Do you overheat?

trlrnrgrl
trlrnrgrl Posts: 80
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I know this might seem like a weird post to anyone living up north, but it's already getting a little warm down here in Texas. Yesterday I went for a run in the mid 80s and struggled to keep from getting too hot.

Does anyone out there struggle with getting overheated when running (or other outside exercise) when everyone else seems fine? For years, when I run, if it's starting to get even a little warm (like starting in the 80s), I have to constantly splash my face with water because I get so hot. Everyone else around me (like in a race or a popular running trail) doesn't seem to have this problem (until it starts getting hotter).

Oddly, once I get acclimated to the heat, I can keep running up into the mid 90s without much problem, as long as I'm careful.

Replies

  • trail_rnr
    trail_rnr Posts: 337 Member
    I have a big problem with this also. I am a massive overheater, even when it's cold. I'll see people out running in a lot of clothes and I'm just wearing a long sleeve, thin shirt.

    I didn't used to be this way. Honestly, I think a lot of it is hormones. I can get acclimated as well, but, really, once it's into the mid-90s I just shut down. In the summer I try to run in the morning when it's in the 60s or 70s.

    Even though you might be going for a short run, don't skimp on the electrolytes, esp while you are acclimating. Nuun and Endurolyte Fizz are good choices for short runs since they don't have any calories and you can just pop one into your water bottle. For longer runs I use Endurolyte caplets. I like the fizz, but too much of it gives me an upset stomach (both the Nuun and E Fizz have sorbitol in them, which doesn't really agree with me).
  • trlrnrgrl
    trlrnrgrl Posts: 80
    I'll give the electrolytes a try. I love Nuun, but don't usually think about using it til it's hotter, but maybe that's the problem - maybe I should be using it even in the 80s. I do take Gus on my longer runs when it's warm and have thought that's enough for my electrolytes, but maybe it's not. Thanks!

    I noticed the overheating thing happening to me after I had a minor bout of heat exhaustion (not from exercise) years ago. It was after that that it seems like my body lost its ability to regulate my heat very well until I'm acclimated. When it's cold, though, it's the opposite - I usually wear 2-3 more layers than everyone around me. Weird.

    Thanks!
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    I make sure I wear the bare minimum while running, even when it's icy. You heat up about 20 degrees when you run, so if it's in the 80s, dress as you would if you were walking around in 100 degrees.

    I am in the UK, and it never gets that hot, but I always wear just running shorts and a singlet from April-October.

    Secondly make sure you take enough water on your runs. I often run in Italy, where it's about 100 degrees in July and August, and if I don't take enough water with me, it is unbearable.
  • trail_rnr
    trail_rnr Posts: 337 Member
    Try the Nuun for a couple of weeks. It certainly won't hurt.

    Interestingly, I had a bout of frostbite probably 10-12 years ago and since then I have been better able to tolerate the cold. Never thought about it, but maybe it also affected my heat tolerance?? I get Reynaud's reactions in my hands if it's in the 40s (and the rest of me is fine), but not when it's colder (the frostbite was fingers 2-3-4 on the right hand). WTH?

    Ran in the snow today in thin compression tights (my legs are kind of fried from yesterday...), a thin long sleeve shirt, and light wool gloves. Oh, and a hat, to keep the snow out of my eyes. My hands were fine because it was <30 F. Super goofy. :laugh:
  • Elen_Sia
    Elen_Sia Posts: 638 Member
    I bike during the summer and overheat like a damn volcano. The only way I can keep it under control is to have at least 40 oz of water with me while I ride. There are also a few extra bottles of drinks with electrolytes in the car for post-ride replenishment.
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    I overheat bad, plus pollen about kills me. I have a gym membership I'm going to dust off in a month or so when it's too hot even in this house for much exercise and right now I'm sleeping during the day and working out using Kinect at night. And it's not even 80 degrees yet. :sad:

    I'm so moving in a couple of years. Montana, Colorado, some place nice and cold. Or out of the country entirely. Somewhere that doesn't feature a nice yearly ragweed map and 100 degree summers.
  • trlrnrgrl
    trlrnrgrl Posts: 80
    Try the Nuun for a couple of weeks. It certainly won't hurt.

