Manage the Heat

Didn’t hit that PR? Had to rest more? No worries! Don’t be hard on yourself if you’re not performing the way you’d like on hot days.

You likely put two and two together, but it’s pretty darn hard for your body to perform at peak levels for extended periods of time when temperatures rise. When temperatures increase, our bodies have to work a little more to keep cool. (Think of it like an air conditioner working a little more during a hot summer day.) Instead of blood flow primarily pumping to the primary muscles in a effort to maximize efficiency and effectiveness, blood flow is being redirected to our extremities in an effort to force excess heat out of our bodies in hopes to cool us. As a result, our heart beats more and our lungs are continually playing catch-up; our muscles of primary movement—our legs on a run, for example—aren’t getting the “attention” they deserve and they have to split resources for cooling purposes.

So, if you need to dial it back on those steamy days, do so. Don’t worry, you didn’t lose any of that hard-worked-for fitness. (Oh! And drink your water!)