This is interesting to me. They should make a book titled Humidity for Dummies. I'm sure there are plenty of studies that have taken place and I need to get my hands on them. There is a big difference of running in the heat and running in humidity. I thought IN and KY were humid, but I'm quickly learning that I was wrong. The humidity down here is brutal ..... Look at the forecast for my 20 miler in the morning ...
5am
74°FClear
74°F
0%
90% humidity
From WNW4 mph
6 am
74°FClear
74°F
0%
90% humidity
From W4 mph
Sunrise 6:45 am
7 am
74°FSunny
74°F
0%
90% humidity
From W4 mph
8 am
75°FSunny
75°F
0%
87% humidity
From W3 mph
90% humidity! For any of you experts out there, should I approach this run any differently? It's going to get HOT later in the day, so that is why I'm starting so super early! But, the only way around the humidity is the treadmill and I just cannot do that!! I just checked out San Diego weather for tomorrow and it looks as though it's around 70% humidity ... so I guess it's better that I learn to run in this stuff now rather than later!
It's almost the weekend!! Yeah!
Good luck this weekend, Penny!! I know you've got a sub 1:40 in you!!
Is this your first summer in FL? If so you are in for a real treat! You will see that 90% humidity from now thru August, and possibly even parts of September. 90% will slowly start creeping towards 100%, and just like the temps, you will see lower humidity early in the AM when it is still dark.
ReplyDeleteI've lived in the swap-like humidity pretty much my whole life, and I don't think humidity effects your running nearly the way sun and excessive heat do as far as sucking the life out of you, but it can be debilitating if you aren’t prepared for it. More humidity definitely makes you sweat A LOT more, so make sure you have plans to hydrate more than usual. Sometimes I bring a small towel that I shove in my camelback because when your shirt gets soaked from sweat it no longer works as a towel, and I hate sweat dripping from my face when I run.
There will be days when it is just too humid and hot to do your full long run outside. I know a lot of people who break theirs in half and do half outside and then the other half on the treadmill to avoid the nasty side effects of humidity and the heat. That being said, training in the humidity is pretty important if you plan to race in the humidity, so I think its best to get used to it when possible. I’m quite confident you will do just fine, especially since you will be doing at least half before the sun even comes up!
Good Luck
Yes! I find that even in NJ the humidity is highest in the morning and then as the day gets hotter, the humidity goes down. Training in Florida is tough but I think you will be at an advantage in SD. Just be careful and stay hydrated. I have a chart in one of my running books that compares heat and humidity and gives danger zones. For example, if it is 90 degrees outside but humidity is low the danger is also low but if it is 90 degrees and 90% humidity, danger is high and they recommend you run inside. I can scan it and email the page to you if you want :)
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