Photo: stezzon (Shutterstock)
When it comes to running in the heat, I’m a wimp. (When it comes to a lot of things, I am a wimp.) After running a spring marathon, I’ve struggled to resume training and get myself out the door and into the summer weather. Then I remembered one of my hacks that I usually reserve for pre-race nerves: A quick shower.
You might think there’s no point in showering right before you get all sweaty and need to shower again. But if you’re like me, a quick pre-run rinse could be just what you need to solve your summer running slump. This post is inspired by my own experience and is backed up by this blog post from Ready Set Marathon.
Advantages to showering before you run
For me, the biggest perk to a quick shower is how it wakes me up before my run. My secret is to stick to cool water and to keep the shower to just a minute or two, until I feel properly energized. Although cold showers are often associated with cooldowns, a quick rinse is a solid hack to wake yourself up enough to begin your morning workout.
Secondly, the cool water does wonders to make heading out into the heat more manageable. The effect doesn’t last long, but it’s enough of a mental boost to get out the door in the summer. Obviously a dip in a cool pool would be preferable; I make do.
Drawbacks to showering before you run
The most obvious reason to avoid the pre-run rinse is that in several different ways, it’s a waste. First off, it might feel like a waste of your time and energy if you know you’re going to need to shower after your workout, too.
On a bigger scale, two showers is a waste of water. Why cause additional environmental strain, especially now? Perhaps sticking to a cold shower post-run is the most responsible thing you can do.
The bottom line
If you need to try something new to run on a hot summer morning, give a quick shower a try. If it doesn’t work for you, then at least you’re conserving water. Most runners have some sort of ritual that’s a little more mental than it is scientific. For me, a minute or two in the shower makes all the difference to my summer training.
