Those Summer Nights

Anyone who’s familiar with Southern California knows that we don’t believe in seasons.  I live in a little part of CA known as the I.E. or Inland Empire.  Which means there’s no off shore breeze where I live.  We have two temperatures, hot and slightly less hot.  Both of which may or may not be accompanied by the Santa Ana winds.  Summer starts in May and ends in October, which makes running during half the year really, really, really, really sucky.

I know, I know.  I sound like a whiny bitch.  It's because I am.

I know, I know. I sound like a whiny bitch. It’s because I am.

I don’t know about you peeps, but I’m what’s considered a “heavy sweater” and no I don’t mean like a cable knit.  I mean shirt completely drenched after a 60 minute yoga class heavy.  I mean wiping up my sweat after push-ups so I don’t slip and break my neck kind of heavy. I know sweating has its benefits, like, you know, that whole eliminating toxins thing.  But the last thing I want to do when it’s 100 degrees outside is run.  I’ve been going to RIPPED and Body Back at 5 am for this very reason.  So far I’ve been able to keep up with my cross training, but with the Dumbo Double Dare rapidly approaching in August, I’m starting to feel a little nervous.  Because, yeah, August in SoCal sucks the life right out of you.   I know I need to train and I need to train in the heat.  I’m just finding it very very hard to actually get out there and do it.

How do you stay motivated when it’s hotter than Hades?  Any tips for running in the heat?  Has anyone ran the Disneyland Half in August?  Am I going to melt out there?!?