Hot Run Summer
"We've got sweaty seats and an ocean view / Well, honey, I age backwards riding next to you / So come erase this summer with me" - Superchunk
Before I begin, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank all of you who read my last post about David Comes to Life… which is my most-read post to date! Maybe I should write about music more often, eh? I also wanted to give a big welcome all the new readers who have subscribed since. Whether you’re an elite runner or a beginner, you’re all welcome here and I hope you enjoy it. Maybe you’ll even find your new favorite band in the process (might I suggest the Running On Nothing Spotify Playlist here)! If you haven’t subscribed yet, please do! I promise I won’t spam you (much). Now onto our irregularly scheduled programming.
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I finally got to run on the beach.
I can’t believe it’s taken me this long, but to be fair, it’s been a while since I’ve had the opportunity. Last week, I was on vacation in Emerald Isle. It had been a long time since my feet had stepped in the Carolina Atlantic waters. Over the past decade, I had grown accustomed to the Jersey Shore where, after navigating your way through crowds of overly-tanned beach creatures and the Fudgy Wudgy ice cream man, you reach an Atlantic Ocean that has not yet been properly pre-heated. The Atlantic of North Carolina is a little more welcoming, and the beaches feature a lot less people and a little more horses. My only issue with it is that these North Carolinians call it “going to the beach” and not “down the shore.” Isn’t that wild? Those crazy southerners and their lingo, I tell ya.
All week prior I had been planning my running routes, picking out times to run in the morning as to not get in the way of my #summervibes later on. While I was excited to run on the street and admire the colorfully named beach rentals on either side, I was mostly looking forward to running on the beach, smelling that salty ocean air, and letting the breeze push my stride. I felt good. I was ready, but on the first day of vacation, I made the mistake of underestimating the unmitigated power of the ocean.
Ah yes, every year millions flock to the ocean to bathe in all it’s glory, to swim among the minnows, porpoises, and boogieboarding out-of-towners. It’s easy to forget, however, that the ocean does not necessarily want us to be there. We’re just lingerers, and by the late afternoon, perhaps I had overstayed my welcome a bit. The tide began to pick up a bit of force, and I found myself heaved up by a wave like a buoy. Of course, my 32 year old body being the way it is, I landed awkwardly on my right foot like a injury-prone basketball player coming down after a foul. Gah! It could’ve have been more than a second, but as soon as I landed, I knew it. I definitely tweaked my ankle. I hobbled out of the water in shame, embarrassed that the mighty ocean got the best of me. Worst of all, I wouldn’t be able to run just yet. Damnit.
But if there is anything I have learned during my time as a runner, is you have to be patient. And so that’s what I did. What else could I do? I hobbled for a bit, but it actually wasn’t that bad. I was still able to walk around and go to the beach, and there wasn’t any pain (although a few White Claws will help in that regard). By Friday, I felt good again. I was ready to run. The patience was worth it. I put a few Deafheaven songs on my playlist (Ordinary Corrupt Human Love remains one of my favorite running albums (and albums in general of all time… but perhaps I’ll save that for another day), including the new song “Great Mass of Color” to hopefully carry me home towards the end of the run. I did some dynamic stretches, during which the foot felt good, and I gave myself the green light to go.
The thing about running at the beach is that there isn’t any shade from the sun. You’re out there, all exposed and nowhere to hide, especially when you reach the sand. So, I took it slow. It wasn’t crazy hot yet, but with my foot being the way it was and the morning sun already beating down on me, it wasn’t worth pushing the pace. I just wanted to go for a joy ride and keep it simple. Plus, I’m on vacation, so why not run at a leisurely pace to go along with the way of life you’ve been enjoying during the week, right? I ended up running a mile or so down the road, and then made a right turn onto a public beach entrance.
As someone who has never ran on the beach before, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but I was determined (as I was all week) to give it a go. It was a weird sensation going from concrete, to boardwalk, to sand. As soon as your feet hits the dry sand, it’s a different experience. There’s a lot of cushion for sure, but there isn’t a lot of push. I was happy to find out that it wasn’t the slog I was expecting it to be. I had pictured it to be like running through snow or something, but thankfully there was more give than I thought there would be. It wasn’t long at all until I reached the harder sand closer to the waves. Running alongside the water was one of the best running experiences I’ve had in a long time. You feel like you’re on the edge of the world. The wind feels cool. The sound of the ocean, while mostly blocking out what you’re trying to listen to on your headphones, is both soothing and propelling. The harder sand feels even better on your feet, as long as you avoid the wet sand. All in all, the experience was exactly what I’d hoped it be, and it was great. 10 out of 10, would run again.
