Show Notes
Slower summer runs lead to fast fall races - so you have heard. But as you slog through another humid, hot long run, you may be wondering: is there truth to this adage? In this episode, we discuss ideal fall racing temperatures, all the variables that contribute to fall race performances, and how long heat adaptations actually last.
Thank you to our sponsors: ✨ Tailwind: Complete sport nutrition made simple, including hydration mixes, high-carb sport drinks, endurance fuel, and recovery mixes. Use code TREADLIGHTLY20 at https://tailwindnutrition.com/TREADLIGHTLY for 20% off your first purchase.
In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ How long do heat adaptations last? ✅ Other variables that contribute to fast fall races ✅ Could summer training impair your fall goals? ✅ Should you heat acclimate for fall races? ✅ Does your watch’s VO2max predict your fall race time? ✅ What are the ideal racing temperatures? ✅ Can you run a fast fall race if you train in mild temperatures? Tread Lightly Running is hosted and researched by Amanda Brooks and Laura Norris, MSc. Production, show notes, and graphics by Laura Norris.
If you enjoyed this episode, you may like: 🎧 The Science of Running in the Heat and Humidity (22 May 2026) 🎧 Heat Acclimation Strategies (29 May 2022) 🎧 Gut Training for Runners with Claire Shorenstein (10 July 2026) Let’s stay connected: ➡️ Tread Lightly Running Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treadlightlyrunning/ ➡️ Laura Norris Running on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauranorrisrunning/ ➡️ Subscribe for weekly evidence-based newsletters, straight to your inbox, on https://lauranorrisrunning.substack.com/ ➡️ Run to the Finish on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runtothefinish/?hl=en ➡️ Thousands of running gear reviews and training guides: https://runtothefinish.com/
More from Tread Lightly Running Science Podcast
“You’ve got to have high challenge and high support.” In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Duncan Simpson of Dartmouth’s Teeven Center for Peak Performance to discuss the psychology of pushing yourself to your limits as a runner.
If you google “Half Marathon Training Plan,” the search engine presents you with an overwhelming variety of options: Galloway, Hansons, Hal Higdon, Daniels, and more. In this episode, we discuss the fundamental principles of volume, intensity, and progression in the most popular half marathon methodologies.
Running is not bad for your knees - if anything, consistent running is remarkably beneficial for your cardiovascular, metabolic, and mental health. In this episode, we delve into the research around running, disease risk, and mortality/longevity. You will learn how running improves heart health, lowers cancer risk, helps you sleep, and more.
Recovery tools have proliferated in the running world over the past few years: red light therapy, ice plunge buckets, peptides, and more. However, the expensive price tag does not guarantee efficacy. In this episode, we look at the data behind various recovery tools and if they actually work - or if they just come with a powerful placebo effect.
Are broccoli sprout shots the secret to your next PR? Will U-Can gels help you manage weight? And are greens powders a scam or magic bullet? We sit down with registered dietitian Alex Larson, the founder of Alex Larson Nutrition. She answers all our questions on GLP-1s, cortisol-reducing supplements, lactate gels, if Laura can make her own Nomio at home, and more.