Heat advisory and high heat

amtyrell

Today it will be over 100 and last night the low was 83. I am having trouble getting the motivation to work out. I work outside and after or before work dealing with the heat again well basically how do you deal with needing to exercise and extreme heat.

jgnatca

The swimming pool!

I can't handle heat but then again I live in a northern city. I get my run in before dawn and it's pretty cool then.

rainbow198

I just keep my workouts indoors, at home like I do in the winter. No excuses. Maybe try a Youtube workout or do bodyweight work?

Really missing my outdoor walks and runs this week, but the heat + humidity is just too uncomfortable for me.

BrianSharpe

I run at 5AM to beat the heat, we get oppressive heat and humidity at times during the summer (this year all its done is rain..) and the best way to deal with it is slow down & hydrate well.

cecekay19

^^^ This. You have to get up early to beat the heat, and stay hydrated, if you want to run or work out outside. Drink lots of water and have good balanced meals so you don't lose electrolytes. My corner of Florida is in the high 70s by the time I usually run, that's still tolerable to me. I like to be out of the house by 7:30 or so and done by around 8am. That's too late in some places, though, and you may have to run at 5 or 6 to run outdoors.

Spliner1969

I typically go for a run about 5-6am to avoid the heat. On weekends I generally run longer distances and that gets tougher because the heat gets bad mid-morning and I like to get extra sleep on the weekends. So.. I've reduced to one longer run (5k or so) on the weekends, and I'll either get up super early for it on Saturday or Sunday or I'll do it as late as possible Saturday night.

janejellyroll

I run first thing in the morning (6 AM or so) and make sure that I'm going into the run adequately hydrated. I also give myself permission to go slower if the heat or humidity is getting to me. I'm not going to make myself sick chasing a PR when it's really hot.

spiriteagle99

Treadmill.

That_Country_Girl82

I live in the south and it is to hot. I have to wait until like 7:30 or 8p.m. to go out and do anything.

rsclause

I run at 5 AM but the humidity is what is killing me. If I have to exercise after sunrise in the summer I get the bike out. The extra breeze seems to help.

jennybearlv

I made a thread about this topic the other day. The advice I got was to start early, go late, suck it up and be hot, do workout videos, or get better at swimming. I'm currently brainstorming fun stuff to do inside since I abhor treadmills and videos. So far I've found roller skating, a trampoline park, and an indoor rock climbing gym. All those things cost money, so I'll probably just do that stuff occasionally. I've been sticking to walking up to the mountains in the morning or swimming in a small lake in town. I'm still trying to talk my husband into getting kayaks.

Moxie42

When it's too hot for outdoor stuff, but I want something free/cheap, I do workout videos online or ones that I bought from Amazon ($10 Zumba videos, that kinda thing). If you're craving the outdoors, depending on where you live, there might be community centers that you can pay just a few dollars for a one-time swim in the pool.

cwolfman13

I ride at 5:30 AM

stealthq

I go after the sun goes down.

Morning would typically be cooler and therefore better, but I have a harder time getting up at 5am than running at 9:30pm for an hour or two.

girlgeeklula

I go out early (I'm generally at the park by 7) on most days. On the day's I can't do morning workiuts, I keep them short with lots of rehydating and time to cool back down before I return to chasing the kiddos.

Charlene_1985

I was supposed to do a long run today of 1:40:00. Made it 45 minutes with the heat index at 98 (plus it was sunny and I run in a park that has a ton of mulch that holds moisture and you can see the steam rising from it). Could not keep my HR below 180 so I stopped and walked. Others were doing fine. I keep pushing myself to go out and try to get acclimated but I can't.

jjpptt2

Some people do well in the heat, others don't. Some can train their bodies and eventually get good at dealing with the heat... others always seem to struggle. Only time and trial and error will tell where you land.

But more to your question... Going out early or late can certainly help. Take advantage of lawn sprinklers, people out washing their cars, etc. If you're friendly/silly about it, most people are pretty receptive to giving you spray as you go by (at least that's been my experience).

Biking can feel cooler, as long as you can keep a decent pace - climbing in the heat can be awful. Water sports/activities are a no-brainer, but can be harder logistically for some people.

Regardless, if you're not trained for the heat, I'd still go out, but I'd go out with the plan/expectation that my performance is going to suffer. I'd expect a slower pace and/or higher RPE than usual, and I'd probably plan for a longer or more focused recovery period.

