Running when it is hotter than balls

dianediaz

Hi MisMolly - That's a great question. I live in Orlando, Florida and regularly have to train in the heat. So one thing that I do is to work up to the heat. I start acclimating to it by running shorter runs at first in the late part of the day, say after work, while it's still pretty hot. This lets me build up slowly and get used to how the heat makes me feel. I also take extra electrolytes to make sure that I'm not depleted. Being depleted of electrolytes can make you fatigue really quickly in extreme heat.

With that said, you're gonna sweat a lot, I'm not gonna lie. But you just have to manage it and work up to it slowly. That's my best advice.

Run safe!
Diane

jrlenig

I went to the gym 2 times last week ( I do not have a membership) I just paid for single usage, and when I came back this week the manager said she would let me pay for a 1/4 of the month ( it's cheaper) I am planning on running in a 5K on Saturday...so I need to run!

stellcorb

Runner's World actually said if you drink a frozen beverage, like a smoothie, about a half an hour before a run, your core temp stays lower and you don't overheat as fast. Also, the morning is definately cooler than evening.

rowbseat13

I totally hear you. I live in Alabama, and we've been under a "severe heat advisory" in my area for a couple weeks with the heat index over 100 for most of the day. I've been checking The Weather Channel to see exactly when sunset is, and starting my run about 30-35 minutes before that time (I run about 30 minutes a day). It is MUCH cooler in the mornings, though. I have to be at work at 7, though, so unfortunately in order to run, get ready, and get to work by 7, I'd be running before the sun came up. Not cool. If you CAN run in the mornings, I'd say go for that. Otherwise, you might look in to the Frog Togg "Chilly Pads" to take with you when you run. It's kind of just a rubbery-mat thing made out of some magical material that stays cool when you get it wet. My husband uses them for golfing, and they stay cool for hours. Very refreshing. Other than that, I guess we just deal with it. Yesterday, a neighbor had a lawn sprinkler going while I was running. I was really thankful for the 2 feet of street it was getting wet. I'd be lying if I said I didn't go back that way a couple extra times to get a little refresher.

JoeB71

LOL! Love the humor in your post. I'm in the same boat dealing with the heat & not able to run country roads after dark safely. The post about stashing water along the way is a good idea. I have no ideas of my own other than make sure you're sweating as its your body's way of cooling off. Stay well hydrated & don't push yourself to the point of dizziness. Maybe bring your cell phone in case you need to call for help for heat exhaustion. Be safe.

lildevil968

Iam having the same issues with heat. Here in Colorado it is 95+, and that is extremely hot for us. Because of the temps here in the summer, and winter I have to change my running time all the time. Summer time I either do it outside on the trails, or in cases of extreme heat I do it indoors. Same goes for winter except I run in the afternoon, and only run inside when it is snowing, or icy. Drink loads of water before your run, during your run, and after your run to keep hydrated.

kjjm08

I live in Louisiana and it hot as hell morning, noon and night. So I suck it up and run. I pay attention to my buddy and just go for it. After I get going though, I hardly think about how hot it is - I start getting in my zone. Sure I am sweating my *kitten* off [yay] but I just do it. Take some water or stash your water along the trail. Maybe get a hydration belt or run with a rag that was wet/frozen. Try morning and I am talking 4 am, runs or if you aren't comfortable: Treadmill inside.

godblessourhome

Runner's World actually said if you drink a frozen beverage, like a smoothie, about a half an hour before a run, your core temp stays lower and you don't overheat as fast. Also, the morning is definately cooler than evening.

i didn't know that. thanks for this!!! this, i can do. mornings, not so much.

rybo

I hydrate all day, take 40 oz of water on me & try to stick to shaded trails as much as possible. Other than that, I don't have much more suggestions.

lemonadem

Runner's World actually said if you drink a frozen beverage, like a smoothie, about a half an hour before a run, your core temp stays lower and you don't overheat as fast. Also, the morning is definately cooler than evening.

i didn't know that. thanks for this!!! this, i can do. mornings, not so much.

Didn't know this either... thanks! I'm with you, mornings are hard!

TinaDay1114

Have you considered running in the mornings? Not sure where you are - here it's almost 20 degrees cooler in the mornings, but we're up and running at 5 or 6 am. It helps if you have someone to get up with you, it makes it harder to hit the snooze button when you know someone is waiting on you

Yep, me too. I ran at 5:45 this morning, and it wasn't as bad as I feared. At night, it seems like all the "sticky" from the day is still in the air, even though the thermometer reads cooler.

bprague

When I was in Tanzania I only managed to run right as the sun was coming up. Try slowing your pace, running at dawn, and for god's sake drink massive amounts of water but also electrolytes. You run most efficiently at about 65 degrees (weird, huh) and once you go above that it your body starts slowing down in order to cool down. Go slow, you're getting a good work out by just not dying!

CakeFit21

Just do it.

No tricks, really, it sucks for sure. But, (insert some analogy about slowest gazell and lion, someerether about someone training when you arent and they'll win blah blah blah. :-)

yep.

kelsully

Hydrate, morning runs before the heat...those have been mentioned. If you can run somewhere where it is shady all day..ie we have a forest preserve nearby. The forest is always shaded for the ground never gets as hot to radiate at you. It always feels a few degrees cooler there. Also I wear a baseball hat when I run. Before the run I drench it in COLD water. I don't worry about pace or speed in the extreme heat and I make sure that if I am running in the neighborhood I either run from park to park (water fountains), or stay within a mile of home in case I start to feel dehydrated and over heated and feel it best to end the run short. Lastly, if I am not certain that I have hydrated appropriately for the heat I run inside.

jabbogurl

Hi MisMolly - That's a great question. I live in Orlando, Florida and regularly have to train in the heat. So one thing that I do is to work up to the heat. I start acclimating to it by running shorter runs at first in the late part of the day, say after work, while it's still pretty hot. This lets me build up slowly and get used to how the heat makes me feel. I also take extra electrolytes to make sure that I'm not depleted. Being depleted of electrolytes can make you fatigue really quickly in extreme heat.

With that said, you're gonna sweat a lot, I'm not gonna lie. But you just have to manage it and work up to it slowly. That's my best advice.

Run safe!
Diane

I'm also in Orlando and run usually around 1pm or 2pm, the hottest part of the day. Yuck! I suppose you just get used to the heat and you forget about it. Plus, the faster you run, the better of a breeze you'll get. LoL. I also have found that running in the heat really helps when I do races in the morning. Getting to run when its not 90-100 degrees outside is a bonus during a race. Like everyone else said, just stay hydrated, I usually down about 20 ozs after a run within minutes.

clohessy

Hotter than hell here, outside of chicago. I always run early morning 5:15. Luckily we have "grass watering" hours 5am til 9am. I make sure I run through as many sprinkles as possible. The water from them was warm though. I take a lot of walk breaks.

chuckyp

I have started running with a Camelbak so I can take a sip and avoid that awful dry and gooey mouth and stay hydrated with the extra sweating. I found a sweatband makes it more comfortable too without having sweat running down your temples and in your eyes. I also got a running cap to keep the sun from baking down on my head. All these things help but running when it's over 100 just sucks.

Gary6030

I'm with ya. I'm dreading my run tonight. 100 with 100% humidity. I"m a guy and I'm a little uncomfortable running really late like around 10:30 or so we have a couple crack houses near where I run so..........it does help me with my pace though?

katapple

I run with a camelbak and I run slower. Good luck!