3 Shady Places to Run this Summer

Well, I guess we are officially into Summer. Wasn't June 21 suppose to be the longest day of the year? That night Scott and I were sitting out on our back patio discussing this and we saw a shooting star! It was amazing and I can't believe we saw it in that split second. It wasn't the first one that I've seen, but for some reason they are always special.

Since it is "officially" hot outside it can sometimes make running a little uncomfortable if I don't get out on the trail by a certain time. I do like to get up early, but I admit that sometimes I don't get up and around early enough. It can be sweltering hot here by 8 am.

I can remember being just miserable last year because my favorite trail was so hot because it had very little shade on it.  Since then I had gone to look for some other places to run where I would be out of the direct sun.  Now if you know me, you would know that sharing the roads with cars as I run scares me, I prefer to run on trails and sidewalks so finding some of these places took some thought.


Some of these places I found  last summer and I plan to take advantage of them this summer when it gets too hot. The best part is that I bet each of you have at least one, if not all of these places near your home!


 
1. The cemetery: I don't need to tell you why this is such a peaceful place to run. Cemeteries are usually shaded and there is no traffic.
 

2. College or University:  These offer lots of paved paths. They are nice and shady and over the summer months the traffic is very slim.


3. Campgrounds:  If you can find a campground to run in, you will be in shade heaven even if you run in the middle of the afternoon ( not that I would recommend that). The only negative thing I have found about running at a campground is that if I go early in the morning, I can still smell the campfires from the night before.  Also, I would go during the week because they tend to be pretty busy on the weekends.

And of course there is always the treadmill or an inside track but I prefer to be outside as much as I can during the summer.

Where are some of the shadier places you have found to run during the summer?   ~M

And don't forget the GIVEAWAY we have going on! If you hadn't enter it yet, go now!

28 comments:

  1. I won't lie, the thought of running in a cemetery totally creeps me out! I don't think I could do it. I avoid them at all costs! College campuses, you're right, usually offer a lot of shade. County parks tend to have a lot of trees, which is usually where I will run. River trails also tend to have a lot of shade, but not every city has one.

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    1. I do run on a river trail and I love it. It is very wooded though so I try not to go alone!

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  2. I stick with doing stuff inside where there's AC. It's just hot in Texas, no matter if you're in the shade or not. Even the gyms can get warm, but at least I'm inside where there's cold water and the roof keeps the sun off me.

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    1. That's too bad that it gets so hot that you cant even go outside. Staying indoors sounds like a good option for you!

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  3. do you watch house of cards? one of the main characters runs in a cemetery and gets yelled at pretty harshly. i don't think i would be comfortable doing that. i love to find rail trails -- they are usually very shaded!

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    1. I do not watch that show,,,haha! Nope our cemeteries are very peaceful and no one yells at us. We aren't bothering anyone, literally!

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  4. My neighborhood has lots of tall trees along the streets so I usually can get a little break with shade when running near my home. I have never considered a run through a cemetery and would feel really weird doing that.

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    1. I like it because there are no cars, its shaded and the paths are kept nice!

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  5. I do my long runs in a cemetery that actually borders my backyard (but there are two fences and no man's land in between, so I have to walk down to the end of the road, and over, and go in the main entrance, which makes for a nice warm up).

    It's not actually very shady, and the paving is indifferently maintained, so you really have to watch your footing, but it's worth it for the lack of traffic. Plus because the roads are so plentiful/there are so many intersections, to give as much access to the plots as possible, I can switch up my route however I like, depending on how far I want to run that day.

    Now if they just had a bathroom...

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    1. Aww, yes, bathroom access is always key! I am glad my path along the river has a public restroom ( because it is part of a park).

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  6. love these! I find that running in the morning helps with the shade too since the building block the sun!

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    1. I don't have many tall building around here to block the sun so running in the morning is always a good idea here!

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  7. We have one area near us that has a rail trail (its really flat and dirt covered) that is pretty shaded so that is a GREAT place to run when the sun is just to hot to be under.

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    1. Rail trails are the best, especially if yours is shaded!

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  8. Running in campgrounds is one of my favorite things, and I must be odd I love the left over smell of burning wood in a fire:) But I love early morning runs in them because your up and out (usually) before anyone else, and it's so quiet and peaceful and your the first one to get to see all the animals (and scare them aways:)
    I have never thought about running at a campus, but in college I lived near a cemetery and I did run through it. However, Utah is the exception to the rule with the tree's, LOL we don't really have enough in those places to consider them shady runs:) But we do have lots of canyons with lots of morning shade in them:)

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    1. Aww, I bet running in the canyons is beautiful! Now I want to come visit and run with you.

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  9. It is funny I am reading this now as I'm about to go out for a long, scorching run around my neighborhood haha. I would be smart to hit up one of the shaded trails in our area (state park, AT) but I feel like something flat and fast. I guess I will have to deal with the sun!

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  10. I thought I was the only one who liked to run in cemetery's!!!! it is so peaceful there... I always loved to look at headstones too.

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  11. Finding shade is important, especially in the summer (and for me because I'm so fair skinned, being in the sun for any length of time can mean sunburn, ouch). I really like running in the trails, not only for shade, but also because the scenery is better than on the roads haha.

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  12. I definitely run early in the day to get out of the heat!

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  13. I never would have thought about running in a campground! Seems like a great idea!

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  14. I typically run on a trail that is mostly shaded and If I can't get outside, I hit the treadmill...guaranteed shade :)

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  15. I am not a fan of summer in general at all (I know I'm weird lol) and one of the main reasons for disliking this season is summer running! It's so hot and even worse humid where I live. Due to my work schedule I typically have to be an "after work runner." If I get up by 5 am I have a chance at getting in a quick run before work but that's really hard to do and I don't like running that early outside alone unless the husband joins me! That's one of the reasons why I am doing the RWRunStreak Summer Challenge for the second time: because I need motivation to keep running in this heat! Like you, I've tried to change up my running routes this summer to areas that offer more shade. The other day I did one of my normal "running loops" in 98 degree heat with I'd say close to 100 percent humidity and was quickly reminded why I had been avoiding that route! Zero shade! Lol!

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  16. I thought I was the only person who will occasionally run in a cemetery!! If it's REALLY hot and even raining, I agree with Sue, I'll force myself to run on the treadmill.

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  17. I will do ANYTHING to avoid a treadmill, so this is a great post! Thanks for the ideas! I've totally considered running through a cemetery before (because, like you said, it's shady!) but I got kind of creeped out by the idea. Love the college campus idea -- there are a bunch of options where I live, and I never would have thought of that!

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  18. Awesome ideas!! There are so many great shaded trails close by our new apartment, I can't wait to get out there after my injury heals!

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  19. Great ideas!!! I have never ran in a cemetery. Shaded places are quite hard to find around here.

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