Running in the heat - help!

pressju

Cathlete
Maybe it is an age thing, but at 46 I can no longer tolerate the heat when I run. I eked out 4 slow miles today with one stop just to walk and catch my breathe. Drank water before and during the run. I remember in my 30s I could go 6 or 7 miles in summer with less negative effects. Now I crawl, my quads ache and I am zonked for the entire day.

Any advice on what you runners do to get through the heat still running?

Thanks!

Julie
 
Las Vegas Heat

At some point it has to be the heat. I live in Las Vegas and when it's 90 degrees at 8am, uh, it's hot. I think only hard core athletes could probably handle the heat.
 
I'm in Tucson where, like Vegas, it's 90 degrees by 8-9AM. The gym in my apartment building is a lot busier during the summer because the walkers, runners and bikers can't tolerate the heat and move their workouts indoors. Can you get a 3 or 4 month membership to a gym near you just for the summer?
 
Hi Julie....I am 51 and have trained in the heat for a long time! It does seem to be harder as I age. What works for me I figured out in the last year for marathon training. Especially before long runs the day before I try and get in at least 100-120 ounces if water. During my long runs I use "Smart Water" which has electrolytes in it and they help with the heat. I mix it with my sports drink "Perpetuem". So my advice would be to try and get in more water every day and see if that helps...:)
 
Water, . . sunscreen, and try to run early in the morning or later in the evening. Listen to your body! Stay safe over heating is dangerous buisness.
 
I live in South Georgia and do the majority of my workouts outside (kettlebells, Crossfit and Running). You have to get yourself acclimated to the heat. It takes me one to 2 weeks at the beginning of summer to get used to it. Now it's just normal for me.

I do my longer runs on Sundays. I was up at 5:30 this morning and hit the road at around 6:30. On weekdays I workout or run at 6pm. It's the only time I have to workout. I drink TONS of water ALL day, during my workout and afterwards in the evening. I can really tell the difference when I don't drink enough water.

I used to belong to a fitness boot camp that started at 5:30pm. I have worked out in temps over 100 degree heat. There are times when the heat is extreme and you just need to listen to your body and shorten your workouts.

I don't think it has anything to do with age. I am 48 (will be 49 in about a month) and the heat doesn't bother me.
 
Thanks everyone - clearly it's about adapting, pushing water 24 hours before, during (a Smart Water or other electrolyte replacement type water) and after. I think I did not do any of those things in the last 48 hours. Another question: besides Smart Water, any other such drinks you would recommend? I hate Gatorade.

Appreciate the assistance.

Julie
 
I agree with everyone above. I HATE the heat, I try to get out early in the morning if I can.

For beverages, I also can't stand Gatorade/Powerade it has a slimy texture. The Gatorade G2 isn't as bad. I personally like half orange juice and half ice water, with a sprinkle (1/8 - 1/4 tsp of sea salt sprinkled in) after a hot, sweaty run. It makes everything feel better pretty quickly. I normally have a big glass of water soon as I get home, then mix up my water/OJ and put in some ice, and put it in the freezer while I stretch and shower. When I'm done it's nice and cold.

They say chocolate milk is good, too. But drinking milk kinda skeezes me out, even if it is chocolate. And on a hot day - double skeeze.

Nan
 
I agree with Jane that it isn't about age. I am 53. I live in north Georgia, but the temps are pretty much the same as south Georgia. This summer has been brutal.

For me, it's all about acclimating myself to the heat. I start running outside in April probably. (I use the treadmill in the winter) By the time the temps and heat indexes are in the high 90s and low 100s, I'm pretty used to it.

I try to run early in the morning or later in the evening, but if I can't get out there then, I will still go mid day. In fact, yesterday I ran 3 miles at noon. I would say the heat index was easily 95+. I sweat buckets, but I'm fine because I'm used to it.
 
I've been having a really hard time running in the heat and humidity too. We are having record high temperatures and the humidity is generally 90-100%, even at 5:00am when I usually run. I have just had to redefine what a good run is for me. I'm doing all the hydration stuff, electrolytes, etc. I just adjust the run as it goes on. If I can't do long and slow (not my natural way of running), I'll do a shorter tempo run instead, or do half an easy run and half sprints (which is much more natural for me, and the heat allows me to really be warmed up and open up my stride). I'll take a lot of walk breaks, take in a lot more water, stick to the shade as much as possible. I just try to pay attention to my body, but not obsess over how I'm feeling, and just adjust as necessary. It's a work in progress for me, getting used to it. I also try to take advantage of those slightly cooler or rainy days by doing a long slow run on those days. Really hydrate after, all day, and get some electrolytes into you.
 
I have been speed walking in heat and humidity, and some days it is really tough. Adapting is necessary, and being more flexible is key. Like Morningstar, I adapt my workouts as I go along if necessary. This A.M. (which wasn't that hot, at around 80, but was 100% humidity!) I planned a 5k speed walk, but after about 2 miles post-warm-up on a sunny trail (which I used because I dropped my car off for repairs nearby), I decided that that was enough for the speed, and I did the rest of my walk as a slower, longer walk).

Some suggestions:
1) take water with you, or stop along the way at a park that has a water fountain. I now have identified two parks with water in the general vicinity of my regular walking routes.

2) wear a cooling bandana : a sort of neck scarf that contains water-retaining crystals. You soak the scarf in cool water (I put it in the fridge in a bowl of water overnight) then ring it out and tie it around your neck. The coolness in contact with the big arteries on both sides of the neck cools your body down.

