Vegas is baking right now. Sure, it’s always crazy hot in Vegas, but not this early.
I did a sprint this weekend at Lake Las Vegas, on the edge of Lake Mead. I heard at the start it was 111 degrees. and the news reported the high at Lake Mead was, indeed, 111.
I didn’t think I could get so dehydrated in such a short event … I suffered like a slab of ribs in a slow smoker … I stopped sweating and actually got the chills on the run. Not a good sign.
So, how hot is too hot? Where do you draw the line?
My wife forced me to stay off my bike on Sunday here in Pasadena, CA. Now look what’s on cyclingnews this morning… BTW Pasadena, La Canada, and Glendale all border each other.
LA heatwave claims cyclist as victim
Record temperatures in Los Angeles, California over the weekend may have contributed to the death of 49 year-old cyclist Robert John Stoffel of La Cañada Flintridge, who died last Sunday.
Temperatures soared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) in the Woodland Hills area, and were in the 90s in La Tuna Canyon near Glendale, where Stoffel was riding, said Los Angeles police Sargeant Teresa Coyle to the Los Angeles Daily News.
The cyclist began his training ride at around 7:30am with two other friends, but his companions turned around because of the extreme heat. When one of Stoffel’s friends noticed he was no longer behind them, she returned to find him slumped over his handlebars, but unconscious.
By the time Los Angeles Fire Department personnel reached the scene at 9:45am, Stoffel was dead; however, it is still unsure whether his death was related to heat exhaustion.
I did a bike race in Yakima when it was 105 in the shade (which there was NONE of on the course). There were people who were dropping because of the heat. No one was heat injured, however (there was a LOT of water around). I gave up more than one bottle to people who were really suffering. 110+? Don’t know how I’d handle that on a run, but riding would be no problem.
But it’s a dry heat…
It really all depends on the individual. I tend to like it hotter.
I was working construction on Phoenix when we set the locate record (not sure if it still is) at 127. The days before it was in the 120+ range…I was out on an airport runway laying pipe. Don’t even remember what for. That sucked, cause I the welders helper, so I was in pants, heavy gloves up to my elbows, and protective helmet/eye shield.
I miss the heat though, and eventhough people joke, it really is a dry heat. I sweat worse here in San Diego when its 90 inland then I did in AZ when its 110. I sweat alot anyways, so the drier the better.
I’d take that any day of the week over -20 winters though!
i would draw the line at 111. that’s just dangerous. where i live there is high high humidity…so when it gets 85 to 90+ people start dropping dead left and right.
i used to save my run in the day for the peak heat…which would be between 12 noon and 3pm. i called this heat training, but only did it when i was in premium running condition. you gotta use your sense on stuff like this. if you’re in fine shape for it that’s another thing–heat trained with an entirely efficient cardio system. otherwise, 111 is a bad idea.
I live in 100 + summer heat. Starting a race at 111 is nuts, dry heat or not. You are just asking for trouble. I don’t do much past 10 in the morning until after the sun goes down in the summer. Not only is there heat but smog and high ozone levels when the sun is strong.
Ok, since you ask a question like that, I suppose you walked right into it. Kittycat, Marisol and Andypants in the same room. That would be too hot. Anything less is just a warm up ride.
110 is about my cutoff. It was 112 last year and my daughter was sick at school. So at 1pm I had to leave work to go get her. I had two bottles on my bike since I was giong my long ride that day and drank both of them on the 17mi ride home. Only time I have taken my helmet off to ride (it was on the deserted bike trail).
I love 100F runs, but each degree over 105 is pretty noticable in my book.
“Starting a race at 111 is nuts, dry heat or not. You are just asking for trouble.”
Yeah, that’s what I think, too. But … and this is an important but … I’m a cheap bastard, had paid my $80 (for a SPRINT, mind you; but for a good cause), and dammit I wasn’t going to skip it. Plus, this was my last tri in Vegas (moving out of state next month).
But man I suffered. I was not prepared for the heat. It seams like it was in the 80s last week (actualy, it was … these temps came on almost overnight).
Odd how a little thing like triple digit plus temps can make an easy race a sufferfest.
This is why I live at the beach, even though I can only afford a shoebox. This weekend was gorgeous in Santa Monica. (Sorry, I need to gloat to help justify the ridiculous prices.)
I raced tempe sunday… temp was in the hundreds, I got my ass kicked on the run. I think it peaked at 110. i ran a 52 10K, VERY embarassing… But I couldn’t cool down… I LOVE the heat but my body wasn’t used to it. What got me mad was the lack of water and water stations, no sponges, no ice, no towels… At the last aid station, I had been dreaming of 2 cups of water being poured on me and they gave me gatorade… I still wish I lived in phoenix though, would love the chance to adapt to that.
For me anything above 80 causes a huge jump in heartrate and subsequent performance drop off. Living in Tempe hasn’t helped much as far as I can tell, I just get up early and avoid it. Anyone trying to train in 100+ heat is not doing themselves any good, you can’t train at a high level. Better just go for a swim (indoors! Outdoor pools get 100 degrees here as well).
If you think that La Canada and Pasadena are cheap then I suggest you venture east of the 405 for a look???
Don’t worry, I’ve been there. We’ve considered moving to Pasadena and the area to get a bigger house. The houses are still expensive, but on a per square foot basis they are very cheap compared to the beach. Check it out: http://www.latimes.com/classified/realestate/news/la-re-prices22may22,0,3569161.story?coll=la-class-realestate-news
La Canada is $537/sf
Pasadena ranges from $380 - $525/sf
vs.
Malibu: $762/sf
Pac Palisades: $815/sf
Santa Monica: $660 - 1,107/sf
Venice: $892/sf
Marina del Rey: $862/sf
Manhattan Beach: $656/sf
