Not all seasons favor runners. Actually, all of them have their pluses and minuses. We must adapt through the calendar year to whatever Mother Nature decides to throw our way. Luckily, I live in an area of the country where Mother Nature is generally quite kind and I don’t experience the type of harsh weather most do.

I do love to run the summer, despite the rise in temperatures. This weekend, during a race, I reflected on the benefits of summer running. These are personal to me, but some of you may feel the same way.

I am forced to get up early. I feel refreshed, more alive throughout the day and more productive when I get up and run. I get my workout out of the way so I can check it off my to-do list…plus I do it when I have the most strength. Later in the day I get sluggish and feel generally heavier because I’ve eaten. When I run on a fairly empty stomach, i.e., when I wake up, my body is lighter and the miles flow faster. I also avoid the searing temperatures.

I get heat training. Heat stresses the body and makes it work out harder. My body works to stay cool and I burn more calories. Yes, it puts me at risk of dehydration, but as long as I run with a water bottle and stay hydrated throughout the day, I can handle the heat. It makes a cool weather run feel so much easier. It’s perfect training for an early fall marathon–I’ve done all my training runs in something so much more difficult.

I meet more people. I love to run on the trails and while they get more crowded during the summertime, this also means I have more company. I feel safer with more runners around, get to pet all the dogs people take hiking, and practice technical running rather than asphalt training.

Why do you love to run in the summer?