I've recently taken up running to lose some weight but like I always have in the past, I have problems keeping cool. I've taken to running late in the evening when it's cooler but I still overheat, my core temperature rises and I start dripping quite quickly even though my surface temperature is quite cool. It feels weird being cool on the outside but overheating on the inside. This causes me to sweat a lot making me cooler on the surface but it has no effect on cooling me internally. I only cool down after the run and I've been sitting in front of a fan for 20 minutes. It's very uncomfortable and I could cope with it if it wasn't for the fact that it feels like I'm covered in hot acid which has the effect of making me feel like I'm wrapped in a prickly wool blanket. This time of year it happens when I just take the dog out for a walk. I drink all the water I can and it doesn't seem to make any difference what I wear. Any suggestions please before I give up the running again. Thanks.
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I break into sweat just putting my running shoes on.
Just have a cool shower and cool drink after you get in - or have a cool down walk/ stretch at the end of each run.
You'll never get anywhere if you give up because of sweating. And anyway - winter is just round the corner.
+1 on what Cougs said. What are you wearing - are you wearing cotton T Shirts? That might be the cause of the itching as the wet material is snagging on your skin. Get a loose fitting technical top -either a running top of a basketball vest or somehting like that..... it will wick the sweat away from your skin. It is normal to heat up when exercising - an engine stays cool on tick over and gets hot when worked.
Winter is a while away, so useful to get this sorted before it starts snowing!
It should improve if you stick with it.
Running in warm weather is always harder for me, I feel like I'm carrying something heavy, and sweat buckets. You do get used to it after a while, but this summer it's never been warm for long enough to get used to it!
Having a cool shower when you get in helps - start with the water just warm, and gradually turn in down.
Derek - everybody has that problem if they jump in the shower immediately they get in and are still hot - you just keep sweating after, I'm always like that at the gym when I don't wait until cool before showering.
Sweating is a sign that your body is efficiently keeping your core temperature down and that is why you keep sweating until you have completely returned to normal after activity which usually takes 20 minutes or so for me - more if it is warm in the house for example.
The prickliness may just be a reflection of the sweating - I get a lot of stinging when sweating due to the salt, but i just accept that it is part of the deal when you exercise even if it isn't very pleasant.
It's usually coolest first thing in the morning, so if you can face getting up at sunrise then go for that. Humidity will make it harder to keep cool too, so keep an eye on that.
You could try wearing an ice vest before you run, but that may be taking things a bit too far.
I'd give up then!
Derek- I would NOT take Lardarses advice- keep going, it will get easier and more enjoyable. I used to go beetroot red, and sweat a lot, but it gets better as you get fitter.
If you get to the point where you can run for 30 minutes without topping, you may well find that you begin to enjoy it- it is always the first 20 minutes or so of running that feel hardest, so if you aren't doing much more than that, it's no wonder most of it feel tough.
Good luck.
Derek,
I understand what you may be going through, but unlike the other responses, I beleiev it may be more than just warm weather. You my have a thyroid condition which is precipitating the response. Also some hypothalamus issues may be at play. I work with a few patients who have issues like yours - usually male late 30's to 50's who notice it because they run/workout a lot. I have also seen this in some diabetic patients.
I dont share all of that to scare you but perhaps getting looked at by your local physician and having some simple tests done may give you a peace when it comes to this.
Like some in here, myself included, you'll love the cooler more adverse weather - I hope you start to enjoy it otherwise you may want to try another firm of sport. There's no point doing something you don't enjoy - especially in your own time.
Two years on I'm no super athlete, but I really look forward to going out now and enjoy my runs.
Summer is a tough time for me though. I'm happy to run in snow, ice and rain but as soon as it gets above 20c outside I know I'm going to suffer. I have to run less, run slower, and drink loads when I get back. I know what it feels like to keep sweating half an hour after the nice cool shower.
All I can say really is, enjoy the autumn. Must be my favourite time of year to run now (although winter and spring are ok too). I'm not going to be a great runner so I don't really worry too much about slowing down a bit in the warmer weather.
Keep going, with any luck you will push on through the 'doing it because I have to' phase and actually start enjoying it. I did, and lost 10 kg in the process. Good luck.