But damn, it was hot. So, I immediately jumped in the ocean when I was done. Thankfully, my foot emerged unscathed this time.
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Summer is the best season of the year. Maaaybe I’ll give you Fall and your pumpkin spiced joys, but summer is the jam. I’m sorry, these are just facts. As a runner, though, it’s enough to make you long for the cold dark winter sometimes because my God, it can be too dang hot to run in the sun. And folks, let me tell you, it’s been HOT.
Here in Philly, we’re in the middle of our second heat wave of the year. The heat has just been monstrous, and it’s not just the heat, [Dad voice] it’s the HUMIDITY that’ll get ya! Now I’m weird, I love the heat, but not when I’m at the tail end of a strenuous run (which in this weather, any run that’s more than 10 feet is considered strenuous to me). I went for a run a few days ago in the middle of the afternoon… oh let’s say it was around 5ish. I got cocky. I thought if I stayed hydrated and shaded, I’d be fine. Reader, I was not fine. I had to walk for most of the mile home. I couldn’t do it. Never underestimate the power of the Sun, you know, that giant thing in the sky that gives us life but can also destroy us at any given moment? Yeah, I was no match.
That said, I’ve had many a memorable run in the summertime. You just gotta be smart about it, and pick your spots, because in the end, the Summer is still the best. Please, don’t resort to using the dreaded treadmill. You’re better than that! We’re meant to be living outside. We’ve been cooped up for too long. It’s “Vaxxed Summer 2021”, baby! So, to help you get outside and run like you’re in a new Lorde music video, I want to share some Summer running tips so we can all run in the sun while we can before climate change turns us into burnt toast.
1. Hydrate – drink water. Lots of it. Like, more than you have ever drank in your life. You need to be a fish. Wait, fish don’t actually drink the water do they? They just live in it. That would be like us trying to eat oxygen. Don’t be a fish. Be a… uh… camel? Yeah, a camel. Although, in my very brief research for this point, apparently the land mammal who consumes the most water per pound of bodyweight is the cow. Who knew! But I’m not one to call my readers cows. That wouldn’t be very nice.
2. Avoid the middle of the day – I see you more elite runners on Strava logging 10 miles a day even in the heat and I certainly salute you, but like hell I’m getting up at the butt crack of dawn to do drag my tired body a few miles for the sake of it. I love running, but I may like my sleep even more. But you do you. If the morning’s your thing, go for it. I personally have never had much luck running the morning. I get nothing out of it. Lately, I’ve been saving my summer runs for after dinner… like 7:30/8ish. The sun is no longer beating down on you, but it’s still light enough for a good while to get some miles in without feeling like you’re trying to beat the clock before nighttime begins. Yeah, it’s still a little hot from the heat of the day, but it’s not as heavy.
3. Find a shady spot to run – There are a few trails around me that are shadier than others. The trees can sometimes form a sort of tunnel as they wilt and hang over the running trails. Let the trees take the heat of the sun for you. They like it better than we do. It’s quite nice of them, really. If you can’t find a totally shaded spot, you’ll need to…
4. Wear sunscreen – [Baz Luhrmann voice] ladies and gentlemen, wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. Lather yourself up. Spray it on. Make sure it’s sweat proof, and high SPF. You don’t want to get burnt, do you? Of course, you don’t! So put on your sunscreen. Get the back of your neck, and your beautiful face. Oh! And don’t forget your ears! Wait, wait, you missed a spot. Yeah, your nose. Yeah, right there. Okay good. Make sure you reapply!
5. Hydrate - What’s the general rule, 8 glasses a day? You’re gonna need all of it if you want to have a productive run. Gatorade is good too. Gotta replace those electrolytes somehow, you know? Bring water with you on your runs. Feel free to douse yourself in it at the end of a run.
6. Wear light clothing – put away those winter clothes, stash them deep in your drawers. You’re not going to need them for a while. Find some light weight clothing. I would say run naked but that wouldn’t be good for anybody really (although apparently in Philadelphia you can ride your bike naked once a year, as long as you wear a mask! Either way, I don’t recommend it). But yeah, light clothing is a must. Avoid cotton like the plague.
