When should you not run in 35c heat?

[mrrun]

In short, if you feel dizzy, light headed or unwell in any other way. Or if you simply don't enjoy it. I love hot weather, and here l am on holiday on the coast of Croatia where the temperature simply refuses to dip below 35c on average. There is a hot southernly wind to add to the fun. Humidity as high as it can be. I simply cannot find the gap or a route where I could do a routine 5K without getting drenched in sweat even when walking (that's coming from a slim, usually very low sweater). I still see some guys powering through when running in the early afternoon sun, the time of day that even I wouldn't want to tackle.

Other than that, I find this weather absolutely gorgeous. A gift for madmen like me. Leaving the clouds and seeing clear skies from the plane is guaranteed to boost my morale every time.

But, and that's a big but - you only run in oppressive heat if you feel you can do it, and if you've trained to do so. Even then you've got to check with the locals first. If they don't run, you should also stay away. I made a rookie error of not doing that before and that's not bound to end up in laughter.

And for some reason I run faster in these conditions. Not sure why, but that seems to be a pattern. Anyone else out there who enjoys furnace running? Hope so. Knowing that there are more of us makes me feel less weird. Oh, and the sea temperature got to 25-26c. My idea of paradise. 😀

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Not me, I’m afraid!🌞🥵 I am already dreaming of cold blustery autumnal days..!🍂🍁🌬🏃‍♀️🍁🍂🌧❄️🙂

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to Sandraj39]

I also love autumn runs, or most of outdoor runs expect when I'm fighting strong winds. I can't make myself love anything that messes up with my sense of balance. 😉

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

That's a excellent run and time for you mrrun in those very hot temperatures, no way would I consider running in such heat.

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to AlMorr]

I think it's all about how we see certain things. These guys take it for granted. The weather just is. I hear no complaints from the locals about the heat. They'd probably have a few things to say against our July weather with the rain coming down and temperatures struggling above 20c. If I didn't wear my colourful basketball gear I think I'd gel in here quite nicely. 😀

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Nope! I'm going to stick my neck out here and quietly whisper ... maybe you're just a tiny bit weird? Or maybe it's just that I live in a very sheltered bubble of course, one where anything over 20C is a bit warm for comfort!

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

I swam after the run and the sea was divine. I foolishly checked London weather and my heart filled with dread. One of the first things I'll do on my return will be the run along the Thames to beat the blues. Watch out for that guy with lobster like skin! 🤪

[misswobble Marathon]

Croatia! Never been but it sounds a fab place. Lucky you 👍😃

I’ve been running in the UK heat, which has seen me dripping with sweat. It’s like you’re leaking. It’s already passed us by now though. We knew it surely would. Cap, sunglasses, drink and a wet buff round the neck, and hydration being a feature of training of course.

Running later in the evening is lovely I think 🏃‍♀️ Where you are though I doubt it’s noticeably cooler 🤨

Given the choice, I’d plump for warm sea swims. The briny is always ruddy freezing here though 🥶. I live nowhere near it, so running it is 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

Yep, not much difference in temperatures between evening and morning runs. We've had one night when it didn't drop under 30c. The thing is, no matter what you do, don't go and run in the midday sun. That's a different game altogether. It takes me no time to go through a 500ml water bottle, electrolyte boost or not. I 'might reconsider' my running attire though. My wife claims that my latest outfit looked simply ludicrous. Her lack of taste is astonishing, I say. 🧐

[misswobble Marathon in reply to mrrun]

😁

[nowster Metric Marathon]

I found I was faster in the hotter weeks we had in the UK in the middle of July, but I really could not sustain anything but short runs.

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to nowster]

How these distance runners train in this is beyond me. I limit myself to 5K runs only. Then again, at 57 and hailing from the hot deserts of south London, that's probably the most sensible option.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to mrrun]

You’re nobbut a chit of a lad 😎

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

Haha, well, I might be.

[Frenc Half Marathon]

Lucky you getting away, I bet it’s beautiful. 😊😊😊. I did a pretty quick 6k in the heat a while back - purely because I wanted it to be over and done with pronto, and absolutely nothing to do with any ability whatsoever to run fast in the heat! I just wanted to get home ASAP 😆.

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to Frenc]

I bought brilliant running shades in Decathlon here, the ones that a dark, light and don't slide off the nose. I also never wear a cap, it feels like a concrete lid on the head in this weather. The idea is to pour some water over the head and go for it. And each time I'm surprised by how much I sweat. And each time I'm surprised how great a beer can taste afterwards. 😉

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to mrrun]

I bet that beer 🍺 tastes good! 😊😊

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to Frenc]

Oh man, you bet 😉

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon]

I spent a good few years in Bahrain and learnt to cope with it but during the summer months there’s not a chance of running outside at any time of day or night. I hate running in the heat. 10-15 is my preferred range.

