We are going to be heading to Palm Springs for a wedding in a few weeks, and with just a little bit of time before my HM, I want to make sure I get my runs in!  I also don't anticipate a lot of free time with the wedding/family activities going on.  So I guess I'm wondering if anybody is familiar with the area and can suggest some good places to run.  I guess I'd prefer "good enough" close to town rather than "spectacular" out of town, but if there is a fantastic run that's not too far out, I'd like to hear about it.

Also, I'm used to running in cool Oregon weather.  How much of a shock should I expect going to sunny desert weather?  I'm thinking I'll be OK if I stick to mornings and evenings, yes?

It may not be too bad of an adjustment, Zelanie, because it shouldn't be humid, right?  I find it's usually the humidity that kills me, more than the heat.

Last year, the Midwest experienced a heatwave in the middle of March where it literally went from winter one day, to the dog days of summer overnight!

 

The day I remember most I was nothing short of miserable running in sudden 85 degree temps after work one day, it was flippin' awful, and it was only 5 miles!

 

I would recommend early morning for all of your runs, but if you just had to do any in the evenings, run them slow and keep them short.

Yep, I went through the same weather.  The first day of the freak March heatwave I started out at my normal pace and withered after 2 1/2 miles.  Yet mid-summer when we spent a good amount of time in the high 90's, I did just fine because my body had time to get used to it.  A sudden temperature change from cold to warm/hot, for me at least, requires slowing down considerably for a couple of days and inhaling water like it's going out of style until I start to get acclimated to it.

With the change in weather run by effort not by pace you will be running slower, just enjoy it don't try to push it.