Is there any way to make running in the heat of summer more comfortable?

At dinner tonight, Mary and I were discussing making a "cooling shirt." It'd be a light weight (probably supplex) shirt that had little pockets where you could put plastic ice bags. You'd use those blue bags that freeze but stay flexible.

I once tried putting a camelback in the freezer, then wearing it while I ran. It didn't work. There was enough insulation in the back of the camelback that you never felt the cool.

I've often put a couple of ice cubes in a light weight cap. As you run, the ice melts and a nice cool flow of water runs down your neck.

Maybe just carrying a bottle of water would do a better job of keeping you cool. Maybe carrying a bottle with a spray nozzle would be better.?

-- Spike (meglin@juno.com), May 01, 2000

Answers

My recommendation for dealing with the heat of summer while training is to live in Laramie. What could be simpler? Ha!

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), May 02, 2000.

Get a sombrero. Then you carry the shade along with you and the Mexican Banditos won't mess with you either.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), May 02, 2000.

Didn't Peggy used to run in the shower with a map?

-- Mean Gene (gmw@ukans.edu), May 02, 2000.

I guess the best way to train through the heat would be to tie ice bags to yourself, wear a sombrero, and run in a shower in Laramie.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), May 03, 2000.

I think that the ideal way to deal with the heat is to wear your OK fleece pullover throughout the spring. Maybe next year OK will be climatized to summer running.

-- Snorkel (daniel.meenehan@umb.com), May 03, 2000.

Just mutter constantly to yourself, under your breath, as you run: "It's not hot, it's not hot, it's not hot, that's not sweat, that's not sweat, that's not sweat, it's not hot, it's not hot, it's not hot..." This while wearing a sombrero and headed for the shower with map in hand and a backpack full of ice stolen from banditos who are in angry pursuit after you somewhere along the NM/Mexico border. And wearing a fleece pullover under the backpack to prevent chafing.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), May 06, 2000.

I tested one of my ideas during a bike ride today. I wore an ice pack in a little pouch on the front of my shirt (I was wearing a "hydration vest" -- a vest made out of mesh with a couple of pockets on the front and a big pouch for a camelbak on the back). The pack felt good for the first 20 minutes or so. It was comfortable (not too cold, but enough to feel cool). But, after 20 minutes or so the pack had warmed up enough that it didn't provide any cooling. I think I'll give this idea another test with a different ice pack.

-- Spike (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), June 03, 2000.