Is it Possible to go from Loving Heat to Being Heat Intolerant?

I have always been one of those people who loves summer and heat!!!Screen Shot 2014-07-06 at 5.09.09 PMHowever, in the past couple of months I’ve started noticing that my body doesn’t tolerate heat the way it used to.

I used to be able to  lay out for hours without ever getting in the pool!!  The summer I was pregnant with Jordan, a good friend and I spent many hours together at the pool.  She was always amazed at how seldom I got in the pool.

And, running in the middle of the afternoon on 100+ days in west TX never phased me.   Many of my runs happened in blazing temps all the way through my 20s.  (Then I wised up a bit.)

Screen Shot 2014-07-06 at 5.08.55 PM

Back in May, the day of my 50 mile race the temperature climbed into the mid-upper 80s during the race.  I truly thought that my body was handling the temperature and sun OK and that I was staying hydrated.

Until, it wasn’t!!!  I still don’t know if I had  heat exhaustion or what but when I quit sweating, felt dizzy and sort of cold even with the temperature I knew that wasn’t right.

my favorite

I know I’ve mentioned many times that the beach is my happy place.  But, this summer I’ve done most of my laying out on our back deck with a big fan blowing on me because I can’t handle the heat!!!

Friday, the boys and I did the 6 mile race around our lake.  

Jordan is right behind me in the light gray
Jordan is right behind me in the light gray

I struggled the entire race and even though the pace was slow for me, when I finished, I thought (for the first time in all my years of running!!!) that I was going to puke!!!

I actually felt crummy and had a hard time taking deep breaths for several hours after the race.

I know that I’m at an age where my body is changing some and that might affect my heat tolerance.  I still love summer but the heat and direct sun are better in small doses and not when running!!!

Has anyone else experienced major changes in how their body handles heat?  Do you know why?

Happy Monday!!

Kim