Which is Worse? New England Winter or Florida Summer?

It is infinitely easier to run in a Florida summer than it is to run in even a northern New England winter. Both involve running in the dark but only one has hidden snow and ice.

However, the thing to remember is that summer in Florida doesn't just make it hard to run. Summer conditions can occur any day of the year in southern Florida and can make just about any outdoor activity horrible.

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.

But you don't understand, from cape cod to Fort Kent maine, Cape in the winter the average temperature is above freezing all winter with an average low in the mid 20's to 30's and high in the 40's....compare to Fort Kent Maine an average High below 20F and an average low of -5F!! and the snow fall difference is also significant: 24 inches on the cape (all winter!) and almost 100" in fort kent...

Either way when you get hit with 2 feet of snow you're screwed. Temperatures can be dealt with by wearing layers, and covering your extremities with gloves, wool socks, etc. I go to school just outside of Boston and I believe the coldest weather I ran in was 0 degrees F. Other times, when there is a lot of snow it wasn't even worth walking to the gym to use a treadmill.

Point is, your body can't adapt to running in multiple feet of snow, but can get used to running in very high temperatures.

Lid E. Ard wrote:

despised,

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

Yep- desiccated sand and brush everywhere. No changing seasons, lack of fall foliage, mundane weather, chain restaurants, tourists and mass-marketed life.

Glad someone out there likes FL, though. It gets them out of my hair at least.

florida is always worse, winter or summer - one of the worst states in the US

I hate running in the winter the cold sucks and makes me feel super stiff but the worst part is the snow. The roads and tracks get covered and there is just no place to get in quality work. The darkness also makes it tough. It's not that fun when at 4pm it is 10 degrees and the sun is setting.

As a long-time Miami runner, I can say that as I got older and my body required more cooling, I began to really feel the difference between the low 90s humidity and 95+ humidity-- which is pretty common in the summer in So. Fla. At that 95+ range, I sweat prolifically, but it feels like it has no cooling (evaporating) effect. And, because humidity usually peaks early in the morning, it makes training extremely difficult. I think the number of serious runners who can manage a significant amount of miles more than 70 a week in South Florida is very small. Not including the fact that runs are mostly on paved terrain, the requirements of continually rehydrating and all that you probably lose in the process of sweating, I think wreaks havoc on your body chemistry. I don't think Northern Florida or most other comparably hot places have it so bad so frequently in the summer with the 95+ humidity. Houston-- was the most miserable summer run I ever experienced though, so they may have a case.

ccrunner627 wrote:

Either way when you get hit with 2 feet of snow you're screwed. Temperatures can be dealt with by wearing layers, and covering your extremities with gloves, wool socks, etc. I go to school just outside of Boston and I believe the coldest weather I ran in was 0 degrees F. Other times, when there is a lot of snow it wasn't even worth walking to the gym to use a treadmill.

Point is, your body can't adapt to running in multiple feet of snow, but can get used to running in very high temperatures.

Give me a break. The towns around Boston are very good at clearing roads. Wait a few hours and you can run. Plus, we rarely get "2 feet of snow" anyway. Average annual snowfall in Boston is just 43.8 inches. You can do the math and figure how how many 2 foot snowfalls can occur with that.

The payoff for the New England winter (and all the snippy, snappy and gruff people who live up here) is the New England summer which this year has been the best in decades.

Florida at any time of year.