Hydration, training during early morning hours key for athletes in extreme heat
Nia Hinson
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Extreme heat has been no stranger to Mid-Missouri.
Wednesday marked the fifth day in a row of an ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Alert Day for brutal heat. A Weather Alert Day continues into Thursday, as the heat index will surge up to 105 degrees. The heat can not only cause headaches for the average person, but it can also create problems for athletes while they train.
That is, if the right steps aren’t taken.
“The most important thing in my brain is always just to get to bed at the right time,” University of Missouri cross country junior Andrew Hauser said. “Hydration is obviously super important but that’s just important for everyday.”
Athletes like Andrew Hauser have been gearing up, as the start of their season slowly approaches. Practices officially start for the Mizzou cross country team Aug. 15, while their first invitational will be held on Aug. 29.
Athletes have been training on their own in anticipation of the season, lifting weights and taking part in various runs assigned to them from coaches. Hauser said sometimes athletes will choose to run earlier in the morning to try and beat the heat.
Other times, when the heat is too extreme, it’s smart to turn to other methods.
“Treadmill is a great tool in the summer,” MU assistant cross country coach Paige Duca said. “[A] controlled environment is what we need. Today was a recovery day for the athletes and yesterday was a hill session. So, a great decision [is] to just really recover and not have to worry about the heat because the heat can take you a little bit longer to recover.”
Duca said it’s also recommended that athletes hydrate both prior to, and after, workouts. Electrolytes are also critical in helping their bodies recover in extreme heat, Duca said. Athletic trainers are also always on hand.
Athletes feel the heat more on the track.
The temperature of the Audrey J. Walton Track and Field Stadium read at about 136 degrees around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. The temperature of the turf came in around 96 degrees, compared to 91 degrees outside.
Arianna Fisher turned pro as a triple jumper in 2023 after graduating from MU in 2022. Fisher still uses the track to train and felt the heat on Wednesday afternoon.
Fisher said the heat can take a toll on you mentally when heading into a workout, but her body eventually becomes acclimated to it. However, Fisher said she still takes steps to ensure she stays cool during her workouts.
“A cool towel is always nice to have or just going and sitting in the shade, drinking some water, fanning yourself,” Fisher said. “But for the most part, I just keep a towel and then that’s about it. It was a hot one, very sweaty, very gross, but it was a good workout.”