No, This is Not CrabbyIs there anyone out there who actually likes to exercise in hot humid weather?
If so, you may want to excuse yourself, because this is going to be one whiny-assed post.
It's not entirely my fault--I've lived most of my life in coastal Northern California. I'm accustomed to mild summers tempered by cool evenings. Except during occasional "heat waves," early summer mornings tend to dawn crisp, fresh and lovely.
Most importantly, I grew up learning that "wet" goes with "cold." Not with "hot."
"Hot" and "wet?" That's crazy talk! Or pornography. Certainly not weather.
And even though I've spent a few random years on the East coast, I seem to forget, like mothers who get amnesia about labor pains. Now that I'm back east again, I'm suffering from a recurrence of an disorder common to California natives: Pleasant Weather Entitlement Syndrome.
So when the weather gets hot and humid, it feels not just uncomfortable, but like something is profoundly wrong.
Somebody must have screwed up. Something is broken. I want my money back! People simply shouldn't be expected to put up with something as ridiculous and gross as summer humidity, it's outrageous! (Last summer I spent a couple months in Washington D.C. and there'd be times I'd walk out of an air-conditioned building and just start laughing out loud).
Here in Provincetown, Massachusetts, the weather is heavenly compared to the Southeast. It hasn't even gotten hot here yet. Not only is P-town located in a northerly location, but if you were to peruse a map looking for a place where refreshing sea breezes would likely be found (and you were not willing to live on a raft in the ocean), it's kinda hard to beat:
And yet I can still find something to gripe about.
Sure, it generally is very pleasant in summer--we just happened to have a few warm muggy days recently.
And....Aacckkk! California girl melts down.
I innocently went for a morning run-- and came back drippy and red-faced and exhausted and miserable. What the heck? What just happened???!!!! Oh, my goodness, it's... it's... humidity!
So I'm wondering: how the hell do you folks who live somewhere with real heat and humidity exercise outdoors? How is it even possible?
Sure I've read the general hot-weather exercise advice you tend to get and it sort of boils down to the obvious:
1. Acclimate slowly; your body, once trained, learns to sweat more quickly and copiously.
(Note: This is great when it comes to exercising! Not so great when you're just trying to get from your car to an important meeting and your well-trained body decides that your dry-clean-only outfit needs immediate drenchification).
2. Drink plenty of fluids.
3. Dress in cool, loose, light-colored clothing.
4. Avoid midday sun.
5. Wear Evil Sunscreen.
6. Don't go outside in the first place!
So I'm clearly not the expert here--have you folks had any experiences with hot humid weather? Any advice?
