RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) – Running in 90 degree weather hasn’t always been Coach Cat Edwards’ forte.
It was a hard lesson the Michigan native had to learn when she moved to Richmond.
“I tried to run but I just couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t run, that’s how it felt. I was like, ‘Oh my God, what am I going to do this summer?’ I was like, ‘I’ve got to do something,'” Edwards said.
This humiliating experience prompted her to lace up her sneakers and help other runners overcome the same challenge.
“Heat can be a huge obstacle not only to your ability to continue training, but also to enjoying it,” she said.
He recommends drinking 2 liters of cold liquid before your run.
“You’re going to sweat a lot, and when you sweat, you lose fluids and electrolytes, which can cause imbalances in your body,” Edwards explained.
She said to run slowly, as running too fast can heat up your body and make you feel even hotter.
“So even if it means walking up a hill, just stop for a second in the shade on a corner. Calm your breathing, slow your heart rate down. That way, you can gradually acclimate yourself to the heat and get a little used to it.”
Finally, once your run is complete, hydration and food are essential.
“It’s important to drink water with electrolytes to replenish what you’ve lost,” she says, “and eat a balanced meal or snacks with protein and carbohydrates to help you recover and be ready to go the next day.”
Coach Edwards will be hosting a running clinic on Saturday, July 20th at 8am at Dogwood Dell.
She will provide more tips and participants can then do a two- or three-mile run afterwards.
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