Halfway through April is collegiate nationals, in Lubbock, TX. Obviously, this is way early in the year for a race, but this is what it is. It puts me at a bit of a disadvantage - I’ll have no way to acclimate to race efforts in the heat. During the summer, I can train hard in 85-90F weather without any trouble, but racing in 85F weather after five months of freezing temps here in Boulder presents an issue. I recently did a race in Havasu, AZ, which topped out at about 82*F, and my water consumption on the bike was about three times what I expected, so I suffered.
Any suggestions for helping a pasty white kid race well in the heat?
Oy! Other than riding the trainer in winter gear with the space heater on you? I’d forgo the wetsuit if it is a tri; don’t wear an aero helmet; wear a visor or lightweight cap and drop ice and sponges inside the hat, top and bottom…just beware the wet, squishy shoes if you are going to pour water over yourself. Good luck.
Any suggestions for helping a pasty white kid race well in the heat?
Grow a pair. There are much colder and worse places to spend the winter than Boulder. You said you already had a race under your belt in the warmth, so you have a start. People race in Lubbock in June for HM, an Olympic in April should not be that bad. Is is going to be freezing for the next 2 weeks?
Up the salt intake for the next couple of weeks. Not so much that you use an entire can of salt before going to Lubbock, but enough that you notice. Snack on tortilla chips, eat a bowl or two of ramen, that sort of thing. But remember you’re training for an Oly, not a half. No big deal if you sweat a little more while you’re there.
Also, bear in mind there’s a chance it could be cooler than you think. The weather there is squirrelly this time of year but you’re wise to prepare for heat. It’s also pretty dry there, so you know what it’s like to not have much moisture in the air. Good luck, and don’t forget to hit Cricket’s on Broadway by the campus after the race.
Any suggestions for helping a pasty white kid race well in the heat? Grow a pair. There are much colder and worse places to spend the winter than Boulder. You said you already had a race under your belt in the warmth, so you have a start. People race in Lubbock in June for HM, an Olympic in April should not be that bad. Is is going to be freezing for the next 2 weeks?
Nice advice, dick. I believe the OP is looking for advice on how to acclimate to race well in hot weather. Anybody going to a national level race would want every advantage they can get.
Racing well in the heat requires your body to adjust its blood plasma levels (if I’m not mistaken), I think the OP’s only way to really stimulate that kind of change would be to spend the next while training way overdressed and sweat it out.