{"id":16368,"date":"2022-11-02T08:02:50","date_gmt":"2022-11-02T15:02:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drjimtaylor.com\/4.0\/?p=16368"},"modified":"2022-11-02T08:02:50","modified_gmt":"2022-11-02T15:02:50","slug":"the-psychology-of-extreme-heat-for-triathletes-dont-sweat-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drjimtaylor.com\/4.0\/the-psychology-of-extreme-heat-for-triathletes-dont-sweat-it\/","title":{"rendered":"The Psychology of Extreme Heat for Triathletes: Don\u2019t Sweat it!"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m heading to Abu Dhabi in late November to compete in the World Standard-distance and Super-sprint World Championships. And, yes,\"\" it\u2019s going to be hot, very hot. The typical daily temperature in the U.A.E. in November is around 95 degrees and the water temperature is in the mid-80s (no wetsuits there!). Without a doubt, the single most talked about issue among TeamUSA members (aside from our race suits; inside joke!) is the heat.<\/p>\n

For those competing from the southern regions of the U.S., it\u2019s just, as the saying goes, another day at the beach. But for us Northerners, we might as well be stepping into a sauna. Those of us who competed in the USAT National Championships in Milwaukee saw people dropping like flies during the Olympic-distance race where the temperatures were in the high 80s and the humidity was 77%. Abu Dhabi is a bit less humid\u2014around 65%\u2014but it\u2019s definitely not the more bearable \u201cdry heat\u201d you find in Arizona or New Mexico.<\/p>\n

Wherever you\u2019re from, the heat in Abu Dhabi is going to take its toll. Extreme heat places immense stresses on our bodies including increased core body temperature, dehydration, more rapid use of energy stores, decreased endurance, and, in rare cases, heat stroke and death.<\/p>\n

\"\"So far, I\u2019ve painted a pretty grim picture of competing in extreme heat. So, are we going to just stay home because it\u2019s going to be a little warm in Abu Dhabi? Heck no! With proper strategies, the debilitating effects of heat on triathlon performance can be mitigated. Techniques such as staying indoors or in the shade as much as possible and hydrating and fueling properly can all help. But the reality is that every competitor in Abu Dhabi must make adjustments in their effort and race goals because extreme heat is unforgiving no matter who you are.<\/p>\n

Though extreme heat most directly influences our bodies, it also can have a significant impact on our minds that, quite simply, adds psychological insult to physical injury. If you allow the heat to hurt your mind the way it hurts your body, you are setting yourself up for a truly discouraging, painful, and unrewarding race experience.<\/p>\n

How does extreme heat affect your mind? It begins with your perceptions of the heat. Perceptions are the lenses through which we look at,\"\" interpret, and evaluate our world. And it is perceptions that direct the way we think, what emotions we experience, and, ultimately, how we perform. If you associate negative thoughts with the heat (e.g., \u201cThis heat is so bad. I know I\u2019m going to cramp.\u201d), you create a defeatist mindset that will make the extreme heat far worse. Ruminating on the heat will also create doubts about your ability to handle it, cause you to worry, and produce unnecessary stress, all of which place additional demands on your body that burns fuel when it is most important to conserve energy.<\/p>\n

Emotions can also play a big role in how heat affects your body and your performances. Because extreme heat is a threat to your physical integrity and your race goals, you may experience a veritable tsunami of negative emotions that can range from fear to frustration to anger to despair, none of which play nice with trying to go as fast as you can on race day. What can result as your race progresses and you begin to feel the effects of the extreme heat is a vicious cycle of physical, psychological, and emotional alarm will not end well.<\/p>\n

\"\"Here are ways in which you can lessen the impact of extreme heat and ensure that, though your body may struggle, your mind stays strong and continues to push your body to its reasonable limits given the temperature:<\/p>\n