Sunday, June 8, 2008

Although summer is officially still two weeks away, the first hot weekend of the year seems an appropriate time to reassess and rededicate ourselves to fitness. In short, it's easy to say the weather is too tough, and the roads too hard to slog during June, July and August. But recall President John F. Kennedy, who in an address at Rice University in 1962, crystallized why the United States pursued a program of space exploration: Why climb the highest mountain, Kennedy asked. Why fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?

Add to those answers obvious considerations of physical health as well.

Running, training, even racing during the summer is possible, even desirable. If the purpose of exercise is to stress our bodies, the added dimension of heat training simply furthers that end. If we run shorter distances during the summer, go more slowly and stop more often for water or even rest, we're doing much more than those who channel surf or play computer games, Wii Fit be damned.

Area running clubs offer plenty of help in getting through the dog days. A few favorites:

The Reston Runners offer an interval training program for club members starting Wednesday at 6:30 at Herndon Middle School;

The Montgomery County Road Runners host Thursday night runs at 6:30 on the C&O Canal from Carderock; and

The D.C. Road Runners' eight-race Bunion Derby begins Tuesday at 7 at Bluemont Park in Arlington. Minimum three and maximum five races are scored through August in five-year age groups.

Mark your calendar with a summer race and structure your training with a goal in mind:

The Potomac River Running Twilight Festival 4-Miler in Ashburn on June 28;

The Rockville Rotary Twilight 8K on July 19;

The Annapolis Ten Mile Run on Aug. 24 -- registration opened June 1 and fills quickly; or

The first Race for the Nation 5K, with 1964 Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills, on Aug. 30 in Chambersburg, Pa.

Goals with regard to landing on the moon and more, Kennedy said, "serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win."

-- Jim Hage

hagej@washpost.com