Dear Dr. Prescot,
Last year, the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon took place on an unseasonably warm day, and I melted down, running 35 minutes slower than my best. When temperatures were downright chilly this year, I set a new personal record. What can I do to ensure that I run well, regardless of the weather?
Penny Voss, Norman
The key to acclimation is to exercise daily. And here’s the no-fun part—in the heat. You want to be sure you are sweating profusely. In the summer in Oklahoma, that’s no problem. But if you find yourself in cooler climates, you may want to throw on a little extra clothing. Odd as it may seem, the better you’re adjusted to the heat, the more you sweat, so you want to teach your body to open those spigots and let flow.
If you’re having a hard time dealing with the heat, it’s okay to cut back on the intensity of your workouts. On balance, the most important thing is to spend more time exercising in the sweltering temperatures. Better to go slow and long than short and intense.
