Hi Everyone. So, I posted up previously that I managed to get a place at the London Marathon next year. Still a while away I know but I have been networking with others, made a new amazing running buddy, done a few more Park runs and I'm noticing something... I have been running now for 3 years, completed a virtual half marathon in April this year so that was training either alone or my Son cycling alongside.. now I've started running with others a bit more.... this is what I'm noticing... my core temperature increases rapidly, runners a bit older than me can talk much more easily than I can during running when we go at the same pace. I'm 38, no known conditions.. I finish a run and I'm boiling up more than most other people... I don't sweat excessively. Sometimes when I go to bed I can feel OK in temperature beforehand and then in a lying down position my body will warm up again and im chasing cool spots for a while. During running the heat from my own body does force me to slow down... My pace isn't slow but its also not speedy. My last Park run was 31 minutes and by the end I was hot and my face was sweating but the weather was fine, no harsh sunshine.. everyone else in cafe looked fine. Any advice on this one?
😅
Written by
Skiddle1
Marathon
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Do you have a problem? Probably not! There are lots of reasons why we all sweat differntly. There is a recognised condition called hyperhidrosis which affects a small proportion of people - though inconvenient it isn't a health issue (so long as you remain hydrated). Lots of things affect sweat rate - obviously external conditions, but also drinking alcohol, eating spicy food, percentage of muscle mass (higher muscle mass = more sweat).
But if it's worrying you or causing you a problem (besides a red face) then why not have a quick chat with your GP for your peace of mind if nothing else.
I don't sweat excessively, in fact, maybe that is the issue.. not enough sweat to cool down the surface area maybe. I just feel so hot even when others appear to be fine and the warmth really hinders my pace. It's like heat exhaustion but I feel its premature into the run. I've tried in the last couple weeks to drink more water as I had read this can help but doesn't seem to be yet.
I'm sure it is nothing and maybe I'm just hot stuff, haha. Probably over thinking it. But yes, maybe I'll get a check over at the GPs... if I can get in!
I sweat far too easily Skiddle, but I am a lot older than you so the menopause has a lot to do with it with me. However, I do find that eating wheat makes me sweat more. I have a slight intolerance to wheat anyway, which I always ignored pre-menopause but I have to cut it right back or cut it out regularly now. I have only been running since just before everything ground to a halt so I can’t compare but it may be worth cutting it out for a bit? You never know 🤷🏻♀️
Thanks for sharing tailchaser. I think mine may be hormonal in some way, not menopausal yet though hopefully. In the colder months I'm the first person to feel the cold, my feet struggle to keep warm (and that's true in the warm months too some times).. my Grandma said once 'why is your nose always cold' when I gave her a kiss bye. I do think there's something amiss with my body temperature regulation or blood circulation. I'll discuss with the GP. Xx
I loathe running when it's hot Skiddle1 , and can't bear being overheated in general. Menopause apparently did for my body's ability to regulate temperature, so I can go from feeling perfectly comfortable to thoroughly overheated in seconds.
I don't sweat much, but my face goes bright red very easily. Doesn't even have to be brought on by running, I've been in the middle of a choir performance outdoors when friends got worried, although I was absolutely fine.
What struck me in your post, though, was "runners a bit older than me can talk much more easily than I can during running when we go at the same pace." I don't know how experienced they are, but maybe they're just more comfortable than you are at that pace? Just because someone's older they're not necessarily slower. I'm certainly not fast, but when I did my trail marathon I found myself overtaking guys a good few years younger on the steeper uphills. Of course they promptly passed me as soon as it flattened out a bit!
You're not obliged to keep up with others - your pace is the only one that matters. Crucially, when running a marathon, your ability to keep going will prove much more important that your ability to run fast. You'll also need to practise hydration and fuelling during your training - I found getting that right really helped.
Bottom line, though, if you're really worried, get advice from a health professional.
