Which is Worse? New England Winter or Florida Summer?

Hometown in southwest CT. This past winter i had runs at 50 degrees. It really varies!

While running in

New England Weather

I don't mind running in the cold and dark. 5k paced workouts, tempos, high end aerobic runs are all great for cold weather.

The only thing that sucks is the snow covering the track, the trails, sidewalks, etc. it can be frustrating to have to push a planned workout off for a day or several.

All in all, I love running in winter. 25-45 degrees is my sweet spot.

I'll take cold over heat every time.

I actually quite enjoy running in the winter here in New England (Eastern Massachusetts to be specific)

Even now I would prefer 20 degrees in January to running in 85 degree weather in August

Winter in CT is very pleasant. Summer in CT is NOT.

Florida Summer.

You can always were more clothing when running in the cold. There's not much you can do to improve that situation in Florida. Plus, you don't say what part of New England. Northern Maine, VT, and NH can be pretty harsh. Southern New England (MA, CT, RI, plus southern NH, VT, and ME) aren't particularly cold

for those of us who work we are already used to morning runs in the dark during the summer.

stop complaining.

I enjoy running in Houston during the summer with 100 degrees and high humidity - the sweat just sticks to your body and hard to breathe ... Sorta like running in a sauna. Take that over brutal cold any time.

Are you heading to Presque Isle, Maine? or Mystic, CT? Both are New England...big difference in weather.

By the same token, I now realize that there is also a big difference between the weather in Gainesville and the weather in Miami.

I mean, Shorter and Co. managed to train just fine up in North Florida, but you don't see too many great runners based in South Florida.

Invisible Walrus wrote:

By the same token, I now realize that there is also a big difference between the weather in Gainesville and the weather in Miami.

I mean, Shorter and Co. managed to train just fine up in North Florida, but you don't see too many great runners based in South Florida.

Yeah. But where in New England will you be? Boston? Providence? Burlington? Portland? Other?

Hey, OP. Native Floridian here, who now lives in New England for the past two years. Here's my take on it:

I grew up in Jacksonville, and lived two 4-year stints in Gainesville. As you mentioned, North Florida is a bit different from the Miami/Ft Lauderdale area, but mostly in winter. It's just as hot and humid during the summer, and Gainesville usually has less breeze than Miami.

Anyway, after leaving FL the first time, I lived in NC for 5 years, then out to Colorado for a few years, then back to Gainesville for that second 4-year stint. I grew up running in that heat; it's just something we dealt with. However, coming back as an adult after many years away was absolutely BRUTAL. I'd acclimated to more moderate/less humid climates. I HATED running in FL after having been away for years; even though, as a younger guy, I had HATED running in the "freezing cold" of NC. So, it's all about perspective and acclimation.

Now, I live in New England. I've done two winters. My first one was very hard, because I'd never lived in a winter like that, even in CO. This past winter was one of the coldest in a generation, but it wasn't so bad for me. I've acclimated.

These days, when I go visit family in FL, I feel absolutely miserable. I've become one of those tourists that I used to laugh at. Of course, my family was cold when visiting me and it was 57 at night....so, it's a trade off.

My recommendation, then, for you, is that you try NOT to go back home to FL during the summers - for two reasons: 1. Once you acclimate at all to New England, FL summer is going to be f-ing miserable and 2. staying up here will help you acclimate better to the cold.

Good luck, kid!

Years ago, I would have taken the colder climate, but now I'd prefer Florida... if I could choose where in Florida. On the Coast (Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach), it's not as humid and it's a bit cooler in the morning than in Central Florida.

I can no longer keep my hands and feet warm enough in cold weather. If it drops below 30 degrees, I'm running at Vanderbilt's new 300m indoor track.

FL is exponentially worse winter or summer.

despised,

Agreed. As soon as I get off the plane, ugh. Ugly palm trees, horrible sticky air and grass like straw. Smells weird, too.

Summers are pretty similar throughout the East Coast, with the exception of the more northerly regions of New York and New England. Summer in Miami isn't too much hotter than summer in Philadelphia, for example. A couple degrees hotter on average, more consistently humid, but not categorically different. You'll get plenty of days with 90 degrees and high humidity in either place. Places like Philly or New York will have more days where it's in the 70s with low humidity, but they'll also have more days where it's 100+. Anyway I'd take summer in Florida over winter in New England any day of the week. It's not so much the cold but the darkness that gets me.

I agree with the guy up there, Houston is far worse than florida. It sucks, but its still better than the cold.

The Midwest both. Not that they are more extreme, but that you can live in a place that can approach the worst of both regions mentioned.