Can anyone explain why some of us feel VERY cold after running or exercising?

[Beek]

I come home feeling very hot and looking flushed. I have a long hot shower but often spend the next few hours feeling cold to my core. Does anybody know why?

[Rockette]

Glad you have asked this question because I'm exactly the same . Be interested to know why .

[Beek Graduate in reply to Rockette]

Hi, Rockette, I'm hoping someone can enlighten us. I even felt cold after running in the summer so I don't see how it can just be a seasonal thing!

[Beek Graduate]

I've just Googled 'Why cold after running' and picked on this link. I do run on empty so low blood sugar may be part of it. It was also quite a hard run today.

coolrunning.com.au/forums/i...

It does seem worse after a 'hard' run when I am trying to increase distance or speed.

This is another link:

community.runnersworld.com/...

I. do always have a hot shower and change into clean dry clothes. Perhaps taking my hoodie for the walk home would help!

[lemondoodle]

What an interesting question and answer - I have the same issue.

[Poppy2010 Graduate]

My daughter looked this up as she suffers this post run coldness too. She said it is because the core temperature gets so high that it is the bodies reaction to ensure the core cools and doesn't get dangerously high, or cause collapse...

[Beek Graduate in reply to Poppy2010]

That makes sense. What does she do about it though? For me I suspect it is low blood sugar levels too because I run on empty. Well, that and the long walk home in sweaty clothes. A hoodie should help there! Must re-jig my route to make sure I finish at home - not 2km walk away!

[ju-ju- Graduate]

We just call it post running shivers.. So hot shower and hardcore chocolate, always works......

[Fortyfiver in reply to ju-ju-]

Very good question! I thought it was because of all the weight I lost from running I didn't have any insulation anymore, lol

[Rockette in reply to ju-ju-]

Like sound of hard core chocolate remedy

[Beek Graduate in reply to Rockette]

Yes, I do too! I am allowed proper dark chocolate (I am diabetic) so that will be my solution - along with the hoodie!

[Rockette in reply to Rockette]

Can't wait to try it tomorrow

[Anniemurph Graduate]

This is a really interesting question. It happens to me - not just after the run, I walk home, have a hot shower and a hot drink, but for the rest of the day. Which is odd, because I'd have thought that if I run at around 8am, by 8pm my body should really have sorted itself out!

[Beek Graduate in reply to Anniemurph]

Yes it is odd. Having done a bit of reading since asking the question, I feel it could be very low blood sugar (I run on empty first thing normally) combined with it taking me too long to get home and I get too chilled on the way back. I do admit I feel very cold walking home. I am rearranging my route to see if I can finish nearer to home. It has been extremely cold of late but we must learn to work round that!

Some days I am so cold that I have to get into bed, several hours after a hot shower, with a warm 'wheat' bag to get comfy in my skin again! Then I moan about wasting my time - which I never have enough of!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS RUNNING though, warm or cold!

[sfb350 Graduate]

I always get really warm while running (hot and sweaty) and now the weather is colder I've started to leave a thermal mug full of hot liquorice tea in my car while I'm at running club, as well as a warm, dry hoodie. They seem to help me avoid the chills later on. On Sunday, I ran 6 miles on an empty stomach so I was feeling ravenous when I got back and had food before running a bath. I should really have had the hot bath and warmed up before food - I got so cold that I couldn't warm up for hours and spent the whole day feeling exhausted. Perhaps the blood sugar does make a difference - I tend to notice feeling cold after a run most at weekends when I run on an empty stomach.

[getalifechuck Graduate]

Its all about Adrenaline, if for example fight of flight scenario.. When you get the horrible and anxious feelings before you run or anticipation and psychology that we naturally do prior to a run.. The adrenaline that we have which is a hormone in our bodies, stimulates other vital organs to work faster when we become stressed or anxious.. or when we are challenged example at interviews or in a fight or bodies react. What Adrenaline will do to our bodies, increases our heart rate and metabolism to burn more energy. Thats why our human instincts if we are going to be savaged by a lion we empty our intestines quickly to make us lighter to escape from the predators quickly ... We then become very tired and thirsty after the event, so our bodies become cold to reserve our core body temperature. So its about get a good balance of energy to sustain our body temperature, thermo regulation which is controlled by our hypothalamus in our brain..... which controls vital organs that keeps us balanced

If you run early morning in theory its best to drink prior to a run drink a cup of Tea or coffee (caffeine) and water (500ml -1000ml) will be suffice (30-40 mins). The body should have enough energy reserved when you have a continual aerobic exercise of between 15-20 mins, then it starts to use fat reserves stored in the body.

Then allow mother nature to take control and after run eat a small amount of foods that have a good carbohydrates that last longer in the body. And you are correct to say a small and regular amount of foods is better in sustain those hunger pains after an exhausting running than to over indulge on a huge meal at once.

Soups are much better, especially home made with lots of vegetables with essential minerals, vitamins and amino acids, (protein) chicken. The more varieties of good quality foods the better. My favourite source of fruit are Kiwi as they are packed full of vitamin C and aid your recovery quicker, brilliant for your digestive system and enhances your skin cells.. Try them and you will feel a brilliant glow in your complexion..

[PinkIcy in reply to getalifechuck]

Wow! Six years later, I’m literally Googling this same problem, came across this thread, and this answer explained it all. I’m not attributing my issue to low blood sugar as in the original poster’s comment because I eat throughout the day, work out in the evening, and eat a light, warm dinner after. Nevertheless this answer was enlightening!

[runwithdog Graduate in reply to PinkIcy]

same here...miserable afternoon at work,now sat with my hot water bottle.