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While the summer months have come and gone, we are still experiencing brutal heat here in New York. Runners in the area who might have been getting excited for cooler temperatures with the coming of September are not in luck quite yet. Keeping this in mind, there are a few things that runners need to know.
A new study that was recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows that runners in endurance races are 10 times more likely to die of heat stroke than from a cardiac related event. This is shocking to many because it goes against previous research published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which found only one death from heat stroke and a whopping 42 from cardiac events.
This is very important news because, even with the high heat, heat stroke can be prevented if the appropriate measures are taken. There are five major preventative steps that can prevent heat stroke and while they might be hard to accept in a competitive sport, it is necessary for maintaining your health.
The first step is as a runner you have to know your limits and make sure not to exceed your personal degree of fitness. Another misconception is that water is the answer. Too much water can also be detrimental to your health but it is important to stay hydrated. A third important step is to be aware of your surroundings. If you know you are going to compete in a drastically warmer or cooler setting, be prepared to adjust for your body accordingly. Your body cannot perform at the same metabolic rate if you are competing in an area different than where you have been training. Another important step that should be common sense is if you have been sick in the past week, consider taking a break! When your body is already weak, you become more vulnerable to fever and heat stroke. Last but not least, if you are beginning to feel overheated, slow down! If you reduce your pace even just a little bit your body will have more time to adjust and recover.
So if you love running outdoors or have an event coming up soon, take the necessary precautions for your body when you hit the ground!
-Lauren Price
