You should adjust your pace and your expectations for performance when it’s hot. Included are ways that we measure “hot” and the associated risk for runners.

Air temperature doesn’t tell the whole story. Common sense tells us it’s harder to run when it’s warmer, more humid, in the full sun with no breeze.

What is Heat Illness?

Heat Illness can be categorized by order of increasing severity as dehydration, muscle cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. All are detrimental to performance and your health, and heatstroke can result in permanent disability or death.

From a physiological point of view, any factor that causes core body temperatures to rise to high levels can lead to decreased performance or heat stress. These factors include physical exertion levels (pace), the duration you run before a break, the duration of the break and your hydration intake, high temperatures, high humidity which decreases evaporation, low sweat levels (dehydration), lack of heat acclimatization, heat-retaining clothing and physical conditions which make certain individuals more susceptible to heat illness.

Why can’t I use the heat index?

The heat index accounts for humidity but does not consider the wind speed, sun angle, or lack of cloud cover—so the heat index tells you how hot it feels sitting in the shade.

WBGT accounts for everything

The WetBulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is a measure of heat stress which takes all the factors into account: temperature, humidity, wind, and solar radiation.

Unfortunately, these thermometers aren’t easy to tuck into one’s pocket. Because conditions vary from one location to another, a weather station can’t report what the WGBT is for a specific area.

Estimating WGBT

This chart estimates the WGBT using the temperature and relative humidity and assumes full sun exposure. This chart, and it’s accompanying warnings, are applicable to the south. Athletes residing in the northern part of the country are accustomed to cooler temperatures and their warnings occur at lower WBGT.

Weather FX offers a smartphone app that provides a mathematical approximation of WBGT at a cost of $0.99.

Preparedness – what to do when the WBGT is high
  • pre-hydrate properly (overhydration [hyponatremia] is bad too). Drink 8 to 16 oz of liquid (water or sports drink) one hour prior to exercise
  • wear lightweight, light fitting and light-colored clothing
  • wear sunscreen (do this even when the WBGT isn’t high)
  • plan for 14-21 days for heat acclimatization and your body’s ability to increase sweat production
Suggested Actions and Impact Prevention
  • run early or run late to avoid the sun
  • SLOW DOWN
  • replenish fluids throughout your run
  • take breaks in shady areas
  • do not attempt personal records when the WBGT is above 77°F for a 5k, 68°F for a 10k, or above 59°F for a marathon.
Best Practices for Hot Weather Running
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