Yesterday, here in Savannah and probably many other areas, the heat index and humidity was so high that it was too dangerous even for healthy people to leave their air-conditioned homes. Several of the Moon River Walkers didn’t show up at our 6 pm walk time because of it. So, when you are walking or running for exercise, just how hot is too hot?
There weren’t as many folks walking and running at Daffin Park. Young soccer players were playing under the blue sky, no shade trees needed for them! That doesn’t mean no one was bothered by the heat and humidity, but those in competitive sports don’t let the weather keep them down. Post Office employees, UPS and Fed Ex, deliver, regardless of the weather! If you are committed, weather is not the deciding factor. Either you train – or deliver or you don’t.
Surprise! It is actually easier to exercise in the heat, assuming intermittent shade coverage, than it is to work in an environment without air conditioning on days like these. The temperature of a car that has been parked in the sun quickly gets dangerously high because of a lack of circulating fresh air. That is what makes it different from exercising in the park or your neighborhood. Bottom line for those of us who just want to get our exercise: be dressed properly and hydrated. Daffin Park has beautiful, shady tree cover all the way around the park. There are “wind tunnels” where cool air blows in some areas of the perimeter walk, for a quarter mile at a time. This is true of most parks and neighborhoods. Bring water – it will stay reasonably cool, so your body temperature can remain stable.
Wear your lightest clothes, a hat and again, bring plenty of water. Take it easy, this isn’t the day to set speed records. Walk or run at a comfortable pace. I normally drink 32 ounces of water during and right after a 3 mile walk, but yesterday I downed 32 ounces plus another 16 ounces of iced non-sugared sports drink that I kept in the car to drink on the way home.
August only lasts 31 days. Temperatures gradually fall as we get into September, and October will be nothing but pleasurable. Keep walking.
