I love everything about summer. The cookouts, the campfires, the sunshine. All of it. And I particularly love summer running.
I live for summer. Which is ironic because when I was a kid I much preferred fall. But as I’ve gotten older (and wiser) I’ve realized summer is the season to adore.
I love everything about summer. The cookouts, the campfires, the sunshine. All of it. And I particularly love summer running. Summer running is about sweat and hard work, and getting dirty on trails and muddy shoes. And snacks! All the long run snacks. Mmmm…
But if those reasons aren’t enough for you, I’ve got more. Here are seven reasons summer running is the best:
7 Reasons Summer Running is the Best!
1. The sun rises earlier.
For all us morning runners, the early sunrise is a welcome change. There are so many times in the winter that I set an alarm for 7:15 am only to groan and moan when it’s time to wake up because it’s still dark out! In the summer, I can wake up bright eyed and bushy-tailed (yes, I did actually type that…) at 5:30 am for a run and not think twice about it. Early sunrise = happy morning runner.
2. And the sun sets later!
And for all you evening runners, having a later sunset is great for after work runs! No excuses to skip workouts when it’s temperate and bright.
3. Speaking of the sun…
With summer comes some pretty amazing sunrises and sunsets. And who better to witness them than runners?
4. Summer running presents opportunities to see and hear wildlife.
Winter runs can be breathtakingly beautiful, there’s no doubt about that. But in the summer, us runners get to see birds, snakes (!!), frogs, salamanders, deer, coyote… the list is almost endless! A feast for the senses.
5. It’s easier to get dressed in the summer.
When taking on summer running, there are no battles about what to wear vs. the temperature. In every other season it can be incredibly difficult to gauge what to wear. In the summer? Shorts and a tank alllllll day err day!
6. Vitamin D is plentiful.
Unlike the winter months, vitamin D is plentiful in the summer. And vitamin D is helpful for so many reasons. But did you know vitamin D keeps our bones strong? Strong bones keep many running injuries at bay. Strong bones = strong runners.
7. Motivation is typically higher in the summer.
In terms of summer running, it’s overall so much easier to motivate oneself to get a run in even if it’s just a quick few miles before or after work. In the winter, it’s much harder to convince yourself to layer up even if just for a few miles.
Let’s be frank — I could add quite a bit to this list. But do I have to? Clearly, summer running is the best! It’s warm, there’s sunshine, there’s much more daylight, and it’s so much easier to keep motivation up.
I love summer running and I plan to soak up every minute of it that I can!
Need summer running advice? Follow these tips to acclimate!
xo
Let’s talk!
What’s your favorite summer activity?
What’s your favorite season to run?
