Hot advice

[shuffles42]

Hi

I’m sure everyone is struggling a bit with the heat at the moment. I’m kind of restricted to only running at lunchtime. Any tips for keeping going during the heatwave?? Tia

[JennyH10]

I’m really struggling with the heat too, my only free time is 9am and I’m feeling it then so lunchtime must be torture. The advice seems to be; wear a cap and sunscreen, keep well hydrated (all the time not just when you’re going out the door), find somewhere shaded if possible, definitely take it slow. Also a wet running buff seems like a really good idea, I haven’t tried that yet as I’ve yet to buy one. Good luck!

[Empem Graduate10]

Oh blimey that's a tough call. Hope there's some help for you out there. I've certainly upped all liquids generally.I'm not sure it's even safe to run in this at midday????

[Sqkr]

I've not tried them, but my partner has a cap which you wet and which somehow cools you down as the water evaporates, and also the same in some wrist cuff thingies. He seems to rate them. I may borrow the wrist doodahs for my next run if it insists on staying warm! I can also recommend stopping for an ice cream, as I did on Saturday. I've never enjoyed an ice cream so much 😋

[JennyH10 in reply to Sqkr]

Ice-cream stop is a genius idea 💡😎🍦

[Hidden]

Wear a hat. The day I didn’t I got mild heatstroke. And take water and possibly energy gels or bars. Depending on how far you are going.

[shuffles42 in reply to Hidden]

What symptoms did you get with mild heatstroke flickm3? I think I did too. 😩

[Hidden in reply to shuffles42]

Very red and very exhausted - had to walk uphill for the first time since c25k. Every time I stopped I felt dizzy. Got home and felt faint, hot and nauseous. The symptoms lasted all day and I was incredibly tired. My 11k run in the heat the other day was so different, even though it was hotter, because that time I wore my running hat. Cant believe the difference it made. I did feel faint briefly after the longer run, but once I’d eaten and replenished fluids, i was fine. My hat has a peak btw, though I had to cut it down because it loomed over me darkly. Still long enough to keep the sun out of my eyes though.

[shuffles42 in reply to Hidden]

Glad you were ok in the end. Although that sounds unpleasant. Hmm I always seem to feel hotter in a hat. But maybe to do need one. Even on my shady route. 😀

[Hidden in reply to shuffles42]

Mine is a proper ventilated running hat with wicking material. Doesn’t make my head hot at all but does keep the sun from beating directly on it - which is the cause of heat stroke for me.

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

Wear a visor! Wear sports sunglasses. Run on a dreadmill! Find a shady path through the woods?

[shuffles42]

Thanks everyone. So I did decide brave it. Taking the shady tree route , although that does mean more hills. Took iced water too and kept an eye on my heart rate, with a bit of a walk when it went over 160. Felt ok when I got back - hot obvs. But ok. Then about 1 1/2 hours later felt really dizzy. Had a rehydration sachet and a cool pack which helped but still feel a bit wobbly. So think I might have to rethink my plan 😩

Maybe it was the lack of ice cream stop (@sqkr 😀)

[Sqkr in reply to shuffles42]

You know it makes sense! 🍦Glad you're feeling better now though.

[mrrun Graduate10]

You don’t run in these conditions between late morning and early evening or you can suffer a heat stroke which ain’t fun, google and see. Go to any warm country and find locals wandering around, let alone running, in the midday sun. Another thing to consider is the fact that none of us is a trained athlete so there is absolutely no reason to brave it. Often you can suffer a heat stroke hydrated or not. I don’t chance it, I’m either back by 10 at the latest or pick the sunset hour.

[shuffles42 in reply to mrrun]

Yeah I guess I’ll just have to give it a miss while the heat wave is here. Or just do a weekend run. Oh well lesson learnt.

[ju-ju- Graduate10]

super slow, keep to the shade, lots of fluids, cool clothing and enjoy 😎