Conditions: heat, monsoon, dust

Running and walking in north India is a seasonal practice. What each season does to your body, your shoes and your plans, and what to do about it.

April–June · heat

Early starts only (before 07:00) or after sunset. Light, pale apparel; a cap; water on anything over 40 minutes. Shoes with open mesh uppers.

Breathable uppers · lighter trainers

July–September · monsoon

Grip matters more than cushioning. Expect wet socks; dry shoes stuffed with paper, never on a heater. Suede stays home.

Outsoles with real tread · quick-dry uppers · a second pair to rotate

October–November · dust and AQI

Check the AQI before dawn runs; above 200, take it indoors or shorten it. Rinse eyes and face after. Treadmill days are not failures.

Anything; the air is the issue, not the shoe

December–February · the good months

Race season. Long runs are possible mid-morning; club sessions fill up. Layer for the 06:00 start and shed by 07:00.

The shoe for the run you have planned; this is when race shoes earn their keep

Every Monday Marathon posts a short Conditions note for the week on Instagram Stories. The table below is the long version.

Send a photo of your current shoes and tell us what you do. A fitter replies, or come in and try.