Summer-Weather Running - In March?

Spring may be just around the corner, but it sure feels like summer to me.

No, I haven’t lost my mind; I’m vacationing in south Florida and every day so far has been sunny with temperatures in the high 70s or low 80s.

It is dream weather, especially after the cold, snowy winter we’ve had in New England.

I don’t mind running in the heat as long as there is no humidity, so I have been loving my runs here.

But it was still a bit of a shock going from winter running weather to summer-like running weather in the blink of an eye (or, a three-hour plane ride).

This time of year I’m used to wearing running tights, a long-sleeved shirt, a jacket, gloves and, more of then than not, a fleece headband when I run ().

But it’s a different ballgame down here.

Sure, as far as apparel goes I can just wear shorts and a tank top – but that’s not all I need to put on before I go. As I left for my first vacation run down here, my boyfriend Brian reminded me of a few things I was forgetting.

It was around 1 p.m. last Sunday – my “long run” day – and I told Brian I’d be out running for about an hour and a half.

“Aren’t you going to wear sunglasses?” he asked. Hmm, I hadn’t thought about that, but the sun was pretty strong and in the summer I always run with my shades. So I took his suggestion and borrowed the running sunglasses he had brought down with him.

I started to make my way out the door again but was stopped by another question from Brian: “You’re going out for an hour and a half with nothing to keep you hydrated?”

Oh yes, hydration. In the winter I find that I can run for over an hour without taking water or Gatorade, but it’s a different story when it’s hot outside. 

“Yeah, I should probably take some water,” I said. It was Brian to the rescue again as he handed me his FuelBelt and filled up the water bottles.

With Brian’s shades to protect my eyes from the sun and his FuelBelt to keep me hydrated I was good to go – or was I?

Just as I was getting ready to head out again Brian asked, “You are wearing sun block, right?”

Lest he thought I couldn’t do anything without him, I assured him that I had already put it on my face.

“What about your arms, legs and shoulders? he asked.

As if I wasn’t already pretty sure Brian is in cahoots with my mom (once he wouldn’t let me run alone outside at dusk unless I wore a head light), his insistence on full-coverage sun block confirmed it for me.

When I was finally summer-weather running ready, I was off on my run, grateful for Brian’s assistance.

It remains to be seen if I can make it out the door on my own when it’s time for summer running back home.

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