Last Days of Summer - My pefect outfit for running in the heat

As I write this  blog post on September 13th, there seems to be zero relief in the summer heat here in Florida. I am a born and raised Floridian and I swear this has been the longest, hottest, most humid summer in memory. Then again, I say that same statement every year! We are still in the 90's with 80% humidity so imagine what July and August were like.

If you are looking into getting into running, there are plenty of tips out there - how to train for a 5K, what kind of shoes to wear, etc. However, proper apparel is one thing that tends to be overlooked. I recently took a beach run with my best friend Keri and while it was brutally hot outside, my outfit did not cause any issues. Today I want to share my perfect warm weather running outfit with you.

Shorts:
Ladies - wearing the right shorts for your body type is just as important as wearing a properly fitted sports bra. I have seen soooo many girls wearing shorts that are in style (too short / too tight for their frame) or too big - both of which brings an unwanted party to the shower: chafing. Aside from the length, the waist band is a big deal for me. I cannot stand anything that digs into my stomach - especially while running. However, you cannot have the band be too big or you will be pulling your shorts up while running and that is not fun for anyone. Of all the shorts I have recently tried - Brooks Chaser 5" Running Shorts are my favorite. They are the perfect fit - not too short, not too long and are a lightweight moisture-wicking material. My favorite feature of these is their waist band. It is super wide, which helps with the digging and one of the two pockets is sweat resistant which perfectly fits my iPhone 6.

Shirt:
Do not make the rookie mistake of wearing a dark cotton shirt in the heat. Or any cotton shirt for that matter. You need a breathable material, one that has moisture-wicking fabric and is semi-fitted. For me, semi-fitted shirts help keep me cool - plus they are my bestie on those days I feel a bit bloated. The shirt I'm wearing is Brooks Ghost Racerback in Bloom Scape - and it is ON SALE FOR $25! One of the (only) perks of being a Florida runner is taking advantage of the many Spring/Summer apparel sales that take place throughout the year. The Ghost Racerback features Brooks DriLayer® fabric and it is not only featherweight and drywicking, but it also contains a touch of linen which helps keep you cool.

Hats:
While the photo's in this post do not show it, 99% of the time, you will find me wearing a hat while running. In the summer, a visor is my go to as it keeps my head cool. While many hats state they are made to beat the heat, anything that covers my scalp tends to keep to keep the heat in - which causes me to overheat. I just said heat 3 times in one sentence! Hats / Visors are great for keeping the sun off your face (be sure to still wear sweat resistant sunscreen) and protect you during the rain. Brooks Sherpa Visor is made with the same DriLayer® stretch woven fabric as I mentioned above. I usually don't leave home without headgear but on this particular day, I just so happened to forget it - and I got sunburned. Fail.

Sports Bra:
One item that tends to go overlooked when thinking about heat gear is sports bras. You've got to find one that will give you support while keeping you cool and dry. Brooks Uplift Crossback Sports Bra does exactly this. When shopping for sports bra's, I have to have some padding - or little will be left to the imagination. With the contoured cups, it is perfect for me while being modest. The cross-back is made of powermesh straps which helps with ventilation. My favorite feature is the DriLayer® Adapt bottom band - it molds to your body which gives you a personalized fit. AND IT IS ALSO ON SALE! Be sure to read the sizes before ordering - while I am always a medium, and this bra comes in sizes S-XL - it is based on cup sizes. So the medium was made for cup sizes A/B which meant I needed a Large which was C/D.

Embrace your surroundings:
Running in 100 degree heat and awful humidity can take a toll on you. I always try to find the positive in the situation, such as having a beautiful setting. While I don't get to experience running on the beach as often as I used to, it is one of my favorite things to do while visiting home - well more like running to the beach, then taking a few minutes to walk on the beach!

Hydration:
The most important thing you can do is hydrate. I always run with a water belt - it is like my security blanket. I have also ran with a hand held water bottle but personally wasn't my favorite. Once you get used to a water belt, it will become your new best friend. I always freeze three of my four bottles on long runs - as they will be thawed out before I get to them.

Embrace your surroundings:
Running in 100 degree heat and awful humidity can take a toll on you. I always try to find the positive in the situation, such as having a beautiful setting. While I don't get to experience running on the beach as often as I used to, it is one of my favorite things to do while visiting home - well more like running to the beach, then taking a few minutes to walk on the beach!

Enjoy these last few weeks of summer! Although I will be rocking the shorts and tank tops for a few more months, I very much look forward to running in Paris in one week! The Disneyland Paris Half Marathon weather is looking to be around 55 at the start of the race, couldn't ask for better weather. Hard to believe that time is finally here. I have been distant over the past few months on this blog - buying a new house (and refurbishing it) while traveling for work has definitely taken a toll on me - but I am glad to be getting back into the swing!

Thank you to Brooks for providing me this outfit for this post. As always, all opinions are my own.