10 Tips For Summer Running

10 TIPS FOR SUMMER RUNNING

1 AVOID THE HEAT OF THE DAY

RUN EARLY IN THE MORNING OR LATE IN THE EVENING. AND RUN ON THE SHADY SIDE OF THE STREET RATHER THAN IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT.

2 START AT A CONSERVATIVE PACE

BEGIN THE RUN AT LEAST 10 SECONDS PER KILOMETRE SLOWER THAT YOU WOULD IN IDEAL CONDITIONS. FOCUS ON CONSERVING ENERGY AND MAINTAINING A STEADY EFFORT. IF YOU’RE NEW TO RUNNING, ADD POWER-WALK BREAKS EVERY 4 TO 8 MINUTES TO COOL YOURSELF.

3 SWITCH GEARS AND ADAPT

GRADUALLY BUILD UP YOUR TOLERANCE FOR RUNNING IN HOTTER CONDITIONS. IT TAKES ABOUT TWO WEEKS FOR YOUR BODY TO ADAPT TO THE HEAT AND GRADUALLY BECOME BETTER AT COOLING ITSELF, ALLOWING YOU TO RUN AT YOUR NORMAL PACE.

4 WEAR LIGHT-COLORED, LOOSE-FITTING CLOTHING

LOOK FOR NEW-GENERATION FABRICS DESIGNED TO WICK AWAY MOISTURE FROM YOUR SKIN AND HELP KEEP YOU COOL. WEAR SOCKS MADE OF SYNTHETIC FIBRES THAT ALSO WICK AWAY THE SWEAT TO HELP PREVENT BLISTERS AND ATHLETE’S FOOT. IF YOU WANT TO COVER YOUR HEAD, WEAR A LOOSE-FITTING CAP MADE OF MESH OR A BREATHABLE MATERIAL.

5 USE SUNSCREEN USE SUNSCREEN TO PREVENT SUNBURN.

TRY TO AVOID MIDDAY EXPOSURE BETWEEN 10AM AND 3PM.

6 PROTECT YOUR EYES

WEAR SUNGLASSES WITH UV PROTECTION TO REDUCE SUN GLARE.

7 STAY HYDRATED

THE MAIN DANGER OF RUNNING IN HOT WEATHER IS HEAT EXHAUSTION OR HEAT STROKE. YOU CAN LOSE BETWEEN 175 AND 350ML OF FLUID FOR EVERY 20 MINUTES OF RUNNING. TO AVOID THAT, DRINK ADEQUATE FLUID 30-45 MINUTES BEFORE RUNNING AND THEN A CUPFUL EVERY 10-15 MINUTES. YOUR BODY REQUIRES FLUID TO HELP MAINTAIN A BALANCED TEMPERATURE. SPORTS DRINKS HELP TO REPLACE THE POTASSIUM AND SODIUM LOST FROM SWEATING AND ARE A GOOD SOURCE FOR CARBOHYDRATES, WHICH FUEL YOUR MUSCLES WHEN THEY’RE WORKING HARD.

8 PLAN YOUR ROUTE

SO YOU CAN TAKE ON WATER AT A TAP OR FIND DRINKING FOUNTAINS.

9 KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS

SIGNS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION INCLUDE  HEADACHE, NAUSEA, DIZZINESS, DISORIENTATION, DECREASE IN SWEATING, PALE DRY SKIN, BLURRED VISION AND LOSS OF MUSCULAR CONTROL. IF YOU NOTICE ANY OF THESE, STOP RUNNING IMMEDIATELY. GET TO A SHADED, COOL AREA, DRINK AND POUR SOME WATER OVER YOURSELF AND GET ASSISTANCE.

10 WEIGH YOURSELF BEFORE AND AFTER A RUN

IDEALLY, YOU SHOULDN’T LOSE MORE THAN 2 PERCENT OF YOUR BODY WEIGHT AFTER LONG RUNS. IF YOU’RE GAINING WEIGHT, YOU’RE OVER-HYDRATING AND YOU MAY DROP CRITICAL SALT LEVELS IN YOUR BODY. (A CONDITION KNOWN AS “HYPONATREMIA” CAN OCCUR,  WHEN THERE IS A LOWER THAN NORMAL CONCENTRATION OF SODIUM IN THE BLOOD. SODIUM IS A CRITICAL ELECTROLYTE THAT AIDS NERVE AND MUSCLE FUNCTION, AND HELPS TO MAINTAIN BLOOD PRESSURE.)

 (*** As found in Men's Fitness Magazine***)