Staying cool

Lucky us, Saturday was on the cool side (at least for July), but we may be running into seriously hot weather soon. Many people are wearing good, cool running clothes -- but here are some tips that can help you out for 90-degree weather. And you shouldn't have to spend a million dollars, unless you want to.

You'll notice the pink ladies wear shirts made of "wicking" material, keeping the sweat (or glow) away from our skin. You can find wicking shirts, sometimes called Coolmax, at just about any athletics store, and also Marshall's and TJ Maxx. If you know of other spots to buy this material, please comment. Wicking material is the best for all seasons, especially when your cotton T-shirt begins to feel like a wet blanket on your back. When winter comes, wicking material keeps the sweat from making you cold. If you don't feel like you're at a level of commitment to buy "running clothes," a loose, sleeveless shirt feels much cooler than short sleeves.

Also, lightweight shorts are a good thing to have. Some have panties built into them, others don't. At any rate, make sure they fit comfortably while you're running.

Hats can be a little tricky. If you train all summer wearing a baseball cap, then it's fine to wear one in the race. But if you're not accustomed to running while wearing a hat, it can make your head very warm -- something you want to avoid in the race. Also, a lot of people think tights when they think running, but during the summer, tights are rarely appropriate because of the heat. We want you to be safe out there, and that means not overheating. And overall, don't forget to drink water. No matter what you wear, hydrating is important.