05/12/2025
With the hot and humid months rapidly approaching, let’s take some time to cover some strategies to prioritize your training and safety during these potentially extreme conditions.
This is my husky, Motley. Motley is built for the winter. He has a double coat of fur that insulates him against even the coldest of winter days. He will quite literally lay outside in the snow until we have to practically force him to come back inside. It should come as no surprise that Motley much prefers the winter cold to the hot, humid summers.
That doesn’t stop him from getting his exercise in during the summer months though. We go on walks and runs on even the warmest days, and he loves it. Here’s a picture of him “lifting” with me on a summer day where it was 92° and 90% humidity. It was brutal outside. If Motley can do it, you can do it too! But let’s talk about how to do it safely:
💧 Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Drink lots of water and don’t forget to mix in some electrolytes to replace the salts your body loses through sweat! This should be priority number one.
👕 Wear light, moisture-wicking materials. This helps you stay cool and keeps sweat off your skin.
⏸ Take frequent breaks. Hot, humid days are not the time to push for personal bests.
⚠️ Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Watch for:
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Profuse sweating
• Confusion
• Overly high body temperature
While training in the heat can feel rewarding, it doesn’t come without risk. If Motley can do it, we can do it—but stay safe out there. Bring on summer time!
