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?
42 Comments
I love summer too! Love the early morning runs with the calmness of my community, the sun rising and being done my run before most people wake up!
Yes! This exactly! My run this morning was so peaceful and quiet. 🙂
I love summer too but shhhh….I don’t love summer running. I struggle in the heat. I much prefer running in the fall.
I saw your post on IG and thought, well this is timely. Haha! I hope you didn’t get too bitten up this morning. I love summer running. Literally everything about it. The bug spray, the sunscreen, the sweat, the sunshine… all the things!
I love everything summer! We desperately try to escape the winter by going to warmer areas. We are planning to return to South Africa in October – however, with all the travel bans and things I wonder if this is going to work out.
I had better get used to winter running again!
My plan once my kids are out of the house is absolutely to be a snowbird and escape the winter. I love summer, too. It’s so much more enjoyable! I hope you get to travel again!
I adore summer even though I have a hard time with the heat. Nothing beats just slipping into a tank and shorts and leaving all of the extra layers behind. You’re right, even on the hottest day it’s so much easier to go outside than it is in winter.
Right? There’s no need to worry about all the layers… and handwarmers, and mittens, and a hat or headband… summer you just go! Easy peasy.
You’re preaching to the choir, Baby 😉 I LOVE me some summer running <3
Girl, WE MADE IT!!!!! I feel like we’ve been waiting so long for our season!!!
OK, I’ll give you early daylight and not needing layers, but I prefer spring or fall running. I like to feel a bit of coolness on my skin and don’t love getting sweat in my eyes. 😉
Haha. But daylight and no layers is the ULTIMATE!!! I guess I could do without the sweat in the eyes… although that’s only happened to me maybe three times.
Summer is definitely my favorite season to run. I don’t mind the heat. I’ll tale running in a tank top or sports bra any day.
Yassssssss same!!!
I love summer but not summer running so much. I don’t do so well with the humidity. I do love the other aspects of summer that you mentioned though!
The humidity can definitely be a run ruiner. But I much prefer it to cold and ice. I loathe being cold!
LOVE summer running…for all the reasons you mentioned.
I love it more this summer because I have no races to train for…I am enjoying nature and all it has to offer.
I’m totally with you. I have two races left on the schedule. But no time goals and honestly not even planning on them happening. It’s been nice just to run for the heck of it!
Summer running is kind of the norm – even when it’s winter, it’s summer LOL! It is easier to just throw on shorts and a tank and head on out than to bother with layers. and there is definitely more daylight. We just get the extreme heat and humidity, so my motivation tends to take a downturn this time of year, but I keep going, anyway 🙂
Yeah no doubt. You are on an opposite schedule than we are up here! One of my good friends is moving to FL in a few weeks so she’s trying to mentally prepare for FL running.
I am with you- I love summer running for all the reasons you said! I especially like the morning light and seeing the sunrise. Its also so nice to just throw on shorts and a tank top and not have to wash a million layers of clothing!
I really think the less clothing thing is what does it for me. All the layers are such a buzzkill! I’m so happy summer is finally here. 🙂
I definitely love the longer days and feel like summer makes me a morning runner before it gets too hot!
It’s definitely a shift. But honestly, the sun wakes me up so half the time I’m ready to roll by about 6:45 anyway!
While I’m only doing walks, not runs, I’ve enjoyed the outdoor aspect of this spring more than any other in a long while. The extra light, the flowers, the birds… it’s really keeping me sane.
Same here! I love the birds! Except when they wake me up at 5:30…
Okay, I understand why people who live through really cold winters really love summer but let me tell you why I hate it. 1 . It’s hot. Like mid-80s even very early. Triple digits later in the day. Okay, that’s the only thing I hate about summer. But I understand why the rest of the world loves it!
You live in the desert so I feel like you’re exempt from this convo. Hah! My mom lives in AZ and summer is most definitely not her season.
I love having more daylight in the day, feels like I have more options to when I can run. Don’t enjoy it when it gets too hot though.
I loooooove the heat! 🙂
I”m totally with you. Summer is MY SEASON!!! I don’t care if I’m hot… I’ll take it over being cold ANYTIME.
Right??!!! Same here. I hate being cold! I love everything about summer. Except air conditioning. Haha!
I do like summer, but fall is my favorite time of year for everything, ESPECIALLY running!
The only reason I don’t love fall running is because the leaves make it hard to see rocks and roots! And they get slippery when wet. Haha. But other than that I do love fall running.
One of my favorite things about a good summer run is the sweat. I know it’s gross but it’s so satisfying to know that I’ve worked so hard!
I totally 100% agree. There’s nothing like a good summer sweat!!
I’m sorry, Summer just isn’t my jam when it comes to running. Except the free feeling of running in a skirt (and living in a skirt!). That’s the best feeling.
I’ve never run in a skirt! I’m more of a shorts girl. But I do love summer running!
I really enjoy running in early Summer, but I struggle in late summer when it gets hot!! However, a good sweat during the heat and a dip in the pool after is amazing!!
Oh that sounds heavenly! I so wish we had a pool…
English summer is perfect for running, it’s sunny but mildly hot. There’s enough sun to soak up vitamin D. Totally agree with you, summer is the best for any activity. Longer days, sun, warmth,… definitely my favorite season.
Definitely my favorite season as well. There’s nothing better than warm, summer days!