Thanks Cmoi. I'm definitely trying to work on hydration and fuelling. I have increased water intake, eat a banana an hour before a run, try to eat a carb meal the day before a run. I've tried taking out an electrolyte drink on the run but they just make me feel more thirsty for some reason.. they don't seem to help.
How's your hydration generally? I need to drink at least 2 litres a day, mostly water, to avoid heavy legs and thirst when running. When I was marathon training through the summer months it was around 3 litres.
If I know I'll be out for more than 90 minutes, I take water with me. Snacks - dried fruit, nuts, almond bars - too for longer runs, maybe 15k+. Bear in mind though that I mostly run hills and trails, so longer runs can take me several hours. Think I've tried precisely one gel and it wasn't for me. I never bothered carbing up in advance, and only used electrolyte drinks just before the actual race day.
Totally unrelated - forgot to say that when you're running outdoors, especially for several hours and in suuny weather, don't forget the suncream! And I find wearing a light cap helps too.
It might just be though that you're not a warm weather runner. I'm not, I'd much rather run when it's 10° or less. I can't change that, so I just have to get on with it, know what's normal for me, and try not to compare myself to those who revel in the heat.
No I don't blush easily. In fact, in the cooler months I'm the first to feel the cold.. can always find me with a fluffy dressing gown on top of my clothes. Feet and nose often cold in the winter and find it hard to warm up.. its just with exertion that I get hot quickly everywhere. I get irritated by running socks that are too thick or cushioned because then I can feel my feet burning up. If I don't have an issue I need to extend my toleration levels maybe for feeling uncomfortable.
If I don't have an issue I need to extend my toleration levels maybe for feeling uncomfortable.
If you're going to run a marathon I'd say that is absolutely essential. Not meaning re temperatures, but in general. If nothing else marathon training taught me that I could put up with stuff I wasn't enjoying (tempo runs) for much longer (80 minutes) than I'd have thought possible!
Lots of great advice here from others and I have nothing much to add except to say you probably don't look how you feel.
I was out on a run in that hot weather recently and was very hot and sweating a lot. I knew my face was crimson (like Cmoi my face turns red every easily) because I felt it and it was like a radiator! I stopped to take a selfie to send to my husband and my face didn't look that hot and not very red at all!
So, maybe all those other people who look, to you, as if they’re not that hot, are feeling exactly like you.
Very good point. Maybe I do focus internally and over think it. Nobody has commented on how I look or told me I'm looking like I'm over heating. It is just me noticing it. 🤔
Hi Skiddle. Another red faced person here too. 🙋♀️ I don’t sweat much when running outside either, but I know I can because I drip when I’m on the treadmill at the gym. I’m a lot older than you (60 in January), but I’ve been the same my whole life with whatever activity I was doing.
Everyone is different, and it’s most likely nothing for you to worry about, but there’s no harm in having a chat with your GP. I guess it could be your normal.
My quirky normal is my low HR. If it went up to other people’s normal, I’d be concerned! 😅
Yeah everyone is different. I just start to feel exhausted from my own body heat. Maybe I should just chuck bottles of water on myself whilst running. 🤣
My face after my first marathon was the same colour as it is after first mile of Parkrun-purple!
MUCH prefer cooler conditions and apart from the obligatory photo sessions at the end of events where I look dreadful, it’s not a problem. Love the first person’s comment that it may because of greater muscle mass-def take that!
PS I’ve been running for 5 years and I’m almost 70. Maybe if I’d started earlier I wouldn’t have a face like an Oompa Loompa!
I'm sure you don't look dreadful Puddocks but thanks for sharing. I'm running today and didn't drink enough water yesterday so I'll probably over heat again. I'm trying to push through to tolerate more uncomfortable feelings though.. it worked on the treadmill the other day and I made a better distance without stopping. Maybe it was because I was on the treadmill and not outdoors, I don't know. But I'm going to apply the same tactic today. 😄
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