I dont really believe in training in the middle of the day to acclimate to heat. Why? The quality of your training will suffer big time. The best way to combat heat during a race is to get there a couple days early, hydrate very well starting a couple days ahead of time, and take in plenty of salt and fluids during the race.

All my summer training is done in the early morning or late evening, when temps are more bearable and I can put forth a stronger effort. I would prefer to be faster on race day and suffer the heat for a while than to be slow cause I wasnt training smart.

I partially agree with this in so much as it is good to have some morning workouts during the summer to work on speed. I recently have been helping a friend train for IMCDL and suggested, as temps here are very high, to find some mornings to train where he can push without his HR going through the roof to work speed.

BUT, I absolutely think it is very imporatnt to be as acclimated as possible to the conditions you are going to race in. If it's a short race and you are done early, it's not an issue. But for people who go 5 hours plus for a Half or for any full IM, you must be prepared for the temperatures you will encounter during the race, especially towards the end when fatigue is really setting in. Do I think I was in better condition to race at IMAZ due to my training here in AZ as opposed to someone like BBB coming from Canada? Absolutley. Not based on volume or mileage, simple because my cardio vascular system was acclimated for the environment. Cooling efficiency is something your body needs to train for. Even I need to go through a period of difficulty when our temps push 100 degrees until I become acclimated. But to avoid it would be a mistake.

In my upcoming build to Kona, I will be taking advantage of the high temps and relative high humidity of AZ in Aug and Sept. to be best prepared for Kona. Weekend morning provide opportunities for working on pace as well as one or two mid week sessions, otherwise it's train in 100+ and suck it up, buttercup! :D

Best advice so far! If you want to be able to handle the heat then you need to train in the heat (not every day of course or quality will suffer) but do try to do it often. It is no different than teaching your body to go faster. If you always run 6:00pace but want to run 5:00pace it is not going to happen unless you actually run 5:00pace in training. Same concept in dealing with the heat so get out there and feel the burn!!!

EXACTLY-- I always did my shorter stuff (speed work, etc)in the morning or evening or inside on the treadmill, but when it came to my long runs--tried to simulate the afternoon heat as best as possible (ok, remember I am in Seattle) by running in the afternoon.

Train in everything..heat, rain, sleet, graupel, wind, humidity, snow...anything that Mother Nature can through at you (excuses allowed for hurricanes and tornados)..that will make you a better athlete...knowing that you can handle anything gives the mind some breathing space.
Oh...train on sunny, clear, windless, 65 degree days too.

That's a VERY good idea. :)

Hello! I live in Arizona, of course I haven't tried it, I'd die within the first 100 yards! :D
Actually, my coach suggested it to one of his athletes who was training for a warm weather race during the winter here. I have also read where this is effective for the bike and run. In regards to humidity, my coach may have me do some long trainer rides indoors next to his infinite pool. :eek: . That sounds perfectly awful...

Well I figured there was a chance you haven't always lived in AZ... or have gone on vacation or something ;) But yeah, here I can get plenty of heat as well... and I have a training home option in Tucson, too.

Indoors by the pool... and I'm guessing without AC... yeah, sounds brutal! Not sure what I'll figure out for humidity.