I tried one of these for the first time during a July 4th 5k that started at 11:00 (so it was HOT!). It did seem to help (even though I still thought I was going to die at the end, I ended up with my best time so far).

3) plan a more shady route (you may have already figured this out!). When it's really hot out, I tend to do a zig-zag course up and down tree-lined streets. It's often 5-10 degrees cooler in the shade of a big tree (or at least it seems like it).

4) as others have mentioned: hydrate thoughout the day. I like to make a pre-workout smoothie containing coconut water (for electrolytes) and chia gel (to retain hydration). Today, I had a chilled coconut water as a post-workout drink as well.

5)wearing a running cap (that shades your face and has good ventilation) might help.

6) start your run as early as possible (though sometimes going out later, and having the air temperature drop as your body temperature increases, can work well, too, but in mid-summer, that would be quite late).
 
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3) plan a more shady route (you may have already figured this out!). When it's really hot out, I tend to do a zig-zag course up and down tree-lined streets. It's often 5-10 degrees cooler in the shade of a big tree (or at least it seems like it).

It is definitely cooler in the shade. I do the same thing with the zig zagging trying to get into what little shade the trees on the side of the road provide.

I know for sure that 95 degrees with the sun shining is WAY hotter and tougher to run in, than 95 degrees and shady or cloudy. Even the humidity isn't as bad in the shade.

Sometimes when I run just after sunset, the temp is still in the high 90s, but with no sun it's definitely more tolerable.
 
JeanneMarie - you said you run inside on a treadmill in "winter" in Georgia. I didn't think Georgia had winter. I'm confused. haha

For me, I simply can not tolerate the heat at all. If I tried to run in it, I would quite literally end up in the hospital. Listen to your body. If you can't take it, move your workouts indoors!! This stuff is dangerous. Conveniently I'm not a runner anymore because my knees can't take it. But to me, ideal running weather would be somewhere around 45 degrees.
 
JeanneMarie - you said you run inside on a treadmill in "winter" in Georgia. I didn't think Georgia had winter. I'm confused. haha

For me, I simply can not tolerate the heat at all. If I tried to run in it, I would quite literally end up in the hospital. Listen to your body. If you can't take it, move your workouts indoors!! This stuff is dangerous. Conveniently I'm not a runner anymore because my knees can't take it. But to me, ideal running weather would be somewhere around 45 degrees.

Yes! We do have winter! Quite harsh ones actually, although not for extended periods like further north. My cut off point for running outside is around 45 degees. Any colder than that, and it hurts my ears. Also, you'd be surprised how cold it can feel here with the wetness and the wind.

I can run much easier in the heat than the cold though.
 
Some other ideas that work for my DD and me: walk 5 min. before you start running to give your body a chance to get used to the heat/humidity before you up the cardio workload by running. Next, run your first mile significantly slower than your usual pace. Again, give your body time to adapt to weather conditions before you stress it w/ a faster pace. Gradually, increase your pace as you feel more comfortable.

My DD was dying on her runs before we employed this strategy, now she's able to do 5-6 mile runs comfortably.

HTH and good luck!
 
Yes! We do have winter! Quite harsh ones actually, although not for extended periods like further north. My cut off point for running outside is around 45 degees. Any colder than that, and it hurts my ears. Also, you'd be surprised how cold it can feel here with the wetness and the wind.

I can run much easier in the heat than the cold though.


That's funny, I was out this winter in 3 degrees w/ running tights, a sweatshirt, hat and gloves, and was chilly, but fine. I can do cold, hot just sucks so much worse. I do it, but I don't like it. I 45 degree run is fantabulous weather!

Nan
 
I'm with you- give me cold over hot any day, as long as it's not icy. You can always put more clothes on, but there's only so much you can take off!
 
Another thing I thought of: wear light colors that don't absorb heat.

That's funny, I was out this winter in 3 degrees w/ running tights, a sweatshirt, hat and gloves, and was chilly, but fine. I can do cold, hot just sucks so much worse. I do it, but I don't like it. I 45 degree run is fantabulous weather!

Nan
I've done a couple of 5ks that started out around 37-42 degrees, and while I was chilly to begin with, I quickly warmed up (it's said that one should dress for 10-15 degrees hotter than it actually is, which seems to be true from my experience...but how can you dress for what would be 100+ degrees!)
 
I've done a couple of 5ks that started out around 37-42 degrees, and while I was chilly to begin with, I quickly warmed up (it's said that one should dress for 10-15 degrees hotter than it actually is, which seems to be true from my experience...but how can you dress for what would be 100+ degrees!)

My rule of thumb is that once you're warmed up, it's going to feel 20 degrees hotter than it actually is. That seems to hold true for me anyway.

When I run in 100 degree weather, I am wearing a workout bra and a pair of short shorts... almost like a bathing suit bottom, but more coverage. They kind of look like boy shorts. What seems to cool me down the most is having my stomach exposed. That always makes a big difference for some reason.
 
Success thanks to you!

Can't thank you enough for the advice. I ran this morning a 30 minute run: warmed up ral slow for 5 minutes then did 4 1 minute pick ups with 2 minutes rest in between, then 2 2 minute pick ups with 3 minute rest then home. Using your suggestions (6am run, sloooww warm up, water push the day b4 and during, expecting a bit less on those intervals, running a bit less than I usually would and my favorite - the cool bandana!!) I had a great workout.

Another workout soul saved! All the best,

Julie
 

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