Running in Hot Weather, Part 1: Knowing the Weather

With summer now in full swing, it’s important to be prepared to run in the heat. An important aspect of preparation is knowing how to read the weather like a runner.

While there is much to love about the summer—sun, warm weather, and time outside—summer weather also brings high temperatures and (in many cases) humidity. But, even on the hottest days, the heat shouldn’t have to put a damper on your running plans. I’ve been running in hot weather for nearly 20 years now in a variety of cities across the East Coast of the United States where the summer temperatures and conditions can get pretty brutal: I’ve run through summers in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., New York, and Boston. Now I live in Chicago, where the temperatures and humidity can get just as high, although Lake Michigan and the lake breeze definitely moderate the weather.

Over the years, I’ve discovered a collection of tricks for running in hot weather—some I’ve learned from reading other books and articles, some from talking with other runners, and some by trial-and-error. There are a bunch of tactics I’ve learned—as it turns out, far too many to include in a single article.