16 Jul 2017

The Right Way to Run on Hot Days


Hot Day Running Right Way
Summer is often the time when outdoor runners pack up their duffle bags and seek refuge indoors during the great seasonal gym migration. This is just fine for those who require a temperature-controlled stream of air to soothe them through an episode of reality TV on the treadmill. But for those who embrace the summer rays and want to make the most of those longer daylight hours, the great outdoors can still be a runner’s domain — if you keep in mind some tricks to stay cool during 2017’s scorching season.

Precooling

Lowering your body temperature before you exercise can be a great way to handle the heat once you take off. This can be done either internally, by drinking icy beverages, or externally with the help of ice packs, cooling vests, or frozen towels around the head and neck. Internal cooling is better for lowering core temperature, where external cooling reduces skin temperature, causing a slower increase in body temperature once you start your workout.  It’s a helpful aid for your body’s natural thermoregulation, meaning you'll dissipate heat more efficiently.
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Heat Acclimation


Our bodies know us better than we know ourselves and they can be eerily good at adapting to their environment. The natural adjustment we go through in warmer temperatures is called heat acclimation, and it's one of the biggest leg-ups we can get when it comes to summer running. In addition to helping you sweat more and sooner, acclimation causes you to retain more sodium typically lost through sweat, which is good for keeping the mid-run cramps at bay. Dr. Carl James, who recently co-authored a study on the effects of precooling and heat acclimation, found both strategies improve running performance, though acclimating to heat gave a stronger boost.

"One of the most apparent benefits [of heat acclimation] is the increased plasma volume in your blood, which means you can have a lower heart rate for the same amount of exercise," said James. Experts estimate it can take up to two weeks to fully acclimate to the warmer temperatures around you, so James recommends taking a hot bath at around 100 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 or 40 minutes after a half hour run.

Roberto Mandje, former Olympic runner and coach for the New York Road Runners, was living in the temperate, dry heat of Boulder, Colorado while training for the All African Games in the vastly different tropics of Mozambique. To mimic the conditions he expected on race day, he would wear an extra layer and end his workouts by hopping into a sauna to get his body acclimated.

Take It Easy

The best runners will know when pushing too hard is no longer worth it and might even be downright dangerous. In the summer heat, our bodies are working harder to regulate temperature, meaning heart rates go up and more sodium is lost through sweat. This can hit us even harder when running in areas with high humidity where sweat takes longer to evaporate, the natural cooling process our body expects when we perspire. But with ubiquitous GPS tracking devices attached to our bodies, we're sometimes painfully aware of how much slower we're going and tempted to pick up the pace to match the speeds we're used to.

"A lot of people think they must be getting out of shape so they’re running harder and then they get dehydrated and overheat," said Mandje. "Before you go out the door think, 'I'm going to focus on effort.' You should run the amount of time you normally would but remember to slow down and check that ego at the door."

Summer is no time to set those PRs, so don't be discouraged when you notice a dip in your pace. Fall will roll around soon enough and you'll be happy to see your speeds pick up with it.
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Swap the Water for a Sports Drink

Runners are sometimes turned off by the sugary overload of the average sports drink. But for those who normally choose water, summer may the time time to switch to a drink with a higher sodium content. More sweating means more cramping, unless you're replenishing the electrolytes that allow your muscles to contract and move more easily.

Running on the hottest days of the year is no easy feat, but for the brave of heart who charge boldly into the fiery hellscape of summer, we salute you. Just stay safe and cool out there. As James says, "It's going to be different for every single person so the key is to really just listen to your body and do what you can."

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