I have been an Austinite for over 20 years. As a runner, that means I have literally survived running in the Texas summer heat. We are talking about hot!! How hot? So hot, that when you get in the car, the steering wheel comes off on your hands. So hot, that when it is 5pm or later, my favorite time to run, you don’t walk outside and think “Oh man, this weather wants to make me get up my heart rate and sweat!”
Over the years, I have devised a survival strategy I like to call “The Run Sandwich”!
Here is how it works. Find a cold body of water. My favorites are Barton Springs Pool and Deep Eddy. Barton is a few degrees colder so it works better for this method. Swim in the water for about 5 minutes or more. This will lower your core temperature. Get out, dry off, throw on your running shoes and take off.
I have found that the heat does not affect me when I do this for about an hour. I have run on 100+ degree days and still feel OK.
When you are done running, throw yourself back into the cold water and cool off!
That’s it folks! Try the run sandwich this summer. Let me know how it goes or any better ideas you have.
Spencer
