Heat and humidity and sweat … oh my! Rising Florida temperatures make me consider indoor exercise
I used to look forward to the days I run- Monday, Wednesday and Saturday- because I could sleep in until 7 a.m. (Tuesday and Thursday I wake up at 5 a.m. to take a spinning class. I know it’s crazy, but I love it!)
However, I have been waking up earlier and earlier in an attempt to beat the heat. I started out hitting the road at 7:30, then 7:00, then 6:30. As summer kicks into high gear, I notice there isn’t that much of a difference between my 6:30 and 7:30 run. It’s just plain hot no matter how early I get up.
I have nothing against sweating. In fact, I love it. I often measure how good a workout I have based on how much I sweat, but there are limits.
I got back from a 3-mile run today and looked like I had spent the morning swimming. I was drenched. I kept a steady pace with an 81/2-minute mile, but felt like I was pushing through a dense fog. My legs were heavy. My shirt was so wet that it did no good to use it to wipe the sweat off my face.
I usually love starting my day exercising outdoors, but I’m starting to think it may be getting too hot. Moving my runs to a treadmill indoors is an option I’m considering.
However, there are several reasons why I won’t give up my outdoor runs just yet:
1. I would miss the ease of rolling out of bed and being outside stretching in less than 5 minutes.
2. I would miss listening to U2’s ‘Beautiful Day’ as my first song and thinking, “It is a beautiful day.” (This works better on a cool spring day when jasmine are blooming and birds are chirping -but sometimes I can get this thought in before the wall of heat smacks me in the face)
3. I would miss the comfort of my “usual” route, mixed in with the unknown: Will a train slow me down today? Will that crazy squirrel run in front of me AGAIN? Will my timing be in sync with the traffic lights?
And, most importantly:
4. Going to a air-conditioned gym to use a treadmill would add drive time to my morning exercise routine, which means having to get up even earlier.
If you are like me and refuse to give up your morning runs, click here for tips for staying safe in the heat.
