Rising Mercury Part 1 - Acclimate Acclimate

As it turns out, heat training is the new altitude training, which is great being that we live in NC where the former is unavoidable from May through September. So, how should we best prepare as the mercury continues to rise? The first step in the process is to become acclimated to the heat. Duh, right? I mean, you can't run in an environment if you can't even walk in it! So, here's some tips, advice, facts, etc. on acclimatization:

• It takes about 3 weeks to become fully acclimated to a given environment (it's part of the reason why the pros get to important races weeks in advance). 
• Try and spend as much time outdoors as possible to speed up the process. Go for a walk, read a book, relax, anything... just do it outside. Also, consider employing "passive acclimatization". For example, wear dark clothing during these activities.
• Try to avoid using air conditioning. For us, this mostly comes into play in the car ride to wherever we are running from (I don't think your roommates, family, etc. would be all that pleased if you suddenly swore off air conditioning in the 100-100 summer conditions... and we're not training for Badwater after all).
• With respect to training, start off either doing less and/or at a lower intensity. In order to get the same "workout" as before, try two-a-days (or cross-training). When your body adapts to this, increase the time and/or intensity.