Humidity
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Humidity is the amount of water vapour in the air. In daily language the term "humidity" is normally taken to mean relative humidity. Relative humidity is defined as the ratio of the partial pressure of water vapour in a parcel of air to the saturated vapour pressure of water vapour at a prescribed temperature. Humidity may also be expressed as absolute humidity and specific humidity. Relative humidity is an important metric used in forecasting weather. Humidity indicates the likelihood of precipitation, dew, or fog. High humidity makes people feel hotter outside in the summer because it reduces the effectiveness of sweating to cool the body by preventing the evaporation of perspiration from the skin. This effect is calculated in a heat index table.    

Effects on human body

The human body sheds heat by a combination of evaporation of perspiration, heat convection in the surrounding air, and thermal radiation. Under conditions of high humidity, the evaporation of sweat from the skin is decreased and the body's efforts to maintain an acceptable body temperature may be significantly impaired. Also, if the atmosphere is as warm as or warmer than the skin during times of high humidity, blood brought to the body surface cannot shed heat by conduction to the air, and a condition called hyperpyrexia results. With so much blood going to the external surface of the body, relatively less goes to the active muscles, the brain, and other internal organs. Physical strength declines and fatigue occurs sooner than it would otherwise. Alertness and mental capacity also may be affected. This resulting condition is called heat stroke or hyperthermia.

If the Undertaker was a runner, he would be the guy in the blue shirt obstructing all of Rick's race photos.

Old Soup Bones

I liked this:

Top 10 Reasons to Run Ultra marathons:

10. No matter the metric --- per mile, per minute (or per feet climbed) --- ultras are more cost-effective than 10Ks or marathons.

9. You get to accumulate belt buckles to keep your pants from falling down.

8. You get your ratio of travel time to race time well below one.

7. You get your ratio of toenails to toes also below one.

6. You learn to think of an eight-minute mile as a "sprint".

5. You experience God's creation in a unique and wonderful way: Pre-dawn starts! Mountain tops! Point-to-point trails!

4. Beer and pizza is a traditional pre-race meal.

3. Be part of a sport that will never, ever, be glamorous.

2. Learn that, if you're patient and willing to work hard, there isn't really much that's impossible.

... and the number one reason to run ultras:

1. Coffee and donuts at the start line!