It may not seem like it, but there are pros of running in Florida summer. Sure, a lot of people take it to the treadmill to avoid the unpleasantness, but there are plenty more who deal with soaring temperatures, soggy humidity, blistering sun, dehydration, chafing, and more. There are some pros, though, and we’re going to talk about those today.
Running in Florida Summer Is A Challenge
No matter how you slice it, running outdoors in Florida from April through December (and sometimes beyond) is one heck of a challenge. If you try to beat the sunrise and the most intense heat, you have to get up and out around 4:30 in the morning and still contend with humidity. Running in the evening means it might be a little cooler, but you will most likely be plagued by mosquitos, noseeums, or yellow flies. Getting out the door is hard, but if you make it to the pavement, you’re already a rockstar.
Running in Florida Summer Improves Your Endurance
It’s true that your pace will probably suffer during the summer months in Florida. Maintaining your regular speed is difficult when the air is full of moisture and you’re sweating buckets. Go with it. The summer may not make you faster, but it will make you stronger. It allows your lungs to work harder, and teaches your body to push. They say fall PRs are built from summer sweat, and when you endure running in a Florida summer, you’ll see that it’s true.
Running in Florida Summer Prepares You For Summer Races
While races do wind down in summer in the Sunshine State, we still have plenty of (shorter) races to run. It’s also a great time to push everyone to the limit, with races on the beach, starting at a later time, or even presented in challenge form (can you run three races in 24 hours?). Training outside prepares you for these events in a way treadmill running can’t. It’s usually helpful to duplicate race conditions to the best of your ability, and summer running is a great way to do it.
Running in Florida Summer Makes You Feel Strong!
While it’s soul-sucking in the moment, completing a run in Florida summer makes you feel strong. If you can conquer the shoe-melting pavement on a 90 degree August day, you can do just about anything.
Summer running in Florida is tough, but with proper preparation and expectations, you can get through it. Remember your sunscreen and sunglasses, be sure to hydrate, and avoid the hottest and sunniest parts of the day. You’ve got this!
How is summer running in your area?
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I have run in Naples, FL, in the summer and it is the toughest running experience with heat that I’ve ever had. But you are right: it feels so badass to run in it! It was a real boost to realize that I didn’t die!
It also prepared me well for the South African sun. I had no problems at all running in the heat. After all, I only had to deal with heat, not the Floridian humidity, haha!
I’ve only had to run in the Florida humidity a couple of times while visiting family. I live in Southern California where the summers can get very hot but the humidity is much lower than yours. I also live close to the coast so I get a breeze making it much cooler than inland. And we don’t have those awful bugs.
You are a rock star for even making it out the door!
We have a nice breeze from the ocean as well, which does HELP, but it’s still pretty soggy out thee. The bugs, though. Oh, the bugs.
Heat is ok. I can manage it. Humidity is a different animal. But it is what it is, and so we just carry on.
When I’ve visited my in-laws in Florida in the summer it can be unbearable to run there. I would try to go around 5am (which isn’t ideal on vacation) but its still a struggle. During the hottest parts of the summer here its not much better. We get awful humidity and usually the coolest part of the stay is still in the 70s. It does make you stronger to run in those conditions!
That stronger part is what I have to remember! It’s rough!
Ha ha. I know what you mean. I was there for a week. Loved every tough sweaty run.
I know you did! I hope you had fun!
OUr summer is pretty challenging here from June-August. I dread it every year but it is good training for fall races.
Lemonade out of lemons, right?
Yes to all of this, and also remember that we get acclimated to it. When people come here on vacation their runs feel miserable, but it’s normal for us. It would be comparable to me going somewhere and suddenly running at high altitude- I would be dying until I got used to it!
Yes, you are absolutely right!
After running in dry heat for 30 years, I can’t imagine running in humidity. Yes, it definitely will make you stronger (if it doesn’t kill you lol)!
Humidity is a beast. I try not to complain, but it does have an effect on performance and mood.
I don’t know how you Florida runners do it, the humiidty makes me so miserable, lol! But it definitely makes you stronger!
I mean, it’s what we have to deal with, so we do. But yeah, it’s pretty crazy!
I am so jealous! I love warm weather and really don’t like cold weather. I think I belong in Florida and not in Pennsylvania! 🙂
Come on down! In fairness, in the northeast of the state, where I live, it does get cold. It’s almost kind of sort of a season. Maybe. But we have plenty of heat!
Summer running here is hot and super humid (usually in the 90%s), but nothing like Florida! I give huge kudos to anyone running in a FL summer! I miss living in the Pacific Northwest where summers were mild.