in the heat, but getting up early and running on Saturday always feels a lot easier. That being said, I can’t wait for the 60 degree days in October!!! Good Luck and stay cool!!!