Midnight runners: the athletes up late to beat the scorching heat

In Texas, runners are taking the streets in the dark, football teams are practicing at 7am and racehorses are working nights

Summers in Texas have always been brutal. But this summer was among the most extreme the state has ever experienced, and scientists say July was Earth's warmest month ever. Trying to exercise in these sweltering temperatures can feel impossible.

At high temperatures, muscles tire much more quickly and fatigue is common. Committed athletes have taken to leaving their homes in darkness - exceptionally early or late at night - just to train.