They say the first mile is a liar! Humidity—a silent adversary that challenges not only your endurance but also your spirit. Living in South Florida, we’ve experienced countless mornings where the air feels thick and cumbersome, making those first breaths a struggle. It feels like a heavy weight presses down on your chest, and lifting your legs becomes a grueling effort. As a running couple, facing the challenge of moisture-laden air offers a unique bonding experience, with its struggles and its triumphs.
The Struggle: Breathing in Thick Air
As I watched the weather forecast show more heat advisories, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to lace up, but Kevin reminded me of our important race in four weeks. This training cycle has been anything but easy—injuries, illness, heat, and humidity have made it a true challenge. We set a goal of six miles, fully aware that today’s run would be tough.
The moment we stepped out the front door, we felt the damp, sticky air pressing against our skin, like an invisible weight. It wasn’t long before we were coated in sweat, like two glazed doughnuts. The first mile felt deceptively easy, but soon we faced that familiar sensation of heavy lungs. Each breath was like trying to draw air through a thick straw. The humidity thickened the air, making every step twice as laborious. We exchanged glances, panting for breath, even finding it hard to reach a conversational pace while walking. We immediately shifted into survival mode.
Managing Together: Understanding Our Limits
One of the incredible things about running as a couple is our unspoken communication. We can sense when the other is struggling or feeling strong. Often, we listen to our own music, occasionally exchanging words, but mostly we enjoy each other’s presence. By mile two, I began to slow down, and as Kevin pulled ahead, he looked back and asked if I needed him to slow the pace. We just knew how each other felt. Today wasn’t about speed—it was about getting through some tough miles together.
To cope, we took more walk and water breaks, even if it meant stopping for a few seconds to catch our breath or sip some water to keep our throats from feeling parched. Making small adjustments lightened the weight on our lungs, even if only slightly.
Embracing the Slow and Shortened Miles
The magic of running together in conditions like these is that we keep each other going. It’s not just the sweat dripping, the burning lungs, or the heavy legs—it’s knowing that someone else is right there, sharing the same struggle. Instead of focusing on our discomfort, we kept the conversation light, laughing about our granddaughter’s antics, our excitement for the upcoming race, and poking fun at ourselves for looking like two turtles trudging through the humid morning air.