Summer Running...Had me A Blast...

You know all the classic ways to stay cool while running in the heat of Texas: start before the scorching sun wakes up, bring ice water in a hand-held bottle, or take it inside on the treadmill. But what if that’s not enough to make your runs tolerable? 

If you allow yourself to only run when the weather is perfect, you’re missing out on a whole lot of opportunities!

So this summer, try these tricks to make a “too hot” day into an accomplished workout.

• Pick your route based on water stops. The Hike & Bike trail has showers placed every 1/2 mile to mile. Bring you body temperature down by soaking your head along the way.
• Cool down before you go out. Wearing an ice vest, ingesting cold liquids and spending time in a cold environment before running in hot & humid conditions can affect an athlete’s thermoregulation for the better. 
• Fold ice into a headband or bandana and wear on your head. This little trick kept me cool for a good 30 minutes on my 96 degree trail run this summer. Even as it melts, the cold water feels great!
• Go Deep- Deep water Pool running is a great alternative to pounding it out on the pavement. Not only a great rehabilitation technique, pool running offers all the cardio benefit without any of the impact.  And if you run in Barton Springs Pool, you won’t overheat even on a 100 degree day!
• Get on the right Trail: Trail running offers routes that are not only enveloped by shade but allow you to zigzag across low water crossings. With a variety of different levels of terrain, the Austin greenbelts can run from easy (Town Lake Hike and Bike) to technical (Riverplace Nature Trail or Barton Creek Greenbelt) but all of them are 10-20 degrees cooler than road running. You can even take a dip in the creek mid or post run!

Keeping up your running routine throughout the dog days of summer is possible with a few adjustments. And come fall, when the air grows cooler and crisper, you’ll be ready to crush the road!

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