Author Topic: Be Prepared for Heat  (Read 613 times)

LivingProof

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Be Prepared for Heat
« on: June 20, 2012, 08:11:07 am »
Hi All,

Just a quick reminder to remember that the summer heat is here, so, be careful when doing extended exercises in the sun. Yesterday, while walking 18 holes of golf, I was on the edge of heat exhaustion which is not a good place to be.

The day started off overcast and a little cool so I did not perceive the need to do anything special in my routine weekly golf outing with some friends. Wore a darker shirt, did not eat enough prior to playing, no loading up with water prior to playing. Then the sun came out, the humidity rose and after 2 hours I was in trouble. Could not focus, sweating heavily, so I packed it up and went in for a 5 minute cold shower and a half hour in a well air conditioned room. I am very thankful those facilities were there.

Summer heat/humidity just comes so fast and it changes everything. Plan in advance.

On a side note, our children our taking the old timers to see Kenny Chesney at concert on the Atlantic beach tonight in Wildwood NJ. My daughter tells me to watch out for drunks  and girls in string bikini's! Sounds interesting to me. "I'm gonna stay right here and have another beer in Wildwood"

More to follow.

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jim-ratliff

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Re: Be Prepared for Heat
« Reply #1 on: June 20, 2012, 08:49:16 am »



Hmmm.  I wonder if she really thought you needed her to remind you to watch for girls in string bikinis??  I think not.  ;)


Glad you recognized the symptoms. We almost lost a guy to heat prostration in VietNam. Chopping our way through a large section of bamboo, and suddenly he just went down. Really short on water, and no easy access to anywhere. We did manage to pool all of our canteens to get enough water to cool him down a bit and then got him medevac'd out.
« Last Edit: June 20, 2012, 08:55:59 am by jim-ratliff »
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midwif

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Re: Be Prepared for Heat
« Reply #2 on: June 22, 2012, 08:33:22 pm »
Think wider brim hats and coconut water!
I have become of fan of coconut water.

I first tried it during my one and only bikram yoga outing.

Never again....the bikram.

Then I  started to drink the coconut water at night after skiing. Less water, better hydration.
And even better in the hotter weather.

My bike bottle is starting to shift flavors.... ;D
"Play it Sam"

LivingProof

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Re: Be Prepared for Heat
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2012, 04:48:26 am »
I did see a lot of wider brim hats at the Kenny Chesney concert. Fewer drunks and string bikini women than expected. One of the great aspects of summering near the ocean is that the night temps drop as cool winds come in over the water. The concert was very comfortable to attend when the temps were in the 90's 3 hours prior to start.

No shoes, no shirt, no problems....as Kenny's song title suggests.

Heat and hydration is something we all know about and have discussed in previous threads. It seems each season, the first days of real heat or very hot sun occur, and, at least for me, our brains remain in status quol. Too little fluids, too little sun lotion, too much time in the elements.

After all the years experience I've had with this stuff, each year I seem to start over, duhhh! :-[

I'll look for some coconut milk and give it a try.

meput

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Re: Be Prepared for Heat
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2012, 04:00:31 pm »
Rode 60 miles yesterday. Got into the 90's with minimal wind. About mile 40 realized I had not had enough heat training. Did not allow myself to get behind on fluids but was still borderline heat exhaustion. Was not a fun experience. Be careful out there.

jbotti

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Re: Be Prepared for Heat
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2012, 09:04:39 am »
Summer in southern Marin county: It will be sunny with a high of 72 today. If I stay around the coast on my rides I rarely see temps above 75. Inland we can get into the 90's quickly.

Yes, hydration is key. Nutrition as well as you bonk much sooner/faster in extreme heat. Dialing back what you want to accomplish that day is also a smart move.

As crazy as it sounds I really do miss the warmth and humidity of the east coast. I cycle many days in the summer when then temps never get above the low 60's and with wind it feels like winter!

jbotti

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Re: Be Prepared for Heat
« Reply #6 on: June 25, 2012, 09:33:56 pm »
66 and sunny today but with 30 mph winds. At the first plateau on Mt Tam (the four corners) it was 59 and real windy. Hard to call any of it summer weather. Enjoy your warm temps!! 

jim-ratliff

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Re: Be Prepared for Heat
« Reply #7 on: June 26, 2012, 07:08:18 am »



In the interest of full disclosure, I think the weather has been pretty good this spring.
We've had a few really hot days, but there have also been a lot of days with highs of 80-85 and low humidity.  The drive in this morning was 65 with the temperature going up to 80 (and pretty much the same forecast for tomorrow). And that was pretty much last weekends temps as well, except for highs in the upper 80's.


For me, riding in higher temperatures is mostly acclimatization (but I also grew up in the summer heat in Kansas).  I did a short ride last week in 98 degrees just because it feels good, and will pay off later in the summer.  But yes, taking care of yourself (GU-Gel and water) and staying in cell phone areas is part of my hot weather plan.


Lynn ran out of water on a country ride in 100 degree heat near Richmond VA last year and it was concerning not to have any options for getting water.  Just open fields.  Finally found a soda machine at a nursery -- the nursery was closed but the coke machine was working, but I was considering the "wait here and I'll go get the car plan."
"If you're gonna play the game boy, ya gotta learn to play it right."

byronm

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Re: Be Prepared for Heat
« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2012, 07:36:31 pm »
Great Posts....living in Az for 25+ I would offer...
Plan ahead..how you hydrate the day(s) before is every bit as important as the day of.
Keep the sun off the back of your neck and while long sleeves for some seem to present a mental paradox with regard to heat, they are not. (A moist neckercheif works great for the neck) or turning the collar up on a polo. Many times, even safari style hats don't protect your neck 100%. Have for years watched workers harvesting melons, lettuce, etc in 110+, recently irragated fields and you won't find one wearing short sleeves.
Hats...obsolutely.. ...
Don't be fooled into thinking that sun "screen" = protection from sun "heat". It does not.
LP...I play a lot of golf....and while long sleeve (at least to forearm), loose fitting, lightly woven, light colored cotton may not be the fashion de jour in the summer I have been known to golf in such if on a course with little or no shade to be had during waits.
Having face, ears and forehead carved/grafted in the last few years and situations where back cramps, for me, one sign of overheating....abov e represents what I have learned and should of done better, earlier in life.
my .02....be well, be safe
« Last Edit: July 04, 2012, 02:09:34 am by byronm »

LivingProof

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Re: Be Prepared for Heat
« Reply #9 on: July 04, 2012, 08:03:20 am »
Byron,

Living in Arizona makes you the expert! If we all knew years ago just how damaging the sun could be!

I spend a fair amount of time on the beach during the summer. I've transitioned to wearing long sleeve, high SPF material shirts. These are designed to be very breathable and my latest ones from Columbia are a joy to wear, light and cool. I almost never use cotton anymore due to wetness from absorption of sweat and high drying times. Fast drying synthetic fibers are the uniform-of-the-day.


jim-ratliff

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Re: Be Prepared for Heat
« Reply #10 on: July 04, 2012, 09:10:51 am »



i have to admit that my favorite biking jersey is wool. IMHO, synthetics can't touch it, so I save it for the toughest days. Wish Lynn could find some more on sale.
"If you're gonna play the game boy, ya gotta learn to play it right."