Are you an all seasons runner?

Saturday, July 07, 2012 · Mike Davis

Being a New Hampshire running coach has certainly has its challenges with the four seasons and even the highs and lows of each individual season. Currently in New Hampshire we are experiencing a hot humid summer where running presents some challenges. Spring and fall are the best seasons to run but both those periods are over in a blink of the eye. Winter is where many runners hibernate or move their running indoors and training is somewhat quiet. Last winter I was fortunate to have a group of people that wanted to run a half marathon in February so I kept busy with preparing them for a mid- winter half marathon. Coaching New Hampshire and Maine runners is somewhat unique in that they require a passion to overcome the extreme conditions that change day to day.

Choosing to run through the winter is one thing, but being a winter runner is a whole different challenge. Some that choose to run through the winter often delight in the nice winter days, but head to the treadmill on the not so picturesque days. I am not being critical of those that choose to run indoors versus outdoors, on those tough winter days, I have run on a treadmill on a few occasions when I was totally put off by the outside conditions. I can say that I was disappointed this past winter when I cannot recall more than one challenging day to run outside. Part of me enjoys the winter challenge and this past winter certainly didn’t present that. Mind you, it didn’t bother me too much!

Running during the summer is similar in many ways and can be even more difficult. Hot humid weather drains our oxygen levels and a long run can turn into a test of our willpower. Often as a personal trainer, I have to work around people’s schedules and it’s not always easy to meet with someone at 6AM or 7PM when the temperatures have dropped. On Mondays I host a training session in Dover that starts at 6PM and that time can be borderline weather wise, but I usually press on, but smartly. Even running in the early morning may seem ideal as the temperatures are lower, but usually the humidity is at its highest. People start out running thinking it’s kind of cool, but before long they are sweating like crazy and feeling sluggish. Welcome to New Hampshire or even New England running. As the day progresses the humidity tends to fall as the moisture burns off and the temperatures go up. You can’t win!

Training for a half or full marathon requires some considerations. One being; what type of weather can I handle best? Ultimately you have to either run through the winter to prepare for a spring race or deal with the challenges of a hot summer to prepare for a fall race. As a runner, I am okay with running year round and even pride myself on being able to prepare for any race despite the season. As a personal running coach in New Hampshire, I quiz my prospective clients as to their ability and desire to run through either the winter or summer. I want success for anyone that I work with and that requires making sure they know what challenges will come their way.

Finally, I believe that runners run and it doesn’t matter what the season is. With the running world exploding as it has, manufactures are getting smart and developing great equipment for dealing with the elements. Winter running no longer means going out and freezing, but instead it’s about dealing with snowy sidewalks and limited daylight. Summer running is about hydration and pace, not speed and being overzealous. Anyone can run year round and even train year round; all it really takes is some planning and preparation. I was up this morning early hydrating before I took off for my long run and while I did sweat, I had a great run!

If you are in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire, come on out to Dover New Hampshire high school on Monday nights for a training session. This week we will do some speed work that will be fun! Check www.nofinshlinerunning.com for more information. Hope to see you there!