Question on running

dknisle1
dknisle1 Posts: 19 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Do you find it easier to run in the summer or winter? I know it'll be easier come summertime just because I'll be running throughout winter. I was just asking from a seasonal standpoint.

Replies

  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    I don't run in the summer, unless it's very early in the morning or inside on the treadmill. It's just too hot for me. Once temps are below 80, I start venturing out more. But then again, I don't run outside if it's freezing or raining either.
  • dknisle1
    dknisle1 Posts: 19 Member
    DancingMoosie wrote: »
    I don't run in the summer, unless it's very early in the morning or inside on the treadmill. It's just too hot for me. Once temps are below 80, I start venturing out more. But then again, I don't run outside if it's freezing or raining either.

    I just picked up running back in August so the majority of my running has been cooler temps. I don't mind the cold either I just want sure what's "supposed" to be easier. I also started on the treadmill but I find it easier to run outside.

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    It's cold and dark in winter so a bit off putting, but I do it when I have a race to train for!
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    Running in the heat is harder. Your body also expends resources cooling off which effects electrolytes and hydration.

    Cool weather running is the time to work on speed, heat is more endurance- building red blood cells/iron level/glycogen stores

    But that's just my take..
  • dknisle1
    dknisle1 Posts: 19 Member
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    Running in the heat is harder. Your body also expends resources cooling off which effects electrolytes and hydration.

    Cool weather running is the time to work on speed, heat is more endurance- building red blood cells/iron level/glycogen stores

    But that's just my take..
    How would I go about building speed? I just did my first sub 10 min mile today. But I average about a 10:30 mile. Thanks for the help

  • BeeerRunner
    BeeerRunner Posts: 728 Member
    It probably depends where you live. I'm in Texas so I like winter/sprung running. I do run outside all year long, but in the summer, I typically only run in the mornings before work and hit as many sprinklers as possible because it's too hot otherwise. With that being said, I'm almost always running in the dark so that doesn't bother me. I just hate treadmills. It's not the same feeling as running outside. My fave temps are 40s to 60s, but I'd take sub freezing temps over 80s and up any day.
  • Kristi26
    Kristi26 Posts: 184 Member
    I just started running in August as well. At that point, I could not run in the extreme heat. I could only do it in the morning before it got too hot. Fall runs were much better, temp wise. I haven't run in the rain or in the extreme cold either. I tried running around 38* but it was too cold. I came back inside and ran on the treadmill instead. I've found that I only enjoy running outside when it is between 40*-72*. Anything else, the temp is too wrong for me. :expressionless:
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    dknisle1 wrote: »
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    Running in the heat is harder. Your body also expends resources cooling off which effects electrolytes and hydration.

    Cool weather running is the time to work on speed, heat is more endurance- building red blood cells/iron level/glycogen stores

    But that's just my take..
    How would I go about building speed? I just did my first sub 10 min mile today. But I average about a 10:30 mile. Thanks for the help

    Lots and lots of slow miles...
  • dewd2
    dewd2 Posts: 2,445 Member
    From a performance standpoint, running in the winter is better. From my personal preference, I'd much rather run in the summer. Spring and fall are darn near perfect.
    dknisle1 wrote: »
    How would I go about building speed? I just did my first sub 10 min mile today. But I average about a 10:30 mile. Thanks for the help

    That depends on how long you have been running and how many miles per week you average. Experienced runners who have been running 20+ miles per week for a year or more can start adding speed work to their routine. If you have been running less than this, just keep adding distance each week.
  • 7lenny7
    7lenny7 Posts: 3,498 Member
    I look forward to running in the winter more than summer, but both are pretty easy. I generally run based on effort rather than pace so that may be why I find either to be easy.
  • ShammersPink
    ShammersPink Posts: 215 Member
    In the UK, it rarely gets too hot or too cold to run, but still, spring and autumn are prime.

    In winter the daylight hours are short, so living in an unlit rural area, it can be more challenging to find the time. I find it hard to set off in the rain, but not too bad if the rain starts once I'm already underway.
  • CooCooPuff
    CooCooPuff Posts: 4,374 Member
    I live in Texas and want a treadmill just to avoid running outside in the summer.

    It's okay in the morning. The humidity is a killer.
  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,751 Member
    I have a much harder time running in the summer, because I don't handle heat well. I still run, but I do more TM miles and suffer more on long runs.

    dknisle1 - to get faster, you need to run more miles, mostly slowly. Once a week, start doing some faster running, in the form of fartleks, strides, intervals or tempo runs.
  • SwtHedgehog
    SwtHedgehog Posts: 175 Member
    I live in WI and I love running outside in the winter. I always feel like I'm conquering the weather. It also helps me get outside for fresh air, and there tends to be less people (which is a big ego trip knowing that you're one of the few to brave the weather.

    The other day I was running in the neighborhood and stopped to pet someone's dogs. The guy made a comment to them to let me get on inmy run. My response was, "Oh I'm not that intense ". Afterwards, I realized that I must be (or at least look it) if I'm layered up and running in weather that's below freezing.

    Of course, the summer has the great advantage of less layers/equipment/etc.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    edited December 2016
    Both have their pros and cons. It gets really hot in the summer and I tend to overheat and my runs are measurably worse. In the winter I have the exact opposite problem: I'm loving the runs and going faster and longer than usual, but once I'm done and cooled down, I'm so unusually cold and it takes a few hours to regain my usual already prone to feeling cold self.

    I love early spring and late fall running the best because temperature is just right. If I had to choose between summer and winter, though, I would go for summer, only because my temperature regulation is so broken after a run it can get unbearable.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    edited December 2016
    Preferably between 50-65 degrees! Lol!
  • thelovelyLIZ
    thelovelyLIZ Posts: 1,227 Member
    The cold is always preferable to me! Granted, I live on SoCal so they coldest I've probably ever run in is maybe 40 degrees or a bit under, but I find it much easier. The heat kills me.
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