I know this is a terribly British thing to say but there’ve been far too many, far too hot, days recently. Since mid-June, minus the odd day or two, it seems like the weeks have melted into one long sticky, sleep deprived, blur.
Training has had to slow down and the pain of clients’ muscle DOMS has been replaced by the torture of factor 50 bleeding into their eyes, as they push through an hour of intense PT in Bikram-appropriate temperatures.
At home, I have actually Googled ‘mummy holster’, assuming that some bright spark must have invented a depressingly ugly belt for me to stuff in sun-cream, a sponge and a water bottle (found nothing - I’ve either got really highly strung children, or I’m onto something big).
The silver lining to this almost entirely evaporated cloud is that training in the heat is definitely possible and can be a welcome relief to the sun-induced lethargy. Science has shown that, providing you do it safely, training in the heat can actually help you to up your game. Here’s a few simple tips to keep you active when all you want to do is collapse into a cold bath:
Take that cold bath: sounds weird but research shows that athletes perform better in hot conditions if they’ve cooled off before training. Manage your expectations though - a quick dunk won’t bring PBs at 30 degrees, but it will make you more motivated, less sweaty and much more likely to train effectively.
Set the alarm clock or swerve the post-work drinks: sometimes the prospect of Man vs Sun really is too awful to contemplate. On those days, go early or late and you’ve got a chance of pounding through a workout before the thermostat soars.
Drink up: leave the water at home and 15 minutes in, you’ll have also lost the will to live. Staying hydrated when it’s baking, particularly when your body usually trains in the UK’s standard ‘meh’ climate matters.
Take it easy: make sure you listen to your body and expect that you might need to reduce your usual intensity. Give yourself kudos for getting out the door, even if you’re walking back through it half an hour earlier than normal.
Under dress: if it’s like a sauna out there, step away from the lush Lululemon leggings and opt for the shorts instead. As a general rule, go for gear that lets you sweat – light coloured, light wearing and moisture-wicking.
