This is not another post about how to put ice in your hat or drink freezing cold water for 48 hours before your run to stay cool. Science is giving runners a whole new way to beat the heat while running and it has nothing to do with getting cold, but instead, with warming up!

As I do each final Wednesday of the month, I’m linking up with four other knowledgeable runners for our collective best advice. This month is how to not hate running in heat and humidity because, let’s face it, even the treadmill looks better when it’s 90 degrees and 100% humidity.

Here’s how to make it bearable…but you probably won’t like it:

TAKE A STEAM BATH

That’s right! You need to heat up to prepare your body for what it’s about to deal with, according to new research published last month in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning. The scientists involved in the study tried both pre-cooling and pre-heating their subjects prior to running a steamy 5k. The results? Those who were subjected to the heat before the heat were 4% faster than those who cooled off. The best news? Once the heated runners established a routine of heating up before hot runs they improved their times by 6.5% compared to their first run!

Now do you want to try it?

If taking a steam bath is too time consuming (I know it is for me) you can also try to:

OVERDRESS

This can get dangerous quickly so I suggest adding layers and maybe running indoors on a treadmill for 10 minutes prior to going outside. Get nice and sweaty and then peel off the layers and step outside. Who knows, it may actually feel cooler out there!

HANG OUT IN THE STEAM ROOM

If your gym has one, sit in it before your run. My coach had me do this for a race last year since it was winter here and hot as hell where I was racing. It absolutely helped and, in the summer, it can work even better.

If you want to read the entire New York Times article about the study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning on heat acclimation and running:

Hot Weather Workout? Try A Hot Bath Beforehand | by Gretchen Reynolds

For more great tips from runners who have made it happen through countless hot summers, I give you the Run It Wednesday crew:

ANGELA | HAPPY FIT MAMA

CARLY | FINE FIT DAY

NELLIE | BROOKLYN ACTIVE MAMA

 

LAURA | THIS RUNNER’S RECIPES

 

[Tweet “Want to know how to really #beattheheat on your #summer #runs? You’ve come to the right place! #RunIt”]

I will be off running (and swimming and cycling and drinking) in the heat and taking a break from the blog for the next few weeks. Try not to miss me too much…

If you want to find out what I’m up to, check my Instagram or Twitter.

Will you try heating up before a hot run?

What can you add?

What’s the hottest temps you have run in?

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