Sorry for skipping the MBE last week. The Monday Brain Exchange is sponsored by Jill at http://onelittletrigirl.wordpress.com/. Each week she posts a topic for bloggers to discuss and this week's topic is quite timely with the temps rising and summer on it's way!
Question: The heat is on its way (and for some has already made its arrival) and the summer is getting close What are some of your tried and true summer running tips for staying safe and cool in the heat?
Well, the heat is a tough thing to tackle! I keep most of my runs in the evenings even during the heat of the summer. I figure you can't pick the weather for a race so training during the heat is a necessity. For me, one of the most important things to remember is to hydrate and that begins long before your run or workout even begins. I try to drink lots of water throughout the day.
Another thing that helps make workouts more bearable is packing a small Ziploc bag with water, ice, and a washcloth. It is amazing how a quick wipe of the sweat off your face can improve your workout. Also when I am doing track work or repeats where you have a set amount of recovery time, I try to stand in the shade for my recovery time...even 30 sec in the shade can make a difference.
Finally, apparel is very important. I don't run in anything cotton! I make sure I pick fabrics that are good at wicking the sweat and also lighter in color for really hot days. I sometimes wear a Bondi band or visor to keep the sweat out of my face and or protect my face from the sun. For bike rides, I usually switch to sleeveless jerseys and lots of sunscreen.
Even before I was a runner, it never even crossed my mind to work out in cotton. It still amazes me how many people do that! Ew!
ReplyDeleteFrozen wash cloth :) LOVE that...a series I race here, CGI, always has them at their races!