Exercising in the Heat: Myths and Emerging Realities
Heat affects people differently during exercise depending on their age and sex, but the science on this is only half-baked. Learn what’s known, what’s not, and the information you need to stay safe.
This article is part of a Wise & Well Special Report: Extreme Heat and Human Health.
At the Canyons Endurance Run in Auburn, California this June, the temperature approached 90 degrees as the athletes ran on trails through exposed terrain over distances as long as a hundred miles (yes, I’m serious). After the race, I caught up with my friend, ultrarunner (and 100k finisher!) Jamie King. She described how some runners finished strong, while others were doubled over on the side of the trail, felled by muscle cramps, dizziness and nausea. Some runners just can’t hack it in the heat, she said.
This scene is one we can expect to grow more common. While average temperatures are rising around the globe, more people — especially women and older athletes — are participating in outdoor endurance sports like running and cycling. That hot June day in Auburn isn’t an outlier. It’s the new normal. And anyone who wishes to compete in outdoor sports, or simply walk, jog, bike or otherwise…