    Interestingly, I had a bout of frostbite probably 10-12 years ago and since then I have been better able to tolerate the cold. Never thought about it, but maybe it also affected my heat tolerance?? I get Reynaud's reactions in my hands if it's in the 40s (and the rest of me is fine), but not when it's colder (the frostbite was fingers 2-3-4 on the right hand). WTH?

    Ran in the snow today in thin compression tights (my legs are kind of fried from yesterday...), a thin long sleeve shirt, and light wool gloves. Oh, and a hat, to keep the snow out of my eyes. My hands were fine because it was <30 F. Super goofy. :laugh:

    That is interesting about the frostbite. So after the frostbite, you were better able to deal with cold? That is really strange that it's only the 40s that causes the reaction.

    That's CRAZY to me that you ran in only a thin long sleeve shirt in <30! I would have frozen to death! In the 20s, I've got on two base layers and a warm insulating layer, plus my warmest fuzzy running tights, plus smartwool hat and gloves. Of course, I'm always dressed way warmer than anyone around me. Here's a funny thought - I'm still wearing my thin long sleeve running shirt (with short tights) all the way up into the low 70s!
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    Try the Nuun for a couple of weeks. It certainly won't hurt.

    Interestingly, I had a bout of frostbite probably 10-12 years ago and since then I have been better able to tolerate the cold. Never thought about it, but maybe it also affected my heat tolerance?? I get Reynaud's reactions in my hands if it's in the 40s (and the rest of me is fine), but not when it's colder (the frostbite was fingers 2-3-4 on the right hand). WTH?

    Ran in the snow today in thin compression tights (my legs are kind of fried from yesterday...), a thin long sleeve shirt, and light wool gloves. Oh, and a hat, to keep the snow out of my eyes. My hands were fine because it was <30 F. Super goofy. :laugh:

    You'd better watch that, that's pretty dangerous if you get it badly.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    Try the Nuun for a couple of weeks. It certainly won't hurt.

    Interestingly, I had a bout of frostbite probably 10-12 years ago and since then I have been better able to tolerate the cold. Never thought about it, but maybe it also affected my heat tolerance?? I get Reynaud's reactions in my hands if it's in the 40s (and the rest of me is fine), but not when it's colder (the frostbite was fingers 2-3-4 on the right hand). WTH?

    Ran in the snow today in thin compression tights (my legs are kind of fried from yesterday...), a thin long sleeve shirt, and light wool gloves. Oh, and a hat, to keep the snow out of my eyes. My hands were fine because it was <30 F. Super goofy. :laugh:

    That is interesting about the frostbite. So after the frostbite, you were better able to deal with cold? That is really strange that it's only the 40s that causes the reaction.

    That's CRAZY to me that you ran in only a thin long sleeve shirt in <30! I would have frozen to death! In the 20s, I've got on two base layers and a warm insulating layer, plus my warmest fuzzy running tights, plus smartwool hat and gloves. Of course, I'm always dressed way warmer than anyone around me. Here's a funny thought - I'm still wearing my thin long sleeve running shirt (with short tights) all the way up into the low 70s!

    That could be the problem. I never run in more than a summer t-shirt and a windstopper with summer tights even when it's icy. Running heats you up so much. I don't even own a long sleeved running top.
  • trlrnrgrl
    trlrnrgrl Posts: 80
    I bike during the summer and overheat like a damn volcano. The only way I can keep it under control is to have at least 40 oz of water with me while I ride. There are also a few extra bottles of drinks with electrolytes in the car for post-ride replenishment.

    Hi Volcano (he he, that gave me a good laugh!),

    You know, I've been running for years and struggling with this, but maybe I'm just still not drinking enough water (or getting enough electrolytes), even after all these years. I've never been able to drink the recommended amount of water each day (what is it - 64 oz?). The times I've tried, I thought I'd float away and it made me feel nauseous.

