- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and hydrate some more! Be sure to hydrate before, during and after running or exercise because even being mildly dehydrated can hurt your performance. Drink even when you don’t feel thirsty, because by then it’s usually too late! Water alone may not be able to do the trick, so be sure to incorporate electrolyte drinks like LMNT too!
- Wear light-weight, moisture-wicking clothing. Cotton will absorb moisture and keep it close to your skin, but moisture-wicking clothing will keep you cool and dry… or should I say dryish? You’re still going to sweat! You may also want to try a light-weight running hat to keep the sun off your head, which can drain your energy and a pair of Goodr shades will keep you looking rad and not squinting your whole run!
- Train early in the morning or evenings to avoid the hottest parts of the day. If you must run during the heat of the day, temper your expectations and try running shorter and/or slower to accommodate for the harder effort.
- Run in the shade and stay off the asphalt. Asphalt will retain the heat and radiate it back to you. Run somewhere in the shade where the asphalt is cooler, or hit some wooded trails when the heat is excessive.
- Protect your skin! As Baz Luhrmann would say, “wear sunscreen.” Sunscreen will not only protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays, but it will keep your skin cooler as well!
About the author: A.J. is the Store Manager at AppRunCo – Altoona. He lives in Altoona and has been a competitive runner for over 20 years.
