Monday I biked to work. In the evening, the heat index was over 100, and the wind was coming strong out of the south. I went back and forth about biking home, into 20mph winds, in the heat, and for some reason I decided to go for it. It was such a MISTAKE. I took it as slow as I possibly could, I stopped often to drink water, and I still nearly threw up when I got home. I was dizzy and disoriented for the rest of the evening.
I am just not built for the heat. I get heat stroke pretty easily, and I burn in the shade; these are things I have known for a while, I’m used to it. I have 50spf sunscreen in my bag all summer long. I wear hats, I wear things with sleeves, I choose the seat in the shade. I’m just more comfortable in cooler weather. For the longest time, I even saw this as kind of a personal failing. Fat is insulating, right? The fact that I like colder weather and hate hot weather was just one more piece of evidence that I was FAT. Skinny people like hot weather. Fat people just turn into sweatballs.
Only, then I started dating Niles, who is tall and naturally pretty skinny, and he hates hot weather so much more than I do. I had to confront the idea that maybe not liking hot weather was JUST A THING, and there was no judgment attached to it. I prefer cooler weather, that is just a thing about me. It doesn’t make me better or worse than anyone else. I mean, I feel ridiculous even typing that. How could I have ever thought that this personal preference was anything more than just a personal preference?
ANYWAY. Moving on. We had just about made it to 28 minute runs in C25K when the weather here started turning really warm. It set us back a bit – we had to cut back to 15 minutes and start building back up again. Running in 40 degrees didn’t even phase me, but running in 80 degrees is a different animal. After Monday, I didn’t even bother trying to bike or run during the 95 degree days this week. I know myself, I know my body, and I know that even walking in 95 degree weather can leave me feeling ill. Now that the heat wave has broken I can try running again. Once again, my instinct is to apply some sort of judgment to this – I should have been running, I shouldn’t have cut back to 15 minutes, I should have pushed myself. I think I’m finally getting over this, though. There’s no point in pushing myself if it just means I’m going to pass out from heat stroke and dehydration. And there’s no point in beating myself up about it either. It’s harder for me to run in the heat, but I get better at it every time. It’s just a thing. It doesn’t have to mean anything.
Periodic reminder: there is a facebook page, and it is capable of being “liked” by people.
Learning to listen to what my body wants and needs has been one of my biggest challenges. AND. I love love love this comic’s Frenchyness!
In case you need some science to justify your slowing down in heat/not wanting to run, several studies have shown the optimal temp for running is about 55.
As an Alaskan who was transplanted to St Louis, I’ve found running in the early morning is the only time I can manage a run. Also I like to slip ice cubes into my sports bra, the melting ice cold water feels great. Sometimes I take sponges, cut them in half, soak them in water and freeze them, then before a hot run I place a frozen sponge under my hat/visor.
So one way to look at your hatred of heat is that it’s one thing you have in common with elite (and non elite) runners!
Here’s what Galloway has to say about temps on running.
The hot and sticky days of summer are here. Make sure that you are making some adjustments in your running. Most runners begin to slow down at 55 degrees and start suffering at 65 degrees. Of course, the body can adapt to heat stress and push the threshold up a bit, but you usually can’t run as fast on a 75 degree day as on a 45 degree one. High humidity is also a major problem. It’s like a wet blanket; it doesn’t allow much evaporation or perspiration and your body heat builds up.
If you try to run too hard in hot or humid conditions you’ll hit “the wall” sooner than expected. Trying to maintain a goal pace in heat is like going out too fast early in the race. Temperatures generally increase hour by hour; therefore you must adjust your pace for the temperature expected at the end of the race.
Adjusting Race Pace for Heat: Estimated temperature at finish – Slower than goal pace – 8 min mile becomes…
55-60 degrees – 1% – 8:05
60-65 degrees – 3% – 8:15
65-70 degrees – 5% – 8:25
70-75 degrees – 7% – 8:35
75-80 degrees – 12% – 8:58
80-85 degrees – 20% – 9:35
Above 85 degrees – Forget it… run for fun
oooh! Thank you Jennifer. It’s very nice indeed to have justification. :D I like the idea of having a frozen sponge under a hat, too – that’s really clever! I actually just ordered some weird sciencey neck-coolers (just fabric filled with water-expanding cooling polymer or something) to help too. But it’s really nice to know that there’s a scientific basis for not being able to exercise as hard in the heat.
I started C25K recently, and I ran on Saturday when it was super hot. Not sure how hot exactly, but SUPER hot and humid. I felt like lead. My breathing was so different. My body did not want to go. I muscled my way through it, but – surprise – in return, I got a respiratory thing that lasted until yesterday. I haven’t run since then, afraid that I’ll get another sore throat and chest gunk. I love the heat, but not for running.
I love your comic today, it’s good to know I’m not the only one that despises summer heat. Not being able to bike is no fun at all.
I started C25K as well recently, and had to just call this week off because of the heat. I am a smallish heat-hating person and I just couldn’t handle biking or running or anything else this week either. It’s not just you, there are many of us!
Tonight, though, it’s so on. I’m loving this cold wet business.
I’m glad you learned that weight has nothing to do with dislike of extreme temps >< I also hate winter's biting chill though…makes me achy all over and I find it hard to get warm.
In college I also found that my 30 min biking to school in the extreme heat or cold was too much for my lungs (stupid asthma), I literally just couldn't breath and had to start taking the bus or leaving an hour before class to walk.
I also hate the heat. I am more chipper in general on a nice gray day. I love rain and the feeling in the air right before it rains. Lots of people think I’m nuts.
BTW, this comic would make a great print. ;)
you and i are in the same boat. running in the cold was soooo much better!
It’s so refreshing to hear that I am not alone in my dislike for heat. After living in New Orleans for the last three years and hearing people abhor the cold, I’m glad to hear that I am not alone in my cool weather preference. It’ll be nice to get back to the four seasons you so elegantly illustrated. I miss biking in winter and having my eye lashes freeze!
I love this. I love it, and I love you. “It’s just a thing. It doesn’t have to mean anything.” Oh, how I love it.