An episode of such intense heat in mid-June, France had never experienced this since the beginning of meteorological records. This Saturday, temperatures will locally reach 42 or even 43°C in the Southwest. How to put off your jogging desires? Not necessarily.
“It is possible to go running during periods of high heat, but provided you choose the right period, recalls Dr. Laurent Fasquel, sports doctor in Lannion. It is best to go for a run in the morning because it is often the coolest time, or a little later in the evening. The golden rule is to stay well hydrated, otherwise you risk hyperthermia. he continues.
Hyperthermia, more commonly known as “heat stroke”, occurs when the body can no longer cool itself after being exposed to a very high temperature for too long. The heart speeds up, the body falls from fatigue and becomes prone to dizziness and other nausea. “In case of illness, you must call the emergency services, put the person in the shade, cool them in any way and hydrate them, if they are conscious, while waiting for help”detailed for West France Arthur Brulé, the doctor of the French Athletics Federation, in the spring of 2018.
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Thibaut Pinot has great difficulty adapting to very hot conditions. © Photo: Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP
For a top-level athlete, training in high heat is an excellent way to prepare physically, as Gaétan Olivier, who worked with Gaël Monfils for several years, reminds us. “Everyone has their own working methods, but personally I love working when it’s hot. With Gaël, we used to go to Miami in the winter to get ready, in order to be really tough for one or two weeks. »
For the athlete, the performances that follow are affected, and the effort seems easier once you return to a temperate climate. “It’s a good training method, but it requires proper hydration. Top athletes use a lot of mineralized drinks, which provide them with all the necessary nutrients. »
Are some athletes naturally better equipped to deal with the heat?
Thibaut Pinot, the current cyclist with Groupama-FDJ and third in the 2014 Tour de France, has stated this on several occasions at the microphone of France Televisions, “the heat does not suit me”. To the point of favoring the Tour of Italy which takes place earlier in the year than the Tour de France. So are some athletes better equipped than others to withstand the heat? For Gaetan Olivier, “It’s all about adaptation. A Norwegian athlete who trains in Morocco will be in great difficulty at the beginning of his preparation…”
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Aligned with the Grande Boucle this summer, Pinot is no doubt hoping that the month of July will be milder in terms of temperatures, to avoid a new heat stroke on the route of the Tour.
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