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Monday, August 04, 2008

AM 3 Miler

I got up at 6 am this morning, and before I was out the door at 6:15, I checked the weather. I do this mainly out of habit, not because it really changes by much (especially this time of year). What I usually look at is not so much the temperature (which was 80 degrees), but the relative humidity and the dew point. These are, I think, more accurate indicators of what conditions I'm facing out there for a run.

If you want to read more about the difference between relative humidity and dew point, go here. It explains both terms well, and may give you a better idea of your own humidity conditions as you run outside during these "dog days of summer."

Anyway, if you read the above link, you will have learned that relative humidity changes over the course of the day as the temperature changes, so a more accurate measure of the air's humidity is the dew point. By way of comparison, want to know what those numbers were here this morning? The humidity was 81% and the dew point was 71 degrees F. Again, if you read the link above, you will note the chart at the bottom of the page which categorizes the "feel" for dew point, and you'll note that a dew point of 71 is labeled "very humid, quite uncomfortable."

Personally, I would label the amount of humidity in the air this morning as "fucking unbearable," but hey, I'm no meteorologist. Granted, the temp at 6:15 am is better than it is now at 3 pm (if you'd like a glance at our current temps, go here), but one thing basically remains a constant despite the rising temperature this afternoon: You got it, the dew point, which as we all just learned, is the truest measure of the air's water content.

So, what does this mean for running, and particularly my run this morning? Well, as per the general running: High humidity is tougher to run in because we are sweating, but the sweat is not evaporating, thus we are not getting cooler; therefore, dehydration is more likely a problem. But this failure to cool also affects our HR, blood pressure, and even muscle coordination. In other words? It fucking sucks ass to run in high humidity.

Needless to say, my 3 miler this morning sucked ass in the above-described way. I slogged through it, but I felt miserable, tired, and thirsty afterward. And even though I know that this summer heat and humidity will eventually dissipate (yeah, in like, November!), for now, it affects every run. And it's frustrating because I think about how I can run a 3 miler in, like, 27 minutes in cooler weather, but this morning, it took me about 32 minutes. Plus, it's frustrating because I keep thinking that after 4 years of living in FL that I would be acclimated to this shiz, but each summer I prove a wimp in the face of such conditions.

And I know, I know, everyone is gonna comment with "at least you don't have to run in snow and freezing temps in the winter"; true, but right now? I would greet snow and freezing temps with a big bear hug.

28 comments:

Marcy said...

Screw that! I would rather run in the cold/snow than in humidity. Heat is nice if it's dry, forget the tropics. I don't blame you, Jess.

E said...

I'm right there with you!

Jess said...

I hate humidity too..it sucks...a lot!

:) said...

"Personally, I would label the amount of humidity in the air this morning as "fucking unbearable," but hey, I'm no meteorologist."

This might be the funniest thing I have read all year....lololololol. Texas' weather sucketh too.

:) said...

BTW, you have been "quoted":

http://flatman.blogspot.com/2008/08/qotd.html

:)

audgepodge said...

I'm from the midwest (OH) and have lived in Texas, and I would glady run in the freezing cold (with snow) vs. the humid, hot weather.

You're a champ for getting out there!

TonyP said...

I'm totally not going to comment about snow and freezing rain or any of that cooooold stuff. Instead, I'm going to say that even though your run was slower then it would have been in cooler temps, the run you put in under those conditions was actually beneficial to your training and will pay off when the cooler weather arrives.

Keep plugging at it.

And, I would love the day (being the weather buff that I am) when they actually come up with a label for weather conditions that simply states "fucking unbearable" !

:)

Shanakin Skywalker said...

That was very informative for those of us that live in a desert. I will count my blessings for my DRY 110 degrees.

Anonymous said...

Well, look at it this way, if the Army 10 miler is unseasonably hot for VA again this year, you'll be able to rock that run.

And I'm with the rest, give me a freezing cold run over a hot, humid one any day.

teacherwoman said...

heck, even I would probably greet snow over high humidity and dew point right now. I don't know what is going on up here, but for some reason it has been cooling off reasonably in the evenings and the mornings are still cool until about 9. I definitely should be taking advantage of this before I was to ice on the wind sheild. :)

Thanks for the learning experience!

J~Mom said...

LOL!!! I love the science lesson!

Unknown said...

Heat and especially humidity SUCKS. I don't blame you one bit.

SavvyFitChica said...

No, I totally hate the humdity and think your complaints are justified! AZ heat sucks, but it does NOT come close to how bad the humidity in Michigan (or FL I'm sure) sucks.

Aron said...

omg i HATE the humidity/heat... i dont blame you one bit, i would be complaining non-stop!

Crissy Rae said...

I hear ya! This freaking humidity makes me feel like I'm running while being smothered by a hot, wet blanket. Sucky

Christie said...

I can't even imagine. I've been to FL many times (I have LOTS of family there). I can't see running there without dying or at least passing out. It really doesn't matter what time of day it is in the summer. Any time is just unbearable.

Kevin said...

Hot + Humid = Horrendous run. Yuck! Give me snow any day over hot and humid

Anonymous said...

I don't think you can accommodate to humidity. Its not like altitude when it is the same - humidity is always changing so I don't think you can get used to it.
Way to go on getting it done though.

MN Mom said...

I am in awe you even do it. I can't muster up the gumption to take Angel for her walks in this heat and we only go a couple blocks!

Nancy said...

I was thinking "that sucks," "at least you ran," and "I can always count on Jess for a well-place F-bomb." Thanks for making me smile from a stupid hotel room. :D

Jenn said...

Thanks for the quick lesson in meteorology. my measure of how my workout is going to fare is usually if I walk DOWN the stairs and break a sweat, I am in trouble. I had that problem a couple of weeks ago and it stopped me from running, however the humidity has decreased a lot since then and it's now just plain hot.

Damn rotating earth!

Jenn

keith said...

Well good on you for getting it done! High humidity is nooooo fun at all. But ice baths are sweet!

Anonymous said...

Humidity completely drains you, while the cold keeps you moving. I don't mind the heat, but I can do without the humidity. Yesterday here was pretty gross, but nothing like what you have.

Stuart said...

I'm telling you, you could do the weather on TV:

...and now a look at your local weather over to to Jess...

..."Thanks Brian, today in the southland temps are expected to be HOTTER THAN HELL, with an expected high of ARE YOU FREAKIN KIDDIN ME, the humidity is going to be to be a little better than yesterday but will be FUCKING UNBEARABLE, so remember unless your mad, a runner of have used up all your milk, STAY INSIDE AND CRANK UP THE AC! And now with your local sports here's Josh...hey Josh how about those Dolphins!... cut camera fade...

See you were made for TV!

Anonymous said...

I will now faithfully and patiently wait for the rest of the "Jess Humidity Scale" (JHS). I am positive this scientific advancement will help all runners.

L*I*S*A said...

Jess, I'll gladly trade you spots. I'll give you all our snowy, sucky days here in the MI winters for any of your sub-tropical days. in FL. I'm one of the only people I know who love to run in the heat and humidity.

Hey, at least you got the miles in!

raulgonemobile said...

Ugh. I hate running in humidity. I hate running in the mornings even more.

You did both, so props to you.. (But it sounds gross)

Jenn said...

I live in the Midwest and I feel ya on the humidity. It sucks, at all times of the day.