Is It Ever Too Hot To Go For A Run?

Is it ever too hot to go for a run?

- Hannah Moir

With the recent high temperatures worldwide, people may find themselves questioning the safety of running in the heat. But while running in the heat may be considered a risk to some people – such as children and the elderly, as long as precautions are taken, running in temperatures as high as 35ºC is fine.

A number of running events take place in extreme heat (over 35ºC), such as Badwater, the 135-mile (217km) ultra-marathon that takes place in Death Valley, California, where temperatures can soar to over 50ºC. There is also the annual Marathon des Sables, a five-day run across the Sahara Desert in Morocco, where temperatures can reach 50ºC. This 156-mile (251km) run is considered the toughest foot race on Earth.

Our experience with people running and training in our heat chamber for events such as the Marathon des Sables and Badwater, demonstrates that with enough preparation, hydration and being sensible about how hard you run, it is possible to run safely in high temperatures. But it is important to note, that these races do take a lot of preparation and acclimatisation and running in such temperatures is certainly not recommended without thorough training.