Heat: the enemy of outdoor training
This season is one of the hottest in the last decade. This is good news for socializing, dressing up, and sunbathing on the beach or by the pool, but they are not so good for outdoor training and especially for runners, cyclists, or skaters. technologywebdesign
We've already talked about getting back in shape after
the summer, but what about during the summer? The advances of the last few
months in endurance, distance, and speed are fading, overshadowed by gasps
within a few kilometers. This is due to increased heat and stress in the body,
as 30% of energy is used for training and 70% for cooling the
body. The warmer it is, the more blood flows to the skin to help maintain
temperature. One solution would be to track your cardio training at home, for
example, with a stationary bike.
If you really want to exercise outdoors, you need to know
that the less blood is available for the working muscles, the more the heart
rate will increase, and the more expensive the intensity will be. So it is not
an illusion that more effort is required to train, but in reality, training is
becoming increasingly complex and costly for the body and mind. Like the
blood flow in the legs decreases to counteract the increased heat in the body, which is why speed and performance decrease.
It is essential to preserve a good diet during this
time. We tend to neglect this fundamental part of our well-being; we cannot forget about an adequate diet. For example, including macronutrients in
our diet, especially in summer, will be the key for our body.
It's not just the heat; it's the humidity!
Keep in mind that just as heat influences the body, humidity
is also a factor. When there is moisture, sweat from the skin's surface does not evaporate as quickly, and it is more challenging to lower body temperature
and remove heat. As a result, more blood is directed to the skin to maintain
temperature, leaving less blood flow to the exercising muscles. This makes
completing the training even more expensive.
desert corridor
Another factor to consider is UV rays since they
heat up the skin more and increase the risk of burns. Recent studies have shown
that skin temperature is more critical than actual core temperature.
Therefore, keeping the skin cool by wetting it with water and avoiding
continuous sun exposure will increase blood flow to the central system, thus
improving physical performance, even if the body temperature rises higher than
usual.
Our body gets used to the heat.
But it's not all bad news ... The good newscast is that it
takes 1 to 2 weeks to acclimate to training in the sun. During this period, the
volume of plasma in the blood increases, and sweating is more accessible.
Psychologically, the brain and mind begin to adapt to work in warmer climates.
Until the body adjusts to the heat and makes the changes
mentioned above, reduce the training to 50%, then gradually increase until you
return to training at 100%. This process takes between 9 and 13 days. On the
other hand, it is essential to hydrate throughout the day, bring water
during workouts or calculate the route to make some stops at the fountains.
water bottle
If the workout lasts 1 hour or more, you should drink water and a sports drink or a drink with replacement electrolytes.
It is also advisable to put ice in the water so that it stays cold and helps
the body resist the heat. But never jump in that cold water, as it constricts
the blood vessels in the head, and when the blood returns to the marrow, it can
cause it to quickly overheat.
To refresh and improve the skin and body temperature,
pour cool (not cold) water on the head and forearms; this is the best way to
beat the heat.