It’s the end of August and in most parts of the US summer is still in full swing. 95 degrees (feels like 105) with 100% humidity? Yep, that’s us at Savage Race HQ in Orlando, Florida!
Training through the hot summer months can be challenging, but it can also help prepare you to crush your next mud run. The physical and mental endurance required to push through uncomfortable summer conditions will make you stronger on the race course, but it’s also critically important to take care of your body when exercising in hot, humid conditions.
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are three heat-related syndromes, the mildest being heat cramps, followed by heat exhaustion, then the most severe – heat stroke.
To put it simply, your body needs to regulate a “normal” core temperature and does so by sweating when you’re hot or shivering when you’re cold. When your core temperature rises, you start to sweat. Then, when your sweat evaporates, it cools you down. However, when you’re exercising in a warm environment, your body can have a harder time bringing your core temperature down to a normal level. When this happens, your body may begin to experience heat cramps – and if this isn’t treated, it can advance to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
We KNOW you don’t want to face these syndromes and get sidelined from your mud run training plan, so it’s important to know what you can do to help your body perform its best in the heat.
The Mayo Clinic says, “Prompt treatment usually prevents heat cramps from progressing to heat exhaustion. You usually can treat heat cramps by drinking fluids or sports drinks containing electrolytes…”
So, what is an electrolyte?
electrolyte [ih-lek-truh-lahyt]
Any of certain inorganic compounds, mainly sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chloride, and bicarbonate, that dissociate in biological fluids into ions capable of conducting electrical currents and constituting a major force in controlling fluid balance within the body.
Say what?!?
So, in plain English, electrolytes (there are 6 of them) help you maintain the right balance of fluids in your body. Electrolytes are lost when you sweat, and the combination of dehydration and electrolyte loss can lead to heat stroke. Replenishing electrolytes and water brings your body back in balance and combats heat stroke. So – these guys are pretty important!
There are many natural foods that can replenish electrolytes, such as bananas for potassium, celery for chloride, and leafy greens for magnesium. Many athletes, however, replenish electrolytes on the go (before, during, and after their workouts) with a sports drink.
NuAquos, the official sports drink of Savage Race, contains all 6 base electrolytes as well as protein for recovery, functional carbohydrates for energy, and 19 additional vitamins and minerals.
If you’re training in the heat this summer, remember to hydrate, wear breathable clothing, and replenish lost nutrients during and after your workouts. Every step you take to maintain a normal body temperature during training and racing will help your performance significantly.
We’re looking forward to seeing all you Savages at our upcoming events, and in the meantime, train hard, stay healthy, and have fun. We’ll see ya in the mud with an ice-cold NuAquos waiting for you at the finish line!
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