Training in the Heat

[stef]

by Bill Starr

http://startingstrength.com/articles/starr_suggs_sweat_exsm.jpg


Article (http://startingstrength.com/index.php/site/training_in_the_heat/)

Resources Page (http://startingstrength.com/index.php/site/resources)

[Ian Kovtunovich]

Just gave that a skim, and it looks useful and interesting. It should be noted, however, that while caffeine by itself is indeed a diuretic and will thus lead to dehydration, caffeinated beverages have more than enough liquid to offset this effect. The idea that caffeinated drinks dehydrate you has been debunked pretty thoroughly, so, have yourself a nice iced coffee with your squats.

[Hershey]

Really like the picture featured with the article. Would love to see more.

[Bahadur]

I train in my garage in South Florida and he's right on about the fluids. When you realize you maybe behind its usually too late. I do use Gatorade powder however and I find that drinking a fair amount BEFORE (half an hour before or so) the workout helps, to 'fill the tank'. And lots of chalk to combat the sweaty hands.

All in all, I wouldn't trade it for the world. As miserable as it can be (esp. in the summer) it feels great on my joints. Plus, in the winter down here its heaven. In between sets get to sit 'outside' and enjoy the cool breezes and blue skies.

[ILiftAlone]

I like the part about training whether or not the conditions are favorable. Something to keep in mind on those hot days when your already tired from work and the couch is calling your name.

[Carlos Daniel]

I like the part about training whether or not the conditions are favorable. Something to keep in mind on those hot days when your already tired from work and the couch is calling your name.

True. I have been training for the last month in this gym that doubles as a martial arts gym. It's basically just a big big room, that after a whole day of people exercising, has probably attained thermal equilibrium with the people inside it. It was fucking hell the first week. I would wait 5 minutes after a set and I would still be breathing hard my heart still pounding.

Just told myself to stop being a pussy, got heavy on the chalk and drunk half a gallon of milk after my workouts.

A week later I was doing just fine.

[August West]

Great stuff - funny, true, and useful. I soaked through my shirt by my second set of squats this morning, and that was at 7:00. Bill's right, it gets distracting. And my dumb ass never thought to just make it a 3-shirt day, like the man says.

Great picture, too.

[drewcarroll2]

Really like the picture featured with the article. Would love to see more.

I agree whole heartedly with this. It would be great to see more photos of this era of real strength training.

[Scrofula]

Nice read. I do my lifting in an air conditioned gym, but grapple in a crowded, windowless, non-AC internal room; it gets like a sauna sometimes. I've seen people get hypoxic and disoriented on the mat. This seems like a good article to circulate.

[H0neyBe4r]

... It would be great to see more photos of this era of real strength training.

The 90's?

[MazdaMatt]

Plus, in the winter down here its heaven. In between sets get to sit 'outside' and enjoy the cool breezes and blue skies.

Fuck you, I'd have to shovel three feet of snow away from my garage door just to open it, and who the fuck works out in -25*C? Not me!

*sob sob sob*

[JM3]

tried reading it.... dont even need that info. Love training outside in the parking lot of the national forest here - last workout 95 degrees.
Im more worried about keeping deer shit off my bumper plates and chiggers off my legs than heat stroke.

American by birth, Southern by the grace of god.

[Michael Liao]

I'm very grateful we still have Mr. Starr putting out articles of import. A timely piece, thanks guys!

Mike

[Dastardly]

Matt Krocalezsci trains log lunges/squats etc, in his backyard in the snow.

Ross Enamait trains in a frozen garage. Its definetely do-able. Just put some clothes on.

Its august here, but its gone rather cold. So heat is no longer a problem. Still read the article and ejoyed it. Was cool to see the picture of Suggs & Starr too.

You can see the effect of all those power cleans & shrugs! I wonder how big those traps are these days.


Fuck you, I'd have to shovel three feet of snow away from my garage door just to open it, and who the fuck works out in -25*C? Not me!

*sob sob sob*

[Jacob I. Briskin]

God, fuck training in the heat. In the arse. With a big nobbly stick.

Say what you want about California, but I can say this for the Bay Area: except for occasional freak days in July, the temperature never gets crazy enough to be a real inconvenience.

[OITW]

Fuck you, I'd have to shovel three feet of snow away from my garage door just to open it, and who the fuck works out in -25*C? Not me!

*sob sob sob*

You Canuck pussy, you're a disgrace to Jean Lafitte or whoever your imitation of Paul Bunyan is (I seem to recall he harvested a lot of wheat all by himself), it's been so long since I had my Canadian indoctrination classes. Labrador--that's the Canada I lived in, not your wussy northern Detroit. Followed by decades in Maine, still north of you. Hell, all of Europe is north of you (say, hey, how about that Gulf Stream?).

Get a shovel and start digging.

[Patrick]

Fantastic read! I really appreciate the side panels; Starr's narratives always grip my attention but having those concise bits of uber-practical information tacked on is excellent. I'm trying C at bedtime tonight.

[Braindrop]

It's 102 and humid here this week. I drink about a gallon of water over the course of a workout. It's just a matter of getting used to it. I'm sure I'd have some acclimation to do if it was -15 degrees out.

[Al in Vancouver]

It would be great to see more photos of this era of real strength training.

If you haven't already bought Starr's books there are lots of cool photos. Lots.

[Tan Man]

Hey Mark, thanks for making these Bill Starr articles available here.
No question, he's still the best Iron Game author writing.
Much appreciated.