Runners: how much does heat impact your run?

2»

Replies

  • justal313
    justal313 Posts: 1,375 Member
    When it comes to running, we are each and experiment with a sample size of one.

    Personally I hate heat and it slows me down. I will NEVER race well on a hot day. Give me 50 and cloudy over 70 and sunny.

    I have friends who love the heat and kick *kitten* despite it - go figure.

    They must run on photosynthesis
  • ashleyjoy80
    ashleyjoy80 Posts: 18
    I live in Phoenix and when I started running a few years ago the heat killed me. I just started running again in April after having my third child and my pace has improved this summer, despite the heat and my almost 2 year break from running. I'm now faster than I was before having my third child and I felt I was at my fittest then. The heat used to bother me a lot but I've become used to it. I run early and stay very hydrated and I just push myself. I would rather run in cooler temps but I'll take running in the heat any day over not running at all.
  • redhousecat
    redhousecat Posts: 584 Member
    http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267-269-13245-0,00.html

    here is a tidbit of reading

    heat doesn't bother me near as bad as humidity.
  • Legs_McGee
    Legs_McGee Posts: 845 Member
    I live in the Pacific Northwest so we don't get much heat; it didn't get over 70 degrees until mid-July. In fact it's currently 58 degrees outside - mid day in August. So when we do get the occasional warm day, I'm not acclimated to it at all and it greatly affects my running. That being said - I love love love the heat and the feel of the sun on my skin, and being all sweaty and disgusting, so when we had four whole days a couple weeks ago of actual real summer (mid 80s to low 90s) I was out running in it everyday. Not running well; but running.
  • Jg04811
    Jg04811 Posts: 102 Member
    In the summer I usually run before work (really early), I have tried running in the afternoon heat and notice I can not go as long or as fast., plus I get it in so I dont have to worry about it the rest of the day. I love starting my day off with a good run =)
  • scottb81
    scottb81 Posts: 2,538 Member
    For me the Georgia summer heat and high humidity has this effect.

    For short runs of 30 minutes or less at easy pace the heat and humidity has little effect.

    For runs up to an hour at easy pace the effect is small but noticable.

    For runs over an hour at easy pace I slow by around 30 seconds to 1 minute per mile.

    Race pace at any distance is slower. 5K pace at 90 degrees is 20 to 30 seconds slower per mile than at 50 degrees. At 100 degrees it slows by another 10 to 15 sec/mi.
  • LoosingMyLast15
    LoosingMyLast15 Posts: 1,457 Member
    i'll have to let you know because it's still in the 80s in VA and humid. i'm hoping by october the temp drops.
  • estepteau
    estepteau Posts: 146
    ALOT!! I run way more in the winter time...when it cooler :):)
  • willothewisp16
    willothewisp16 Posts: 3
    For me its definitely the humidity that kills me. Heat isnt awesome, but its doable. But get one of those 80% humidity days and im useless. I still try and push through, but I definitely notice a difference.
  • insidemelookingout
    insidemelookingout Posts: 34
    I have been training in the heat all summer. It is AWFUL! I live in the south and those humid days kill me. I feel like I haven't gotten anywhere in my training. I can't wait for the cooler weather. My tolerance and speed is so much better once the weather hits the 80's
  • brentb71
    brentb71 Posts: 41 Member
    I'm pretty much a new runner... started in April 12. In south Louisiana we get plenty of heat and humidity. My weekday runs are primarily in the evenings and the temp definitely takes its toll on pace, fatigue, and heart rate. Even a slight drop (10 degrees) in temp & humidity I notice an improvement in all of those factors.

    I have yet to run in fall and winter so I can't attest to it but I am REALLY looking forward to it!
  • ixap
    ixap Posts: 675 Member
    I suspect it was done the same way they determined formulae for estimating maximum heart rates--and with just as high a margin of error.
    I would guess the same. I can't imagine the estimates are terribly accurate if you need to predict a specific pace / temperature.

    I do think that nearly everyone is affected by some degree, though, just some more than others.
    In elite races, you pretty well never see course records or world records set when it's 80F+ (unless of course it's usually 80F+ for that race, obvs). But you see some of the athletes falling apart much worse than others.
  • iBetYouDontBelieveMe
    iBetYouDontBelieveMe Posts: 8 Member
    As you lose weight your tolerance to heat changes.
    You'll become cooler in hotter weather just because you have less layers of insulation on you.
  • ixap
    ixap Posts: 675 Member
    As you lose weight your tolerance to heat changes.
    You'll become cooler in hotter weather just because you have less layers of insulation on you.
    Oh yeah, this is true too for sure. Even 10 pounds is a noticeable difference for me.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    I suspect it was done the same way they determined formulae for estimating maximum heart rates--and with just as high a margin of error.
    I would guess the same. I can't imagine the estimates are terribly accurate if you need to predict a specific pace / temperature.

    I do think that nearly everyone is affected by some degree, though, just some more than others.
    In elite races, you pretty well never see course records or world records set when it's 80F+ (unless of course it's usually 80F+ for that race, obvs). But you see some of the athletes falling apart much worse than others.

    Bill Rodgers was one who could not tolerate heat. Was top world marathoner in 1976. Finished 40th (2:25) in Montreal.
  • ixap
    ixap Posts: 675 Member
    I feel like Paula's awful crash-and-burn at Athens was at least partly attributable to the heat too, don't you?
  • ixap
    ixap Posts: 675 Member
    PS - has anyone read Duel in the Sun? re: the super hot Boston marathon showdown between Salazar and Beardsley. Great read.
  • victoria4321
    victoria4321 Posts: 1,719 Member
    It affects me a lot. When its in the high 90s I notice that I run slower and feel a lot more tired. I try to run in the morning before it gets too hot. On a serious heat wave when its hot in the morning I just don't run.

Categories