Posts Member

Well for me it will just be to go out there and do it. I have IM AZ in 2 and a half weeks and the warmest I have been out was 41 yesterday...

Posts Member

Ha....I can tell that you've never lived in the South. God flips a light switch and turn on the 96*, 84% hum in March or April.

Posts Member

Cayman hit the nail on the head. The only time I have ever done specific heat training was getting ready to go out to Badwater to pace a buddy of mine for the Badwater Ultramarathon. Death Valley's 130* temps take some special training.

Like Cayman said, drink a lot, take it easier, stay outside.

Posts Member

Ever since that race I tell people that ask, "if you want to know what the wind feels like in Death Valley during the day, hold a blow dryer out in front of your face and turn it on high." I'm not kidding. Karl and I thought the backs of our calves were getting sun burned. We later figured out that they were red from the wind blowing over the pavement and on to the backs of our legs. That place is something else. Magical but brutal.

Posts Member

Exactly - I've lived in Las Vegas and now Houston, and they're both like that: seasonal changes can be very sudden.

Back to the topic at hand: my feeling is that racing in the heat is more mental than physical.

For example, I make no effort to specifically train in the heat, but I believe hot and muggy conditions give me an advantage on race day - not because my body is adapted to them, but because I BELIEVE they help me. Of course, I'm going to be cautious and take in extra fluids, blah, blah, blah, but I think the most helpful thing is to not have a neurotic fear of heat or humidity, like so many people do.

Posts Member

Thanks for the pointers. I'm just trying to facilitate a good race. Heat and I don't always do well when exercise is combined.

I definitely think it's more than a mental thing, being a nurse you're body is acclimated to what ever the weather is like around you. Same thing with altitude. The more used to it your body is, the more capable it will be in that situation. But that is just MHO and my scientific background at work.

Britt - I'd love to join you over the the mountains. It was 78 degrees when I was there two weeks ago.

Posts Member

Racing in the heat can be very mentally tiring even though there is definitely a physical adaptation. Two major adaptations are increases in plasma volume and ability to sweat quicker. It will be very difficult to mimic the outdoor heat and get an equal physical response by training indoors. Regardless, some heat training (indoors) is better than none and if at the very least will help you get prepared mentally and give you practice w/ your hydration requirements to be expected during the race. Good luck.

Posts Member

Body generally becomes acclimated to heat (or cold) in ten days to two weeks. Some people suffer more with temp changes than others...be patient..make haste slowly...your body will adapt.

Washington DC area in summer...90 degrees and 90% humidity or higher...and that's often at night!

Posts Member

thanks Anton. Very helpful info.

JStyle - I feel for those of you who have humid summers. All the better when you come over to races with "dry" air. You're prepped to kick arse.

Posts Member

For the Athens Olympic Marathon, I read that Deena Drossin's coach had her running the hills of Mammoth CA in July in midday with long black long underwear on.
Like Cayman said, you don't just wake up with it, but this type of training can be beneficial if you're living and training in Maine and know you're going to do a race in Phoenix soon.

Posts Member

I have lived in northern and central Australia. Up North we don't have a winter, its just wet or dry seasons. From experience it takes up to 2 weeks to acclimitise to hot weather coming from a cold climate (southern Oz). Exercise will facilitate acclimitisation greatly, generally its not the heat, but the humidity that affects most guys. If you can't get there early to acclimitise, training inside with the heat up slightly (around what you think it will be on race day), in warmer clothes or without fans blowing will help. JUST be careful not to do it for all the sessions as it affect your performance if you go in fatigued from heat treatment. Also remember to take in lots of fluids to assist recovery so that you don't carry that into the race.