Running log

I did 4.25 in the heat yesterday and felt terrible afterwards. It brought home the importance of hydration. Even in the early morning hours the heat and humidity takes its toll. Think about it, you have just gone 7 hours without taking in any fluids (some call it sleep) and you expect your body to tolerate the sweat and strain of a run? It doesn't make much sense. To top it off I often have a cup of coffee before a run. Yes the caffeine does increase performance and some studies show it can burn fat more efficiently, but it is also a great diuretic. Again, not a smart thing to do. The lesson is to hydrate with water or a sports drink before the run, and for goodness sakes, carry some water with you to drink during the run. Eve if you are going short distances, don't punish your system by limiting your hydration. It really defeats the purpose of training and just makes you feel lousy the rest of the day.