Has anyone got tips for coping with this heat?

[Beek]

I get out early and drink loads the day before but I really struggle in the heat. Always have. I am one of those people who don't feel the cold. I guess I must be warm bodied and start off very warm, therefore find it difficult to cool down enough. Makes me feel ghastly.

[Oldgirl Graduate]

I would keep your runs quite short, it can be very dangerous to overheat. You are doing the right things with early morning runs and plenty to drink the day before. Have a good drink before you leave the house too. I have started putting a wet hand towel rung out into a polly bag and in the freezer, its wonderful to come home to and sit with it around the back of my neck while eating breakfast, then a cool shower after. I'm not very good wearing sleeveless tops but do find they are better when its really hot, especially when running on holiday too. I wear my cap as well and if the sun is beating down on the back of my neck I turn the peak around to help protect my neck. My street cred by this time is sitting at zero but at least I'm not getting my neck burned.

[Beek Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

Hey! That sounds like a good idea! I ironed my bee suit just before needing it yesterday and put it in the freezer before wearing it - worked a treat. I will take your advice next time I run. It feels like I'm going to burst when I get so hot - horrible feeling - utterly exhausted! Cold towel sounds good. I usually turn the shower to cold too - lovely! Thanks for the tip!

[greenlegs Graduate in reply to Beek]

For a moment there I thought you were running in your bee suit! I had visions of you in black and yellow stripes in a fancy dress race... Then remembered you're a beekeeper.

Frozen towel sounds a good plan, but I'm not sure I'm brave enough for a cold shower. But cool is good!

[OldNed Graduate in reply to greenlegs]

Cold showers are wonderful! Put your head in first and it takes the shock of it away. I haven't had even a warm shower for nearly two months now.

[Beek Graduate in reply to greenlegs]

As it happens I do also have a black and yellow 'bee suit' which I wore when we lobbied our MP's at Parliament about pesticide use. I'll seek out a picture and put it on my profile some time!

[greenlegs Graduate in reply to Beek]

That's hilarious!

[Mysticalmaid Graduate]

I drink a glass of water half hour or so before I go, then use the loo right before so I don't get caught short. Sip water quite frequently to keep your mouth moist or when you feel you are flagging. I find wearing a peak hat keeps the sun off my dark hair and out of my eyes (and helps my glasses stay clearer in the rain). My running vest is my favourite top for running right now, I don't care how big my arms are any more so long as I'm cool. Oh and I started having cold showers a couple of weeks ago lol. It's heavenly.

Try and plan your route so you have intermittent shade along the route, that really helps.

[Beek Graduate in reply to Mysticalmaid]

Hi Mysticalmaid, Hadn't thought about wearing a hat (I think of those as winter wear to keep you warm, I guess)

I was tempted to take my polo shirt off and run in my Shockabsorber bra top but that would have been too offensive for words! I'll wear a vest top tomorrow - good thinking, and I don't care about my big arms either!

I need to get into my local forestry woodland don't I?

[Mysticalmaid Graduate in reply to Beek]

There are bra tops you can run in I think, or maybe they are just tiny tops that look like sports bras. I couldn't run in one of those just yet, my vest thing covers my belly nicely, I don't think the world is ready for my belly quite yet hehe.

You should find the vest top much cooler, I wore the t-shirt one day this week and it was awful. The forestry sounds great, are there flat bridle paths around there? Or canal tow paths?

[Beek Graduate in reply to Mysticalmaid]

I live in a lovely valley and my usual run is along the river bank on clay footpaths. It is fairly level with intermittent tree shade. The forest is mostly on the top of the hill and I know it has several bridle paths in it. It undulates and is steep in parts with huge rocky outcrops to navigate. I could be selective and run from one of the car parks, through the beech woods and into the forestry woods, all on a reasonably flat route. Must get it properly sussed out a.s.a.p. The rest of the area is open fields with crops and not suitable for running.

[mrqwest Graduate]

I'm warm blooded like you Beek and it's a nightmare in this heat. I've got no real tips for running in this (my schedule is in tatters at the moment) but heading out as early as possible is always a good start. I went out at 6:30 yesterday for a long run and although it was fresh at that time, it was too warm by about half 7 so I had to keep stopping for a rest.

A cold shower, a pint of water and some squash when I get in is my savior.

I did try running with a cap, I bought a Nike Dry-fit running cap which has a peak but the actual cap is a mesh. It made me feel so so hot though so I've not tried it since!

Will try out some of the tips posted here though! Thanks all!

[OlsBean]

I invested in a Columbia Omni-Freeze Running Top a few weeks ago and initial thoughts are that it does help keep me cooler, other manufacturers also have claims to similar technologies.

I've also found my Halo sweatband essential for keeping the sweat out of my eyes.

A little more drastic but I had my head shaved on Saturday (much to my wife's shock!) and that's really helped.

[Beek Graduate in reply to OlsBean]

Not sure shaving my head would go down well at home! I can see it would help though! I will seek out those tops.

[swanscot Graduate]

I'm like you, and don't feel the cold and suffer in the heat. I'm currently running in as little as possible, but remaining decent! I've not run in a t-shirt for ages - vest and shorts are the only choice for temperatures of 15°C and above or me. I'm trying to go out as early as possible, but today, on my day off work, I needed a long lie after only 4 hours sleep on Saturday/Sunday night. I was starting to get too hot before I'd finished so cut my run shorter than originally planned.

[Beek Graduate in reply to swanscot]

Hi swanscot,

It's awful when you get overheated isn't it? It is important to get your sleep too so , like you, it is hard fitting it all in whilst the temperature id low. I think I must just not push for the sake of it and stop if my body is screaming at me too much! Thanks for the advice. Can't wait for the winter. I do wonder how you go on in the ice and snow underfoot - sounds risky!

[swanscot Graduate in reply to Beek]

Sleep is very important when we exercise. I've currently got a 30-mile round trip cycle commute and doing that yesterday (after the 4-hours sleep) was a bit of a killer! I felt brain dead by 4pm.

I think being able to recognise when our bodies tell us to stop, and not just follow the 'it's all in the head; got to push myself' mentality is an important skill to develop as we become more experienced runners.