Happy Friday! If you’re reading this in the morning I’m currently on my way to Chicago to enjoy all the Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago festivities this weekend. I cannot wait to see some of my running buddies!!
Today I’m participating in the Friday Five link up with Courtney from Eat Pray Run DC, Mar from Mar on the Run and Cynthia from You Signed Up For What?!. Today’s topic is “favorites”.
If you know me, you know that I absolutely hate summer. I hate the heat, the bugs, all the extra traffic, etc. I count down the days until Fall. As much as I try to avoid running in the heat, some days it’s inevitable. Although I hate summer running, I have found some products that help when running in heat and humidity.
1. Nathan QuickShot Plus Insulated (8oz) and Nathan QuickDraw Plus (22oz)
Probably the most important thing for summer running is to stay hydrated! There really aren’t any water fountains around my town so I always bring one of my Nathan handhelds for outdoor runs. I usually bring the quick shot insulated plus for shorter runs (under 5 miles) and the quickdraw plus for longer runs. Tip: Fill the handheld halfway with water the night before a run and throw it in the freezer. In the morning, fill up the rest of the handheld with water. This will help to keep the water colder during your run.
2. Nuun
What do I use to fill my Nathan handheld? Nuun of course! I have been using Nuun for a few years because it never upsets my stomach. There are 9 flavors to choose from for Nuun Active so there is something for everyone! Nuun uses clean ingredients, is packed with electrolytes and is vegan and gluten free. I like that the product has these qualities to make it easily accessible for many consumers!
3. Dr. Cool Chill Sport Cooling Towel
This is a relatively new to me product. I purchased it earlier this month during a 4th of July sale and have used it twice for outdoor runs. Basically you wet the towel with cold water, ring out the excess water, snap the towel a few times and then it stays cool for hours. I’m not sure about all the specifics about how and why it works, but it is made with chemical-free cooling fabric. I ran a few miles with it around my neck and I felt it helped to keep my body temperature down. I also used it after a run to cool down and that was great also. It’s machine washable as well!
4. Momentum Jewelry Motivate Wraps
While these wraps will not keep you cool, they will help with the mental aspect of summer running! When it’s super hot and you don’t feel like finishing your run, you can look down at your wrist and get a little bit of extra motivation. These wraps are lightweight and super cute. I’ve been lucky to receive a few of these wraps through a giveaway and from my running coach.
I know that these motivate wraps are going to help me during my long runs when I start marathon training. You can also order custom wraps with the phrase of your choice!
I’ve been a fan of Headsweats products for a few years. I have a few of their hats and a visor. I love that the hats help to keep my head cool during hot runs. They also help to keep the sweat out of my eyes. I have washed these hats numerous times and they still look brand new so the quality is really great as well.
Let’s face it – summer running SUCKS but with that right items, you can get through a tough, HOT run!
Do you have any summer running essentials? Let me know in the comments section!
Abby @ BackAtSquareZero says
i have been tossing Nuun Cheery Limeade in everything. It is so miserable hot out.
kookyrunner says
I’ve been using the Strawberry lemonade and Watermelon like crazy!