    I just read something interesting on line that says that when you exercise, your blood is flowing more than usual to those muscles that are working hard so that those muscles can get more oxygen. So, your circulatory system isn't able to circulate as much blood as usual to your skin, so it can't keep you as cool. Once you acclimate, though, your body gets more efficient. That makes sense to me because I don't have as much trouble once I'm acclimated, even if it's in the 90s. If I'm just doing light work (not exercise), I can even spend a lot of time outside in the low to mid 100s with no trouble.

    I'm going to try both things - drinking more water and taking in more electrolytes. Maybe I'll even do it before I run. If it's gonna be in the 80s or above, maybe I'll start drinking both things on my drive to the trail head so my tank is topped off from the start.

    Thank you!
  • brandiuntz
    brandiuntz Posts: 2,717 Member
    I used to overheat pretty quickly when playing sports outside (I play something almost year round). I live in Texas, too, btw. Once I got past 40lbs of weight lost, I noticed I can handle summers far better. Spring and fall are "easy", too!

    Of course, I do get colder a lot quicker. So, there's trade-off, but I'll take it.:laugh:
  • trlrnrgrl
    trlrnrgrl Posts: 80
    Try the Nuun for a couple of weeks. It certainly won't hurt.

    Interestingly, I had a bout of frostbite probably 10-12 years ago and since then I have been better able to tolerate the cold. Never thought about it, but maybe it also affected my heat tolerance?? I get Reynaud's reactions in my hands if it's in the 40s (and the rest of me is fine), but not when it's colder (the frostbite was fingers 2-3-4 on the right hand). WTH?

    Ran in the snow today in thin compression tights (my legs are kind of fried from yesterday...), a thin long sleeve shirt, and light wool gloves. Oh, and a hat, to keep the snow out of my eyes. My hands were fine because it was <30 F. Super goofy. :laugh:

    That is interesting about the frostbite. So after the frostbite, you were better able to deal with cold? That is really strange that it's only the 40s that causes the reaction.

    That's CRAZY to me that you ran in only a thin long sleeve shirt in <30! I would have frozen to death! In the 20s, I've got on two base layers and a warm insulating layer, plus my warmest fuzzy running tights, plus smartwool hat and gloves. Of course, I'm always dressed way warmer than anyone around me. Here's a funny thought - I'm still wearing my thin long sleeve running shirt (with short tights) all the way up into the low 70s!

    That could be the problem. I never run in more than a summer t-shirt and a windstopper with summer tights even when it's icy. Running heats you up so much. I don't even own a long sleeved running top.

    I'm fine all the way through the 70s, and a thin LS (loose) running shirt works well for me in the 60s and 70s with running shorts. It's when it starts to get in the low 80s or more that I start getting too hot. By that time, I'm wearing my thin, loose reflective short sleeve running shirt (wicking) and running shorts. By the mid to high 80s or more I'm in only a loose singlet and shorts - basically as few clothes as possible!
  • trlrnrgrl
    trlrnrgrl Posts: 80
    Here's another thought - could it be that having thick, dark hair makes a difference? I wear a thin mesh white running cap (hair pulled back off my neck), which seems to help. If I don't wear a cap, the top of my head heats up like an oven. Even with the cap, my head gets hot. Sometimes I wonder if that's the source of getting overheated. I've tried a visor, but when that sun hits my dark hair, it feels like it's boiling up there.
  • Brandongood
    Brandongood Posts: 311 Member
    I recommend getting a CamelBak. They cost like 60 bucks but so awesome to have water on demand while running!
  • Elen_Sia
    Elen_Sia Posts: 638 Member
    I recommend getting a CamelBak. They cost like 60 bucks but so awesome to have water on demand while running!

    ^THIS! I want to get one this summer!
  • trlrnrgrl
    trlrnrgrl Posts: 80
    I recommend getting a CamelBak. They cost like 60 bucks but so awesome to have water on demand while running!

    Yes! It's actually on my birthday list to get later this summer! It's great to hear you like it so much.
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