Right now is the best time to do your Guatemala travel.  The dry season runs from November through April, so everyday is perfect weather for running.  Not too hot and not too cold.  Cool mornings in the 60′s are great for running up and down the ridges around the lake.  In the picture above, we started at lake level and ran up to this lookout point, before going up in even higher.

It’s always shorts and t-shirt weather!  Leave your winter running gear at home.  It sure saves on time without having the 10 minutes of dressing, and then undressing after the run, and then having to wash everything.  I can remember living in cold places and running in the morning of winter, the alarm at 6am, calling me to suit up and go brave the cold.  Layer after layer after layer, and that was only in 15 degree weather.  I know lots of people who run in even colder weather.

And I’ve heard the lines, “Oh, you just get used to it.”  ”It’s not that bad.”  ”It’s good for you.”  No you don’t, yes it is, and I don’t think so.

The people that convince you to like running in freezing weather, are those that are jealous they don’t live in a place that has better weather for running.  Granted, in most countries, there are only a few places where it is great running weather year round.  However, I’ve lived in places where over half the year is miserable because it’s either way too hot or way too cold.

So call me a whiner or a wimp, you’re probably right on both accounts.  But if you like having your runny nose freeze on the outside of your nostrils or having the warm water of a post-run shower burn your chapped and frozen skin, then more power to you.

(This is not a picture of me, photo courtesy of: http://ultrathon.wordpress.com/tag/winter-running/

I remember being on a vacation in Oklahoma City visiting family.  Now I like Oklahoma City, but this was in July, 90 degrees at 7am.  I remember doing a 10 miler on the trails in the shade early in the morning, and my mile splits were almost 2 minutes slower per mile than what I would have ordinarily done.  Drink more water!  I couldn’t consume enough water to even begin to allow my body do what I wanted it to.

Which brings me back to Guatemala travel and running at Lake Atitlan.  The 5000′ elevation is what helps with the great year round temperatures.  So if you ever need a winter running break, you know where to find us.