dog days of summer

The dog days of summer are certainly upon us. High heat and high humidity offer a challenging environment to prepare for the fall season. The Sept '11 issue of Runner's World has a good article discussing the topic, pick it up and read it if you can. Obviously we know it's smart to avoid running in the heat of the day and to stay well-hydrated at all times. But the article also mentions some other points to keep in mind, such as an approximate 20% difference in volume compared to training in cooler and dryer environments. For example, running 50 miles for a week in high heat and humidity is equivalent to 60 miles a week in a cooler and dryer environment. Also, keep in mind you will need to adjust the pace of your runs - you will be slower for easy runs, threshold runs, and long runs. Don't worry, you will see the positive result on some early morning practice when a cool front comes through in mid-to late-September. So, just focus on making sure the runs feel the right effort, and don't stress about what the watch says.

In less than three weeks we will be gathering as a team - I hope you are excited!