Wow, it is HOT!
I don't mind the high temps when I bike or swim (although our town pool is like a huge pot of soup these days), but the runs in the heat are tough. I saved my hard runs for yesterday and today, in hopes of nicer temps, but no such luck. After being drenched in sweat (I sweat A LOT - I hear that is a good thing!) half a mile into an easy run on Monday and Tuesday, I decided I needed a better strategy for Wednesday's hill repeats. I go into work very early, so morning runs are not possible. At night I am too exhausted. So what can a gal who has to run hard do? First, I took a cold shower before the run. Second, I filled my water bottles with Nuun and icecubes. Third, I took a headband, cut a hole into it, filled it with icecubes, and secured it around my neck with an elastic band. I was in heaven for the first 4 miles, until all the ice melted. Then, right before my hill repeats, I asked the nice people at the icecream store for some ice and refilled the headband. The hill repeats were still tough - they always are for me, but I managed 10 miles in the heat. Hew! And the icebath afterwords...heaven! Today I worked from home so managed a nice tempo run early in the morning, still hot, but not 102 like Wednesday. One more run this week but they are promising us rain on Saturday, as well as cooler temps. Will see!
What do you do to cope with the heat (aside from treadmill, morning or evening runs?)
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11 comments:
Hmmm - it doesn't really get that hot here so reading your post makes me very grateful about that. On the other hand - we have plenty of summers without summer, if you know what I mean.
It sounds like you're doing what you can - avoiding the hottest times when you can, running with ice - love those solutions you've come up with! Plenty of water and then the sure knowledge that when it cools down you will be twice as fast because of all of your heat acclimitisation.
i just get up super early. i aim for 4-4:30ish, but this week i've made it out the door at 5:00 and 4:45. 'whoops'. still warm (mid/upper 70's) and the humidity is high (80% or more) but at least there's no sun beating down on you. plus, all the neighborhoods have their sprinklers on at some point so i often zig zag through those :)
the humidity is much lower in the afternoon evening... but i can't bring myself to go out and run then!
If you cannot adjust the time of your hard runs then I agree that there isn't much you can do to avoid the heat. Maybe stashing a half ice half sport drink combo on the side of the road would also help. Good luck. I hope it will get cooler this weekend.
aside from putting my water bottle (or whatever I have decided to put in it)in the freezer overnight. I have a cold drink for a good part of the run.
I also try to run past the playgrounds with the sprinkler systems for the kids. I head in and stand under one for a minute or two.
Other than that, I just suffer.
Headband is a brilliant idea. Since I'm trying to get used to the heat for Kona, all of my runs are now at the most brutal time off the day. It sucks but I'll take it over being cold any day.
What exactly does it mean if you sweat a lot? I mean, besides a nice salty film post run... I seem to sweat a bit as well.
PS-Love your ice ideas.
you have some great ideas. my only thing i do is run slower OR i do intervals, somehow have a rest seems to help.
I thought this about slush drinks & exercise was intriguing enough to try after I'd blended up juice slushies for my kids. Seemed worth trying, even if only for the placebo effect or to mix things up on those sunny afternoon runs.
love your blog :) I'm doing my first tri this weekend and have enjoyed your questions and the great answers people have offered.
Hehehe love the creativity withthe headband. When its hot I slow my pace.
You are doing so well with your workouts! The heat has been so yucky! Dealing with the heat is not something that I do well:( It sounds like the icebaths might be just the ticket for after a run! I will have to try that sometime:) Keep up your awesomeness!
I read Runner's World magazine today while waiting at the airport and their tips to deal with hot weather were very similar to your creative solution. Cool down before heading out, wrapping something filled with ice around your head or neck.
Why is it soooo humid in this country? Europe is nothing like this! I wonder whether I will ever get completely used to that.
I really should follow your example about recovery. It seems that you are very good at it and you always have been since I have read all your posts:) I have ordered a foam roller, that's a start!
Keep up a good work.
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