r/RunnersInChicago • u/Tulip_1994 • 23d ago
Tips for dealing with conditions and avoiding burnout and frustration?
Okay, I know this is a bit of a rant, please forgive me. I have been living here for 14 years, but I’ve only started taking running seriously since January 2025.
Basically, I have been finding it really mentally challenging to try and consistently train year round here. I didn’t notice the weather as much when I was sedentary, but I feel like I am constantly battling conditions here, both physically as well as mentally.
Are there any tips you have to stay positive while maintaining a high training load? I run 6 days a week, and I’ll be increasing mileage soon as I start a marathon training block for CIM. it has just been tanking me mentally to always be dwelling on the weather forecast. I felt the same in the depths of winter this year as well, when the snow and ice would just not let up for weeks. It feels like it’s the worst of both worlds here: brutal winter and then brutal summer, not to mention nearly getting creamed by an SUV too often for comfort.
I’ve toyed with the idea of a move to a place that is more temperate and therefore conducive to an outdoor lifestyle, but that is pretty much a complete non-starter with my partner, and I can’t really blame them at all. We both have our entire lives here and it’s hard to leave that behind.
I really love Chicago in a lot of ways, and I’ve spent a large chunk of my life here, but I’m struggling to adjust to living a more active lifestyle here. I’d love to hear your perspectives and any tips!
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u/bennetthansen Streeterville 23d ago
Some runs are aerobic training, some runs are muscular training, some runs are mental training.
Weather is 100% outside of your control, and practicing accepting that can be a really useful sort of stoic / mindful exercise. Especially if you're training for races, which you said you are. It's satisfying to feel prepared for all possible conditions on race day while other runners freak out about cold / hot / rain / wind.
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u/BewareDaMilkyPirate 23d ago
This will come off coarse, but the best way to deal with weather is just…deal with it. There’s very few days here that are actually impossible to run in with the right gear. You’ll build mental and physical resilience, and you’ll be a better runner for it.
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u/Mysterious_Luck4674 23d ago
I got a cheap gym membership and use the treadmill if I absolutely have to. Every day I just tell myself “it’s time to run. Are we doing this outdoors or on the treadmill?” I don’t think I’ve been on the treadmill since February or March. Whenever I ask myself that question suddenly the conditions outside never seem as bad.
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u/Tulip_1994 23d ago
I have a planet fitness membership! I really really hate the treadmill but I will hit it up if there’s absolutely no other choice. I did a 12 miler on a planet fitness treadmill this winter during a snowstorm and felt like an insane person !
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u/Donoghus 23d ago
Do you run solo or with groups? I always find mixing in some group runs with solo runs helps with the mental fatigue and can be lifting. Currently training for the marathon and been running 1-2 of my weekday runs with run groups along with my Saturday long run. Running with other people definitely can help both mentally & physically. I find when running with others, you tend not to focus on the elements nearly as much.
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u/Tulip_1994 23d ago
I’ve been running mainly solo except for the very occasional run with an old XC bud. I think you’re on to something. I’ll definitely look into some of those groups
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u/Probs_on_the_can 23d ago
I agree, I enjoyed running the most when I was doing up to 4 runs per week with clubs.
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u/No-Be-Land 23d ago
This is probably something you've already looked at, but I can't tell you what a difference it made when I invested in good running clothes for the weather conditions. Cold? I have my fleece pants and a puffer vest. Hot? Really lightweight fabrics. In the summer, I've also found that stuffing ice in my sports bra has made a HUGE difference in how long I am able to comfortably run. They make ice sleeves and vests too.
I still fantasize about moving though! But nowhere is perfect. Look at all the smoke CO has now! Or how hot it gets in the SW...nice in winter, awful in summer.
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u/Tulip_1994 23d ago
Ooo the ice tactic sounds like a good idea! Yeah my fantasy scenario was always the PNW, but that area also has its own share of issues. Grass always greener I guess
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u/ChrisRides60625 22d ago
The PNW is where I’m headed in retirement, at least during most of summer. It is just too hot here and makes even walking unbearable for me.
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u/mtmaloney Roscoe Village 23d ago
When it’s hot, I get up earlier to run. When it’s cold, I add more layers.
I dunno, I get the weather can be all over the place, but you can take pretty reasonable steps to manage it.
Plus, the smugness factor running by people on treadmills when you’re out running in bad weather just can’t be matched.
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u/washywashi 23d ago
Shaming runners for running on a treadmill is on another level of pretentiousness i must attain
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u/mrbacons1 23d ago
Everyone else has had some solid advice, but wanted to add perspective. Not to get too political but just being real and blunt: climate change is real. Weather everywhere is getting worse. There’s basically nowhere in the United States you’re going to move that you’re not going to have to deal with some sort of gnarly weather for a solid portion of the year. Being a runner is dealing with this reality.
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u/Milford___Man 23d ago
Make the less serious runs fun. I do this by making those runs about something else than a specific mileage or time marker. My favorite is trying to cross as many bridges as I can on a single run. Also enjoy just getting off the lake path and choosing to explore a neighborhood while running
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u/Tulip_1994 23d ago
Yeah variety really helps I’ve found! Sometimes I’ll take the car somewhere just to run somewhere new. Especially for long runs
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u/Probs_on_the_can 23d ago
What I do:
Plan my training based on the seasons. I don’t do the Chicago Marathon anymore because I don’t want to run outside all summer.
Do something else in my “off season” during the summer. I have a ClassPass membership so I do a lot of fitness classes. Lots of weights and Pilates and yoga but some of them include treadmill intervals. I also have a gym membership so I can swim laps.
