06/10/2026
🥵 Don't let the summer heat melt your training plan!
If you are struggling with your summer runs, check out the Workout Heat Safety Survival Guide infographic I created for a quick visual reference. Exercising in high temperatures puts massive strain on your cardiovascular system, but with the right adjustments, you can safely conquer the heat. Here are the top survival strategies to keep in mind:
⏱️ Ditch the Pace, Run by Effort: In the heat, your body redirects blood to your skin to cool you down, which causes your heart rate to spike just to maintain your normal pace. Instead of fighting it, adjust your expectations! As a general rule, you should add anywhere from 15 seconds to over a minute per mile to your pace depending on the temperature. If the dew point is over 70°F, ignore your watch entirely and run strictly by effort or heart rate.
🔄 Modify Your Workouts: Stop forcing strict track intervals when the sun is blazing. Swap your speed workouts for effort-based fartleks or hill repeats, which take the pressure off hitting exact splits. If the temperature is dangerously high, there is no shame in taking your tempo or long run indoors to the treadmill.
🧊 Pre-Cool & Per-Cool: Lower your core temperature before you start by drinking a 3-4% carbohydrate ice slushy or using cold water immersion. During the run, douse your head with water (where your brain senses critical core temperature) or stuff ice inside a bandana around your neck to create continuous evaporative cooling.
💧 Nail Your Hydration: Dehydration accelerates how fast your core temperature rises. Ensure you are drinking enough to replace your sweat losses, and don't forget the electrolytes! Adding 0.3 to 0.7 grams of salt per liter of fluid will stimulate your thirst, boost absorption, and help maintain your blood plasma volume.⏰ Adapt Safely: Heat acclimatization takes time—usually about 10 to 14 days of consistent exposure. Be patient, avoid the hottest parts of the day, and never push through symptoms of heat exhaustion like dizziness, nausea, or chills!
How are you adjusting your training to survive the heat? Let me know below! 👇🏃♀️🏃♂️☀️