Three Things Thursday: Summer Running Hazards

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Coco

I’m sure you know about the serious dangers of summer running–heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and dehydration are nothing to mess with. If it’s hot, run early, run late, run in the shade, or run on the treadmill. Hydrate before, during and after your run,take it easy and know when to say when. But there are three things about summer running that I find can be even more annoying than the heat index.

  1. Sweat in my eyes. My hair isn’t long enough to wear a headband and I don’t usually wear a hat when I’m running at o’dark-thirty. As a result, one hazard unique to my summer running is sweating so much that it drips in my eyes. It really stings!
  2. Chafing. Warmer weather means skimpier outfits which means more chances for skin-to-skin contact that can lead to painful chafing. I stick with my compression shorts for longer runs (they don’t ride up) or liberally apply BodyGlide to sensitive areas.
  3. Automatic sprinklers. I usually run on the more forgiving asphalt of the street, but I walk on the sidewalks for my warm-up. I discovered this summer that several neighbors have automatic sprinklers that go off at seemingly random times as I’m walking by. If I wasn’t awake when I headed out the door, getting soaked by a sprinkler nozzle that popped out of the ground with no warning will do the trick.

Have you noticed any hazards of summer running?

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10 Responses to Three Things Thursday: Summer Running Hazards

  1. Victoria (District C says:
    July 28, 2011 at 3:28 am

    I kind of like getting hit by a sprinkler on hot days.

    Don't forget "sweating so much that you get itchy salt deposits on your skin"

  2. angela says:
    July 28, 2011 at 3:29 am

    I really hate the sweat in the eyes, too. From talking to others, not everyone's stings. It just annoys them. Mine burns.

  3. Carrie@FamilyFitness says:
    July 28, 2011 at 4:34 am

    I wear a headband and still sweat in my eyes :-). I think the sprinkler surprises would be fun. Take a dip!

  4. Coco says:
    July 28, 2011 at 5:59 am

    Oh, I forgot about the salty residue on my face! I'm a walking salt lick when I'm done. 😛

  5. Yum Yucky says:
    July 28, 2011 at 8:23 am

    Auto sprinklers = free showers. Duh!

  6. SuperBabe says:
    July 28, 2011 at 8:45 am

    1. I have long hair and STILL get the sweat in my eyes. The bands don't work for me… I just sweat a lot 🙁
    2. I gave up on cute running shorts a long time ago because of (1) and (2). I have to wear spandex-type shorts ("short", above the knee or capri… or longer ones in the winter) to protect my thighs from chaffing!
    3. I haven't dealt with waking sprinklers 😉

    For me it's the sun… if it's sunny and humid, that's a sure way for me to get a migraine these days, and that's what I don't like about running when it's hot/humid outside… unless I get out super early in the morning…

  7. Heather @ Not a DIY says:
    July 28, 2011 at 10:35 am

    The automatic sprinklers always scare the crap out of me! I hate the sound they make when first coming on. And I'm always a wet, salty, sweaty mess when I'm done running. A bondi band helps a little, but not a lot.

    Fun list!

  8. MizFit says:
    July 29, 2011 at 12:37 am

    BIGGEST HAZARD? it doesnt happen here 🙂 can you move in next door (alert the house is for sale!!!!) and go with me?

    • Coco says:
      July 29, 2011 at 2:12 am

      That would be fun. Too bad my firm doesn't have an office in Austin, at least then I'd be able to swinlde a visit. Maybe someday. <3

  9. Pingback: The Best Of Times, The Worst Of Times | Running With Perseverance

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