How to Beat the Heat
Few willingly sign up for early wakeup calls, brutal temps, or humid nights—but summer is here, serving up challenges for runners everywhere. Never surrender to soggy clothes, toasty skin, or dreaded dehydration, though. Instead, learn to love the sweat with our top tips for a safe and happy run in the sun.
...
1. Timing is everything.
Kudos if you’re crushing PRs, but we're talking about scheduling your run for the coolest time of the day. No brainer, right? Well, for those with busy lives, it can be a struggle. The real lesson here: become flexible.
Check the forecast the day before, both temp and humidity levels, before finalizing your plans. Wake up earlier for long runs. Bump that dinner date by an hour to make time for a track workout. You’ll get more out of your run, and your body will thank you. Of course, if your lunch break is the only time slot available, the treadmill may be your new go-to. Unless your goal is heat acclimation…
2. Dress in the best.
Steamy days call for high-quality running apparel. Say no to moisture, extra heat, and chafing. Say yes to incredible fabric, design, and technology.
Enter rabbit’s tanks, tees, and long sleeves crafted from Quick n’ Fit Perf ICE. Discover perfs all over for increased breathability as well as super soft fabric featuring ice-cafe nylon. Made from recycled coffee grounds, this sustainable nylon dries quickly, controls odor, and feels cool to the touch.
Or you can dress to protect. From pullovers to arm sleeves to polos, ultra lightweight styles rated UPF 30+ to UPF 50 block harmful rays so you can explore more in comfort.
...
3. Accessorize like a pro.
Small but mighty, sometimes mission critical, the right accessories can enhance—dare we say, transform—your summer run.
Met the rabbit Ice RAD-dana yet? You’ll want to. Slide ice into the pocket of our ever-popular triangle bandana to stay refreshed for miles on the go.
We’ve got the perfect recs for your noggin, too. The new Ice Hat features two side pockets over mesh panels, perfect for a few cubes of ice. For even more coverage, we love the Bucket Hat, a breathable, lightweight option with mesh panels and an inner sweatband to stop the drip.
...
4. Hydrate. Fuel. Repeat.
Place your Dream Chaser shoes by the door the night before or foam roll after a tough slog? You understand that a great run doesn’t begin and end with the run. Proper hydration and fueling before, during, and after your workout keeps your body functioning at its best.
Proactively drink water as part of your daily routine, and especially drink water while sweating in the summer heat. Carry a handheld water bottle, wear a vest, or hop from one drinking fountain to the next.
For longer and hotter runs, drop an electrolyte replacement like Nuun tablets into your water to replenish minerals (like sodium and potassium) that are lost through activity. But that’s not all. Sustain your energy with a quick and concentrated source of carbohydrates like Gu energy gels. While those are two of our fave brands, play around with different nutrition to find what works for you!
...
Next time the thermometer soars, you will be prepped, ready, and maybe a little bit excited to prove your smarts—and stick to your goals.