Lastly, working outdoors in the heat all day + exercising in the heat is probably more than most of us can relate to. It'll certainly put more emphasis on things like hydration, electrolyte balance, and recovery... so don't underestimate those things.

GottaBurnEmAll

I do very, very poorly in the heat. I do have a home treadmill I can use, but this time of year prefer to use it just for rainy days (I simply cannot see in the rain in my glasses outside for a run).

I go out very early and just walk briskly instead of trying to run. Running in bad heat induces migraines for me.

Thankfully, the weather here is supposed to break tomorrow, so I should be able to run on Saturday.

mom23mangos

I find early in the mornings to be worse than evenings in the deep south. In the mornings, the temps are in the 80's and 90% humidity. It's the humidity that kills you. In the afternoons, like today it's a heat index of 107, but the humidity usually backs down to 50-60%. Evenings it actually feels pretty nice. I ride my bike and as long as I stay hydrated I'm OK. In the afternoons home, I will wet my shirt down and go through spash pads if I can. As long as you are moving it's OK. It's when you have to stop at a light that it hits you.

Lounmoun

I exercise indoors in the air conditioning.

WandaVaughn

I'm at the track at 5:30 a.m. It's still muggy, but at least the sun isn't blaring down on me yet.

Scott6255

I am usually running between 5-5:30am, but it is still oppressively hot and humid (low 80's, 80-90% humidity) here in Texas. But in the evening you have to wait until after 8:00pm as the sun is going down to get any relief from the heat. And since I get up at 4am, I don't want to come in from a run soaking wet, then have to go straight to bed. So just have to tough it out and slow the pace and mileage during the summer months.

Brabo_Grip

I live in mid-south with the heat and humidity that comes with it. Frankly, I love the brutality of it. Maybe I am a masochist, but I feel like it is hardening me. Making me tougher. I put in some angry music and train during the hotest part of the day. (Properly hydrated of course.)

rsclause

cwolfman13 wrote: »

I ride at 5:30 AM

I get scared of riding in the dark even with my lights flashing. In the summer 5:30 AM is close enough to dawn but before that I don't do. Traffic is light and I love to watch the sun come up too.

ladyhusker39

I hear ya. I'm of Scandinavian descent and I've never gotten used to the heat even though I've lived in the south my entire life. Even indoors at my classes I struggle because of the humidity. I find that I have to just slow down and do the best I can. Also, I drink a boatload of water. I've actually cut back on my weight loss plan to go slower in the summer because I'm just not burning off as much. The humidity will break here sometime in September and I'll kick it back up then. I'd rather do that than get discouraged and give up all together. Hang in there.

WickAndArtoo

I recommend doing it in the morning before you start your day, it's coolest then and you'll be able to take a shower after and get ready for the day (since no matter what time you do it you'll be soaked in sweat by the end). The biggest thing is making sure to listen to your body, and also hydrate ahead of time the whole day not just when you you are about to exercise or right after, by then it's too late. Even though it's more humid in the mornings it's nice to not have the sun glaring down on you, it really makes a difference. Plus it's before you have worked all day in the heat so you will have more motivation to do it/won't be sick of it yet.

I used to work 10 hour days doing labor outside, with an hour commute both ways and then run after work (in the summer in GA so hot and humid). I just made it a habit, and it made it easy. I had a snack everyday on my way home and drank a bottle of water on the drive so that I would have a little energy/extra hydration. Then after the run I would shower, eat dinner, go to sleep. During the day while working outside I drank anywhere from 10-12 bottles of water (16oz) and ate every 2-3 hours (small snacks).

Also I never used them but there are towels specially designed to dip in cold water that stay cold wrapped around your neck while exercising. But ultimately you don't have to work out outside in the summer, that is a choice you are making, choose wisely!

vmbourg

I live in Louisiana. Its always hot and humid, July and August are killer months out here. Didnt even really have a 2016 winter, I may of worn a jacket like 2 times? When I have to do a lot of outside work ( like an hour in the yard), I def drink a lot of water, cover up (hats/sunglasses) and etc. But if I dont replenish when I am done all that sweating, I get so tired I cant move. I try to do workouts in the mornings before I get into that heat.

doittoitgirl

I went to a thrift shop and picked up an old (admittedly jankity) exercise bike. I told myself if I can't get outside to ride might as well get some pedaling in while I'm home watching a show