Anyone have any idea about humidity?

[Jts1972]

Im usually a very early morning runner as I'm a night shift worker. Today after treating myself to a rare lie in I went out at 11.15.

Just on my five minute walk I was feeling it a little but less than five minutes in sweat was pouring off me and I was really struggling for air. I always struggle through the first few minutes but once I get going I'm ok. I decided to abort the run and try again early in the morning tomorrow. I've just looked at my weather app and it's showing 79% humidity, it's 19°C outside. Is that considered high humidity?

[farawaytree74 Graduate]

I think it is high but the last few weeks it has been high humidity according to my phone app. It is a lot harder running when it is humid and it slows me down quite a lot. I tend to run early-ish but it is still humid that I sweat buckets and the air feels like inhaling treacle. I guess it's a case of managing it as best you can by being well hydrated, wear thin, sweat wicking clothes slow down a bit or go really early like you do. Here's looking forward to cooler Aurumn days! 😊

[poppypug Graduate]

Yes 79% Humidity is high. Not sure exactly but I think its to do with the amount of moisture in the air. If you Google it you will find a more detailed explanation

Been very high the last couple of weeks, hence why it feels like your running in concrete boots and feels so sticky.

I try and increase my water intake and if its too humid I leave my run until its a bit more bearable ! xxx

[Jts1972 Graduate in reply to poppypug]

Good. I'm glad it is high. I just couldn't get my breath the same as normal. I'll try again in the morning at the crack of dawn.

Thanks.

[Hidden]

Yes, I find first 5 minutes difficult to get going whatever the conditions, Humidity and time of day can affect your run. Today I was sweating more than usual but managed to do my usual run now 35 minutes about 5 and half to 6 K. Fraction slower than usual but only seconds.

Your doing well considering fitting running around doing night shifts.

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Man - EVERY run I start I can barely believe I can run for a minute let alone thirty five or whatever Sometimes I get into the groove in a couple of minutes, sometimes it can take half the run

[Irish-John Graduate]

Only too familiar with Humidity I live in an area that is notorious for the high levels. It can absolutely rob you of your energy. It might not even be high temperature-wise...but the humidity is the real drain on your body. As to interpreting the figures you give - can't help you there as it's a complex thing to reduce to a binary thing, and anyway individuals react so differently to the same settings.

Basically, I do not feel bad if my run 'cannot be finished' - I do this for fun, not as a penance and the ONLY failure for me is if I quit going out the door at all to at least give it a go. There are no 'fail' days as a result - only 'practice' ones and 'success' ones

[runningnearbeirut Graduate]

The biggest problem our bodies have with humidity is that they can't cool down as easily.

We usually think that sweating cools us, but actually it's the heat taken from our bodies to give the sweat enough energy to evaporate that does the cooling.

Humidity is a measure of how much moisture is in the air compared with how much it can take before being saturated at that temperature (think of a damp mist and I think you'll have pretty much 100%). So the higher the number, the more difficult it is for water to evaporate into the air.

And if the water your body produces (sweat) doesn't evaporate, it doesn't cool you.

The alternative methods your body uses to try to cool you down divert your blood supply away from your muscles, which makes running harder.

So the moral of the story is: hydrate well and don't overdo it.

I wrote about this a few weeks ago: healthunlocked.com/couchto5...