Grassley braves humidity for Tampa jogs

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) hasn’t let the swampy Tampa humidity stop him from pounding the Florida pavement nearly every morning.

Renowned for his early-bird runs back in Washington, D.C., the 78-year-old Iowan told ITK he’s gotten up at 6 a.m. or 6:30 a.m. since coming to Florida this week for the Republican National Convention and braved the thick coastal air for his customary run.

“I’ve gone three times this week, but the humidity! It’s worse than Washington D.C.!” said Grassley, as he was leaving the Tampa Bay Times Forum convention center Thursday afternoon.

Back on Capitol Hill, Grassley is widely known for his 4 a.m. runs that often include staff and friends.

And though D.C. is known for its swampy temperatures, Tampa humidity levels haven’t gone much below 64 percent this week, maxing out at a steamy 94 percent.

The humid weather didn't curtail some of Grassley’s fellow Iowans from joining him.

“Thanks to several of the Iowa delegation who got up at 630am to run 3miles w me in Tampa this morning,” Grassley tweeted on Tuesday.