Running in summer has obvious advantages over training in winter. Scott Overall provides some tips on how to get the most of your training during the summer months.
More daylight hours
Summer training, as I am sure you will agree, is much better than logging your runs in the dark depths of winter when it is cold, snowing, raining, miserable and dark.The summer months allow you more daylight and therefore more time to get your runs in.
This can be especially handy after work when you can venture to parks that are still open, rather than those that are already closed by the time you get home in the winter. Running on the softer surfaces more regularly will help you steer clear of injuries and this is probably the best part of summer training.
More opportunity to go off-road
Obviously the weather is going to be better, that goes without saying (well hopefully anyway) but when you don't have to pound the pavements in the dark, you'll be surprised how different your legs will feel after each run. Running on a harder surface is always going to put more strain on the lower legs, especially the Achilles and calves. So by running on the grass or even the softer trails, you will be able to run further without risking injury.
By running on the grass or even the softer trails, you will be able to run further without risking injury.
Join a running club
The advantage of joining a club is that there will be a group of people who you can run with, and that means runners of all abilities. Just because you're a member of a club doesn't mean everyone is super fast! A lot of people have more participation in the social side of things than the actual running!
Time to race?
The summer months also allow you to think about entering some track races. These races really aren’t just for elite guys and it’s worth bearing in mind that joining an athletics club can open up lots of distance opportunities to race on the track. Track running is a lot of fun and you'll be surprised how much faster you can run on the track compared to say a Park Run.
The track season tends to start in spring and run through the entire summer offering a chance for midweek fixtures that provide opportunities to run typically the 3k distance (7.5 laps) or further. You can go for that distance either as a standalone race or as part of your training in preparation for a 5k.
Great for training for an autumn marathon
Generally the summer is great for training, and that is definitely the case for me (as a UK-based athlete) when it comes to training for a marathon. Getting the miles in and the sessions done becomes so much easier when you can do them in the daylight. This is why I love the Berlin Marathon because the whole build up comes during the months of July, August, and September.
If you are thinking about running a marathon and are worried about running around work commitments, I would strongly suggest targeting a marathon that falls in the Autumn.
If you are thinking about running a marathon and are worried about running around work commitments, I would strongly suggest targeting a marathon that falls in the Autumn. Not only will it be a lot easier to get out the door when it’s still light after you get home from work, it also means it won't be -2C when you have a long run to do!
So my top tips for summer training would be to join an athletics club and give a track racing a go. Also look to increase your mileage to take advantage of the extra daylight hours, and most of all, make sure you run on softer surfaces when you can! Save the pavement running for when it’s already dark at 4pm in the deep mid winter!
