It's relaxed and casual, yet you get a chance to show off your body, your stamina and your style. It can mean as much or as little as you and your date wish it to mean. Conversation is rarely a problem, thanks to all those mood-lifting endorphins. If things go well, you can move on to a postrun meal. If they don't, you can always say you have to go home to wash your hair.
Women sweat less than men.
However, contrary to popular belief, women dissipate heat as well as men. Men tend to use their strength to push ahead in short races, but this can backfire in the marathon. Women seem perfectly content to find a comfort zone and stay there. So set your sights on a marathon. This article was a collaborative effort of the RW editorial staff plus Owen Anderson, Gloria Averbuch, Gordon Bakoulis, Nancy Clark, Martin Dugard, Henley Gibble, Joe Henderson, Doris Brown Heritage, Hal Higdon, Don Kardong, Dave Kuehls and Doug Rennie.