A few short years ago, in a summer like
this one, a young man named Jeff Fink was rushed to a Kansas City area hospital
after suddenly collapsing during the Warrior Dash, one of many adventure races
happening across the U.S. at any given time.
Crawling in so much mud that you ended up
looking like a human earthworm was to be expected; the 20 foot vertical wall
called the Dead Man’s Drop that sent adrenaline addicts speeding towards solid ground
at breakneck velocity was even old news—but some suspect it was the intense
heat empowered by the accompanying wall of blazing fire that cut his racing
career and life short.
THE
KILLER RUNNERS’ HIGH
And while we might not be 100 percent
about everything around this case, this much is clear, his body temperature had
risen to the insurmountable height of 108 degrees.
In some locations this is not far from the
summer average.
STOP
HUGGING YOUR OWN SWEAT
According to the LiveStrong Foundation, choosing
the right training clothes could be a matter of life and death in the heat:
“Cotton is the worst material to wear in the summer heat,”
says Sports Editor Dan Capello. “It soaks up sweat like a towel, holding the
moisture against your skin and causing your body temperature to increase. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend you wear lightweight”
clothing.
Lightweight running tees like Lumiere’s InnerStrength EXO Tee
are made with a fabric blend that keeps you cool, fights odor-causing bacteria
and keeps your body dry longer.
The CDC also recommends that if you are out exercising in
the heat you should remember to:
·
Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours.
·
If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, nonalcoholic fluids
each hour. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose
in sweat. Warning: If you are on a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before
drinking a sports beverage. Remember the warning in the first “tip” (above),
too.
·
Try to rest often in shady areas.
RECORD HIGHS ARE HERE TO STAY. PROTECT
YOURSELF.
As late as 3 months ago, the Weather Channel
reported that some portions of the Western United States “reached 104 degrees
setting a new record for all-time March high temperature” and places such as
Phoenix, Arizona often clocked five consecutive days within 10 degrees of that
mark. They are predicting from “Above Average” to Severe Heat for both the Western
and Eastern Coasts through September. Be sure to keep yourself protected.
