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A Guide to Taking Up Running This August
It’s summer! The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the days are long. It’s time for you to begin building fitness habits for a lifetime. Check out these tips to help you get the most out of running in the summer:
Tip 1: Set expectations. You may have heard from your friends about the unbridled joy of running, the pleasure that comes from pushing yourself and being out in nature, powered by your own two legs. Unfortunately, these feelings are not available in August. In fact, they are available only during the weeks of April 14-May 10 and October 7–21. Be advised that, outside of these periods, running is either a soul-sucking slog through brutal heat or an opportunity to lose feeling in your toes and fingers.
Tip 2: Some people find it difficult to run in the heat and humidity. It’s important to prepare yourself for the experience so that you don’t get overwhelmed. Consider a technique I learned back when I was in the military that simulates the feeling of breathing during periods of high humidity. Just suspend yourself at a slight upside-down angle, cover your face with a towel, and have your significant other pour buckets of water over your face. This little-known trick, called “waterboarding,” simulates the feeling of trying to breathe in humid conditions. Try it! It’s just like running in the summer!
