Looking for some real instructions on how to train in the summer heat? Here's an article series I found that I like.
Dr. Nicholas Romanov at Pose Tech Corporation takes a grounded, sensible approach to training in high temperatures. Unlike the standard stuff the media regurgitates every year--tired bullet points like "keep hydrated" (oh, okay. I can do that properly for my body, goals, geography and condition with just that tip.)--Romanov puts the emphasis on the individual and addresses the goal of becoming acclimated to the heat, not setting records in spite of it. This mindset makes all the difference, and his guidance in this series of articles is detailed. He's not in a hurry to let people get back to killing themselves.
Here by permission is the opening to how to train and race in the heat. He's talking about running for racing, but the ideas can be applied to any form of training.
It seems to be a simple question, but the answer is complicated. Heat is a complex problem, which should be approached from the points of view of your mental, psychological and physiological conditions, your technique, your food and drink, your outfit, shoes, your time of training and training load, the weather conditions during the race you are preparing for. Heat could be complicated by dry or humid air. If you live in a place where heat is normal, such as Arizona, South Florida, or Texas and you are supposed to race there, it is one story. But if you live somewhere with much lower temperature and have to race in heat, then it is another story. So there are lots of questions, but few answers.
Where do we start? As you understand, this topic is not for one article, but for several, so it's just an approach to the further discussions. We need to put some benchmarks, define the field of our interest and determine the major components of the system, which we call training and racing in heat. It is not about one day training, but about a longer period of time, such as a month or more, when we have to live in such climate and train, as well. The final goal of this training is to adapt your mind and body to constant heat condition and develop your ability to produce high quality of training and racing performance.
NICHOLAS ROMANOV, Ph.D. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. © 2001-2005.
POSE TECH CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2 comments:
I really needed this.
So glad then!
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