I did my first 70.3 event last year and afterwards (1-2 hours) I started shivering as if I had just climbed out of the Bering Sea in winter. It lasted for several hours, and I did not feel like my metabolism was back to normal for another day. I did not have any symptoms associated with a cold or flu either before or after the race. I figured it was because it rained during the last lap of the run and because I went a bit too hard during the bike leg and was pretty much toasted before the run ended.
Last Sunday I finished the Marine Corps Marathon and about 1-2 hours after finishing, the same hard shivering reappeared. This time however I did not have any rain to deal with nor did I run the race too hard having injured my calf at mile 8 which forced me to walk to the finsh from mile 22.
Has anyone else had shivering after a long race that was not due to either illness or the environment? The only thing I can think of is that the long endurance effort is messing with my metabolism so much that my body temperature mechanism is upset by the effort.
After IM’s I do, but i don’t w/ 70.3 or under. Read somewhere it was dehydration. Although I hydrated pretty good after my last IM, it still shivered for a few hours afterwards.
The only thing I can think of is that the long endurance effort is messing with my metabolism so much that my body temperature mechanism is upset by the effort.
Unless you finish very slow due to fatigue, the thermostat in your hypothalamus might be fried. More likely if you ever experienced heat stroke. In that case, even though your core temperature is not low, the faulty thermostat turns on shivering.
I ran a hot 70.3 this past summer. I got cooked pretty good and dehydrated despite taking two cups at every single hydration station. I peed before the swim start, then in T2, then not again that day until about 1 AM. Anyhow, I took an ice bath that evening and started shivering about an hour after the ice bath.
I experienced this same thing for a year or so after any 3+ hour ride. Would shiver uncontrollably and get delirious. Would usually end up falling asleep under a huge pile of blankets until I felt better a few hours later. Couldn’t figure out what was going on until I starting working with an endocrine/metabolism doctor who discovered I had a seriously screwed up metabolism. My body was going into a strange shut-down mode after long-workouts instead of recovering like a normal person. Not saying it’s the same for you but you may want to work with a doctor who has experience with metabolic disorders.
The only time I’ve ever experienced something like this was after 12 hours in the saddle this summer. Took a quick shower and then the shivering set in; violent to the point of being debilitating. Have never had anything like it after racing or any other workouts.
I ran a hot 70.3 this past summer. I got cooked pretty good and dehydrated despite taking two cups at every single hydration station. I peed before the swim start, then in T2, then not again that day until about 1 AM. Anyhow, I took an ice bath that evening and started shivering about an hour after the ice bath.
No, I did not take an ice bath after either race, and have only iced down specific muscle groups on a few occasions where I did not have a shivering episode afterwards.
Dehydration might play a part, but I don’t think so based on the marathon experience. I had to hit the portajohn right after finishing the race after taking in at least 2-3 cups at every aid station on a relatively cool (57-65 degrees F) day.
I don’t think so, I had a decent breakfast (oatmeal with 4 tsp brown sugar) before the race, 2 bags of Chomps starting 30 minutes before the start and every mile to the end with a gel about every 30-35 minutes. I also drank Gatorade at every aid station, mixed with water at every other station.
The only thing I can think of is that the long endurance effort is messing with my metabolism so much that my body temperature mechanism is upset by the effort.
Unless you finish very slow due to fatigue, the thermostat in your hypothalamus might be fried. More likely if you ever experienced heat stroke. In that case, even though your core temperature is not low, the faulty thermostat turns on shivering.
This might be what is going on, I suffered from heat exhaustion a couple of decades ago while in the Navy. Passed out after working for 6-7 hours on the flight deck and woke up in sick bay about 5 hours later with IV bags attached to both arms.
I experienced this same thing for a year or so after any 3+ hour ride. Would shiver uncontrollably and get delirious. Would usually end up falling asleep under a huge pile of blankets until I felt better a few hours later. Couldn’t figure out what was going on until I starting working with an endocrine/metabolism doctor who discovered I had a seriously screwed up metabolism. My body was going into a strange shut-down mode after long-workouts instead of recovering like a normal person. Not saying it’s the same for you but you may want to work with a doctor who has experience with metabolic disorders.
Thanks for the advice, I think I might just have to get it checked out as you did.
I used to get very, very cold right after long training runs out on the trails. I discovered that if I changed my shirt upon finishing, I no longer had that problem. I now keep a bunch of old race shirts in my car. I also keep an old sweat shirt there too. I am sooooo much happier now. We sometimes go out for coffee afterwards and I have no issues at all. Hope this may help you too.
"The only thing I can think of is that the long endurance effort is messing with my metabolism so much that my body temperature mechanism is upset by the effort. "
This is pretty much what I’ve chalked it up to, the two times it’s happened to me after IMC. This year I had a pretty good race and I think I was reasonably well nourished and hydrated. Nevertheless, in the finishers’ area I started shivering quite a bit, despite being in direct sunlight, so much so that another athlete came up and gave me his blanket. Shivering went on for a good 45 minutes.
Anyway, FWIW, my non-scientific armchair explanation to myself has always been that, after hours and hours of your body’s cooling mechanism being on “HIGH” to counteract the ambient temperature as well as the heat your body movement is producing, when you stop moving that cooling mechanism continues to run for a while, and you start shivering to make up for the lost heat that you were previously generating during the race, until the whole system resets itself.
May not have any basis in fact whatsoever, though I don’t think shivering on its own is *necessarily *anything to be alarmed about, given the number of people in blankets after the race.
“Has anyone else had shivering after a long race that was not due to either illness or the environment? The only thing I can think of is that the long endurance effort is messing with my metabolism so much that my body temperature mechanism is upset by the effort”.
Yes, it happens to me after each Ironman race, even Florida where it was relatively warm. I stay away from any cold fluids after the race to minimize the impact and find dry and warm clothing asap.
Symptoms in that thread reminded me of another possible theoretical explanation. During prolonged competitive exercise, especially in the heat, the amount of blood flow to the intestinal walls (splanchnic blood flow) can diminish to practically nothing. This is called the ISCHEMIC phase. Trouble is that prolonged ischemia causes some intestinal cells to die and toxins to buildup. Then after the event, the splanchnic blood flow returns with a vengeance. This is called the REPERFUSION phase. Enterotoxins (heat shock proteins) are released into the blood and they cause the brain’s thermostat to downregulate. Metabolism falls into the basement and shivering sets in. Nausea and vomiting commonly accompany the shivering.
I know 2 ultra-triathletes with recurring symptoms. Both saw a gastroenterologist and now take medication prior to racing that minimizes the problem.
I was thinking along these lines as well. To the OP: are you sure it’s temp related?
I used to shake/shiver after long training/races. It baffled me but with lots of trial and error it turns out I just wasn’t eating enough after the event. Or I was eating a ton quickly, and then nothing. Now I try to keep eating consistently, carby stuff for a few hours.
I have had this after a couple long bikes, first HIM and after my first IM. Between my first HIM and IM I did another 70.3 but did not shiver… so I cannot really pinpoint what it is also. Very interesting.
I am fine with long runs outside in the cold and what not, then after do not have the shivering… But something about intense long distance stuff in warm weather equates to me shivering uncontrollably after… confusing.
Your heart rate falls, you no longer are producing a lot of body heat, and bad things start to happen.
I used to wear jacket even in the summer or I would get cold.
I don’t work that hard anymore. And my body no longer has a problem.
BINGO
Someone finally got it. While training (especially hard) your body is working overtime to keep you cool. When you suddenly top running/cycling/etc you are no longer generating a ton of heat, yet your body still continues to cool for a period of time.