7. Run through sprinklers – I’m serious, when you see a sprinkler, run through that sucker like you’re the Kool Aid man full of Red Bull. Running through sprinklers is just as fun now as it was when you were a kid. Tell me a cool splash of lawn water doesn’t feel great in the middle of a run? If you’re lucky enough to have a pool, that works too at the end of a run. Just hop straight in. Worry about stretching later. You’ve earned it.
8. Be easy on yourself – I think I said this the last time I gave some advice for runners, but this is even more important during the dog days of summer. It’s tough as hell to run in the heat. You may not be able to put in the mileage you’re used to throughout the rest of the year. And that’s okay! At least you’re out there putting in the work. Again, I see you, elite runners doing 7 minute miles with ease despite the heat. I see you, and I salute you. But I am just an average schlub who enjoys a good 3 – 4 mile joy run, and I’m proud of it. Hell, some days I’ll do just 2 miles to get my legs moving. 20 minutes goes a long way in this heat.
9. Use your judgement – the heat index in Philly this week has reached beyond the 100F degree mark. My friends, that is too damn hot! So, even in the morning or in the late evening, the temp can still be crazy toasty. If you feel like you just don’t have it in you, take a rest day. Running in the heat can be dangerous if you’re not careful. Stay inside and do some body strength training. Better yet, plop on the couch and watch some hockey instead, because full on rest days are important too!
10. Hydrate – For the love of god, just drank it you idiot.
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IT KEEPS YOU RUNNING: Music for Your Miles
Music and running go hand-in-hand. Here’s what you should be putting on your running playlist this week.
Courier Club – “Foreign Ground”
When I was in college ten years ago, I gravitated a lot towards spunkier, danceable indie-alternative rock. I’m talking about the likes of Phoenix, Hard-Fi, Two Door Cinema Club, The Bravery, Klaxons, Pigeon Detectives, VHS or Beta, etc. I may have missed out on the initial craze of the Strokes while I was too busy listening to Incubus, but the music they spawned definitely grabbed a hold of me. Philly’s Courier Club hits that space in my heart that I still have for The Rapture or Interpol at their danciest. Their latest single “Foreign Ground” would fit right in with all those bands I listed above, or better yet, it wouldn’t sound out of place next to Hot Fuss. The single is I believe the first follow up to their 2020 EP Drive Like Your Kids Live Here, a collection of fun dance rock that while I’m sorry to have missed out on last year when it arrived, I’m fully enjoying now that it feels a little more appropriate to dance again.
The Tisburys - “Tear Us Apart”
I’ve been doing a running bit on Twitter in which I am basically trying to manifest a new War on Drugs song into existence. So far, it hasn’t worked, but I think I’m getting close because one of my favorite Philly bands has released a new single that would make Adam Granduciel smile. Yes, today The Tisburys dropped “Tear Us Apart,” which sees the jangle-pop quartet exploring a bit of a new New Wave-y direction. Driven by a drum machine loop and washed out synths, it’s a darker sound for a band who basked in the sunshine on their last album Sun Goes Down. Well, this is what it sounds like after the sun goes down. It’s a new look, and they wear it quite well. I’m going to enjoy running to this song during the summer evenings.
D.Varsity – Performative Punk
Any baseball fans out there? There are few better summertime activities (besides running of course) than heading to the ball park, plopping yourself down for a good view, cracking open a beer, and taking in America’s pastime on a warm summer night. Cincinnati’s Drew James (JV Golf, Even Tiles, Kid Stardust) a.k.a. D.Varsity knows this. He wrote a whole song about it! “BASEBALL FAN” the rugged little strummer which shows up towards the end of his new record Performative Punk is a hazy, lo-fi, laid back summer delight. In fact, the whole record is. I love how it’s built like a mixtape, featuring static-y samples from AM radio (and your favorite baseball announcer guy Joe Buck) and palate cleansing interludes, like if MF DOOM made a slacker indie rock record. All the while, James delivers each line with a wry sense of humor and a sly smile. It’s a whole vibe, if you will. “If only he would apply himself,” Drew sings on the opener “APPLY YOURSELF.” Well, the best trait about this album is that it sounds like he isn’t applying himself much at all.
I guess you can say this album is a real HOME RUN! [immediately loses all my subscribers]
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