This weekend is the official start of summer! And summer is indeed upon us. After a rather “cool” spring the temperatures are finally climbing back into the triple digits here in the Californian desert. I am using the expression “cool” loosely as I understand that “cool” for us desert dwellers is not the same as “cool” for the rest of the world.
Just as we are preparing for Summer Solstice (one of my favorite days of the year!!!) the Runners Lounge has asked us to step up to the plate and talk a little about the gear we feel is essential to get us through the dog days of summer comfortably.
Since I have already written extensively about running in hot conditions a few weeks ago, I don’t want to get back into all the details. Especially since you can find them here and redundancy is rather boring.
One thing I do want to highlight however is the ability to stay hydrated. Invest in a good water bottle that is easy to hold on to and won’t feel like a boulder in your hand. A lot of long distance runners swear by fuel belts and they are certainly a great invention if you are not bothered by wearing something around your waist or on your hips while running. I have issues with the belts and actually prefer to run with nothing in my hand either but I understand the importance of hydration and have gotten used to carrying my water bottle whenever I hit the road, no matter how long or short the run. On long runs I follow a route that takes me past a supermarket and coffee shop which allows me to refill the bottle. The last thing you want is to find yourself stranded without hydration. It is never pretty!!!
Today’s Running Tip: Stay hydrated!
How much you need to drink depends on the length of your run, your pace, and the temperature outside. It is usually sufficient to drink just plain water if your run is between 30 – 45 minutes long. Anything longer, or if it is really warm outside, ,you should choose a drink with a combination of water, carbohydrates and electrolytes, such as Gatorade® PowerAde® or Cytomax®. Runners’ World has a whole Summer Drinking Guide for runners on their website.