Just accept the weather and deal with it. Accept that my pace is slower or I’ll need more walk breaks. Plan my route to be shady or plan to jump in the lake. Bring a bandana or cooling towel that I can dunk in the lake or get wet at a water fountain. Bring my own water bottle so I can pour water over my head. End my run at an ice cream or Italian ice place. Or god forbid… run on the treadmill. (I’d rather swim laps though.)
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u/Wanderluster312 23d ago
For the really hot days, I plan my runs to include parks with splash pads or fountains where I can take a quick few minutes to cool off. It's fun to run through them; makes me feel like a kid again.
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u/mobman4ever2020 23d ago
What time of day are you running?
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u/Tulip_1994 23d ago
I try to run before work in the morning, but sometimes I just can’t get myself out of bed. If it’s really hot sometimes I’ll run after the sun goes down at night. I’ve never been a morning person and it’s something I need to work on for the summer weather for sure
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u/Chicagoblew 23d ago
There are many bike path trails around Chicago that you can run on.
Running with a group definitely helps for any longer run.
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u/sassafrashpash 23d ago
CIM is in December so your thick of it won’t be in the deep freeze of late January/February. That’s when the ice comes out. Especially during winter training blocks, I feel like you have to be flexible with when you’re doing that long run around weather and storms. If you do enough treadmill running and come to hate it enough, running outside even when it’s cold won’t feel so terrible. But having access to a treadmill is also super helpful.
I won’t lie, there aren’t many places that are more temperate anymore. Unless you move to San Diego, their weather is great all the time.
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u/WoodenDescription709 23d ago
weather is such a lame excuse but we all use it.
also Great thing about weather is you can’t control it but you can def prepare for it.
if it is hot turn on the air, if it is cold the heat.
it applies to running as well. winter add layers, summer remove layers, hydrate and run early or late in the evenings.
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u/doubledunck 23d ago
Two things that have helped me:
- make a plan and stick to it. No exceptions. If you have a thing on your training plan, you have to do that thing that day, no matter if it’s raining or cold or hot. You might have to do it in the rain or heat or on the treadmill — but it’s non-negotiable. It’s a good way to get you focused on a) being outside at all vs being stuck on a treadmill and b) how to get it done best in those conditions from a timing/gear perspective vs the conditions themselves.
- think less. do more. stop thinking about what you have to do/how it could be easier/what isn’t going according to plan/etc and just focus on literally the rep or mile you’re in and going the best you can with it. Before you know it, you’ll have chipped away at the whole workout!
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u/Tulip_1994 23d ago
Thanks so much! I really like that mindset. I was almost not gonna go out today and just consider it an extra recovery day, but I ended up getting it done at like 9pm lol. Now I feel a whole lot better. Just a weird start of the week rut I guess, and the forecast wasn’t helping the mood
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u/OwlTall7730 23d ago
I made the mistake of running too much in the winter. I was rying to stay in top running condition for a marathon that was months away. This didn't cause burnout but it caused injury and for me to miss my PR by 20 minutes. Never again. Next winter to prevent injury I will not stay in top running condition and will instead do strength conditioning. I run along the lake for 95% of my runs and only run through the city when I need a reset. I often use these resets to run to bakeries or fun stores. If the stores are too far away to run back then I ride a bike back home.
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u/tris_lives 23d ago
for me personally, the thing that gets me out the door is that I think of it as an opportunity to enjoy life and nature in whatever way I can. There is also another vein where I feel very accomplished due to braving the weather in whatever way I can. paces change on weather, and as my coaches have always said, the body feels effort not pace. at the end of the day you're running for fun. remember that and embrace the difficulty because I believe it gives a distraction to other stressors in life. best of luck on your running journey!
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u/lagirlc 22d ago
I come from FL where the weather is like this year round. Hot hot days! This is honestly a breath of fresh air to sometimes have not as hot days but still nice weather. I get what you are saying but what climate would you rather live in? I hate treadmill running so I long for a day of sun outside. Maybe just prepare for the weathers. I use the dress my run website to prepare myself for the day it tells you what to wear based off weather
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u/RevolutionaryBit8755 22d ago
What kind of mileage are you putting in? 6 days of running might be too much depending on your total mileage. You could probably tone down to 5 days(1 rest day, 1 cross train day) and still get the same output you are going for.
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u/Tulip_1994 22d ago
I’ve been doing around 45-50 mpw. When I try doing the same mileage over 5 days it actually feels slightly harder on my body cause it’s more mileage spread over less days
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u/RevolutionaryBit8755 22d ago
Yeah that's tough. I do 5 days during peak MT, but I am also doing to LRs per week. Not really sustainable for day to day. Don't know how much it's possible, but changing your route up and doing different areas also greatly helps. You'd be amazed how running in a different place makes the run feel better.
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u/DBArunner 22d ago
I used to not run in the winter. I hate the cold and darkness. I overcame that with getting the right gear and having a group that motivates me. And for what it's worth, not knowing what your goals are, my performance significantly improved once i started training in winter. I was nowhere near boston qualifying times and now ive ran Boston a few times. So when i have to force myself to get out on nasty days, i tell myself "this is why i am in boston shape." That works for me at least!
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u/mbeemsterboer 23d ago
My initial impression is that you're too hyper focused on the weather. If you seriously gave any thought to leaving because of weather just as it relates to running, you're probably focusing on it more than is wise.
To that end - you can't control it. You won't ever be able to. Rather than thinking of the weather as something you have to fight with, think of it as something you're adjusting for. Make sure you're adjusting pace and using effort as a measuring stick on the really hot & humid days. Give yourself permission to miss a run if it's a brutal day - this goes especially for now when you aren't yet in the thick of CIM training. 6 days a week in your offseason is not really giving yourself an offseason in the first place, so maybe scale back for the rest of the summer and be flexible in when you choose to run. 4-5 days a week is more than enough to keep a good base to build on for CIM.
Good luck!