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

I reckon we all enjoy that temperature range but I managed both 42k and 50k runs in relative London 'heat' of 25c or so. I simply enjoy that kind of weather. Not sure if I could tackle anything close to what Bahrain would offer in terms of heat though.

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon]

How about: "you should stop when you sprain your ankle"?

Temperature didn't seem to be a problem (I'm in the UK so only 23C) but functioning ankles seem to be important for running.

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to SkiMonday]

Knees and ankles, my friend. Those guys will either take you across the line - or stop you in the tracks. Experienced both scenarios.

[RunWillie Marathon]

It’s certainly hot in Tokyo at the moment. I’m sure everyone trained for it but still. Did you see the 10,000 metres? Our guy gave it everything 🇦🇺❤️🏃🏻‍♂️

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to RunWillie]

Yep, but even at level they will know the limits. Mind you, I'm not pushing myself in the heat, I'm jogging in the heat. Yes, I can run faster than when cold but I prefer not to overwork my delicate engine parts. However, 5K is short enough and will be over fast enough. I'm not sure I could (unless trained specifically and long enough) go through a 50k scenario in this humidity.

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

I run in any weather. Seems a shame to waste a nice day. My 2nd 26.2 was on the hottest day of the year, easily 28c or higher. My 4th was in Spain with temperatures up to 30c. I find provided hydration is good it's a mindset 🤷‍♀️

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Hydration and mindset, exactly what it is. If dehydrated you couldn't run anyway and if in discomfort because of higher temperatures you can always trick the brain somehow. 😉

[Irish-John Marathon]

Over here, "professional" advice is if temp plus humidity figures add up to more than 180 - don't run.Luckily I am not a professional so I run year round - otherwise being here would restrict me to about four months of the year

Apparently, the bonus is that high temps running is "The poor mans elevation training" and adds ten percent speed to cool weather running ability

It's not to be taken lightly though - my routes are shaded and there are ferociously hot days I simply don't risk it. Heat stroke once started is dammed hard to fend off.

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to Irish-John]

Heatstroke can be a killer, literary. Many don't figure it out until the checkout time. I would never take it for granted. Even being slightly light headed is a good warning signal. And never copy the other guy. Some go like machines and come out on the other side. Some fall down easily. I listen to what my body has to say and never push it too hard. Love the heat though.

[Irish-John Marathon in reply to mrrun]

I am definitely careful - had a close shave many years ago. Problem is, I seem to need very little hydration- guys on trips always commented that I always had a good portion left in my canteen. Probably hit too close to my lifetime limit in my twenties going on Lager Frenzies perhaps

But - when you see top Athletes with all their fitness, experience, support and knowledge go down...best not to get too cocky

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to Irish-John]

Yep, too right.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon]

Normally at this time of year I would be running in the south of France, I did C25K there, and never really thought much about the temperatures, I found I was more bothered by the sun in my eyes. Yes, I found I was faster, as I sprinted from patch of shade to patch of shade, which are quite sparsely spread out to be honest.

This summer because of Covid regulations I am in England and really surprised how different it is here. In France I've run in temps of 40C+ once or twice, although usually it was "only" in the high 30s...On my long run here a couple of weeks ago I really struggled, it was barely 20C but I was hellishly thirsty and I got sunburnt... In France I never carry water or wear sunscreen - that's changed now!

Must be the humidity rather than the heat.

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

I think there is a number of factors and seeing local runners not really noticing this weather just proves that with training and adjustments you can tackle nearly everything. For those guys this isn't really 'the heat', it's just July/August weather and their bodies are fully adjusted simply by living here. Same goes for our fellow runners who run in cold winter temperatures and feel absolutely fine about it. Our bodies are simply amazing and capable of remarkable things. We just need to cheat and trick the brain sometimes. 😉

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to mrrun]

I almost never saw another runner in France, just a handful over 7 years of running there, at least in my neck of the woods. There must be runners though, they have races in the bigger towns, usually in the hotter months. My experience of the weather is that it changes very suddenly from chilly to hot, usually the last week of June. The locals take a few days to acclimatise. It changes back suddenly from boiling to freezing, the last week of September, none of the temperate climate we have in England.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

There's never a dull moment with running is there?

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

One of many perks, yes. Everything but predictable.