Red, white, and blue — The official colors of summertime. This wonderful season, that most of us look forward to all year, is marked by our most patriotic national holidays. We kick off the season by remembering all those who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice on Memorial day. We mark the midpoint when we celebrate Independence Day on July 4th, and Summer winds down to fall when Labor Day comes around.
It’s that time of year. When outdoor training and activities ramp up, and so do the temperatures. If you’re like me, this time of year you also find yourself craving slushies, popsicles, and just about anything frozen. But did you know there’s actually a biological reason your body craves these frozen treats? Ice, icy liquids and slurries can be awesome tools to helping your body regulate temperature. Frozen and icy liquids can help with body temperature regulation in a couple ways.
Sweat rate is a critical piece of information for athletes, and it is actually fairly easy to figure out. But this relatively simple data point can have a major impact on your performance. Studies have shown as little as a 0.5% loss of body water can cause increased strain on the heart, and as little as 2-3% of total body weight can cause declines in performance — That is just 3 - 4.5 pounds for a 150 pound individual, which can easily happen during an endurance training session or race, especially during hot or humid conditions!
