subject: Training In Direct Sunlight - The Dangers [print this page] Training In Direct Sunlight Training In Direct Sunlight
Training In Direct Sunlight might seem like the perfect match, the sun is shinning you feel like going for a run, you think the nice weather will help you run further and feel better.
Unfortunately the reality of Training in Direct Sunlight is the complete opposite, it can be very dangerous and life threatening.
I had never consider any of this before, because living in Belfast there are rarely any days of sunlight let alone days of high temperatures. Over the last week we have had direct sunlight and high temperatures.
At a circuits class tonight we asked the instructor to take the class outside. He said no and explained that he has a duty of care to his class and that training in direct sunlight would be in dereliction of his duty of care and it was too dangerous.
After the class I came home and decided to find out why he was so against training in the heat of the day. It is because there are a group of heat related illness that can be induced by training in direct sunlight in the heat of the day, the most serious of these is Heat Stroke.
Heat Stroke is a form of hypothermia and happens when the bodies temperature is raised rapidly. Heat stroke can be fatal, when your body becomes too dehydrated it can lose the power to regulate your body temperature.
The effects of heat stroke include vomiting, fatigue, weakness and dizziness.
Dehydration happens very rapidly when working out in the sun, if you consider the fact people get heat stroke lying on a sun bed it gives you an idea how easily it can happen.
Heat exhaustion is also dangerous and happens in the same way as heat stroke in that your body can not regulate its temperature. Heat exhaustion is very dangerous and has many of the symptoms of heat stroke.
The first sign of Heat exhaustion or Heat stroke are heat cramps. Heat cramps are muscle spasms that occur if your working out too hard in hot temperatures.
I've learnt my lesson today in terms of training in direct sunlight. From now on when the sun is out and the temperature is at its highest point I will be relaxing and hydrating.
In the future I will train inside on days with a high temperature and direct sunlight. Getting fit is not worth getting heat stroke and possibly getting ill for the purpose of losing a few extra pounds.
Another tip I've known for years and most of my readers will know is that it is important to keep yourself hydrated when training regardless of the temperature.
Dehydration when training is a very dangerous thing. It is also very easy when training hard to forget to top up your fluid levels. I would suggest drinking 3-4 litres of water a day particularly on hard training days. I personally like to add vitamin C to my water as I feel it helps provide extra energy for the body.
