The Heat is On

Finn protesting the heat during a walk, June 2021.

We’ve just officially hit summer today, but we’ve already had numerous days where the temperature has been in the 90s. And humid. There was a stretch in the past two weeks where it didn’t even drop below 80 at night. 

Looks like we’ll have that to look forward to for the next three months as well. 

So what? It’s summer. It gets hot. 

Well, temperature has a huge effect on how we perform when working out. First of all, when it is hot we dehydrate faster and that can put extra stress on our muscles and cardiovascular system. It also can decrease our ability to think quickly and clearly, which can lead to poor decision making. And all the extra sweat can cause us to lose grip on weights or slip in a puddle. Not to mention the risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke if you are outside. 

In other words, it can make exercise a little more dangerous. Even when we are inside, the heat outside still makes a difference in the amount we sweat and how quickly we lose water.

So, it becomes important to keep up with hydration. And if you plan to exercise intensely, adding electrolytes is also a good idea. 

It’s not all bad, though. Heat also makes our muscles looser faster, and can help use get more range of motion through movements. The added stress can help us increase endurance with less effort. And it forces us to concentrate more, which can improve focus.

I personally prefer to exercise outside as much as possible. I like being out with nature, and it gives me the chance to experience different temperatures and how that changes the workout. The heat is a special beast, though, and I try to keep myself as safe as I can when out there. 

And of course, since I play ultimate and referee out in the heat, any workout I do out there helps when I’m doing that level of running in it. 

Oh, and one final benefit of the heat - it wears Finn the puppy out. A short walk in the summer, and he sleeps most of the rest of the day.