Heat and hills...ever had this happen??

[Celeste]

Ok, I was on my second week of hill training this week. We went out to Chappell Hill, TX with my TNT group for our weekly training ride.

This is a very hilly area and a lot of riders go here to train for the hills. Planned route was to be 65 miles....I only got to 50 miles. Those hills were really kicking my butt!!

Coach said I was doing well, I just had to convince myself that I could do it. Well, I did most of it! I started to lack concentration. I kept pushing and pushing and getting up hill after hill....no flats! 20 miles in was our first break...another 20 miles and second break.

After that I started to fade...I was having to stop after each hill and catch my breath...psych myself up for the next couple of hills or one hill even. On those stops (which were very short moments)....I found myself being very hot, and getting chills with goose bumbs on my arms.

I just could not talk myself into doing more hills! Is this what is known as bonking? Or did I catch it in time?

After feeling this way about mile 50 I sagged in to the end. Felt kind of lame...I have never felt this way on the bike before. Anyone experience this or something like it?

[mimitabby]

doesn't sound like bonking, sounds like you were going into heat exhaustion!

were you drinking enough?

[crazycanuck]

Hey Celeste,

Could I ask how much you had to drink while on your ride? What about eating? I've been informed we need to ingest min 50g of carbs an hour-perhaps others may have other info..Ensure you're hydrated before the ride as well.

We just finished our summer down here & did quite a few hilly rides in the heat. The only thing i can say is hydrate & bear with the hills.

I struggle in the heat as well so don't panic.

C

[Grog]

Food? Drink? On difficult rides I tend to "forget" to eat and drink.

[Running Mommy]

Chills + goosebumps = trouble!
Sounds like a heat illness to me. I wouldn't be surprised if you feel sluggish for the next few days. Almost like you are coming down with something. If you do, then BINGO! It was the heat, not your lack of motivation.
It's heating up here in the southwest, so it's time to really watch our hydration. Not just DURING the training, but before and after as well. Also make sure you are taking in enough sodium.
Be careful out there!
Denise

[Celeste]

Goodness! I guess I am glad I stopped now after hearing your comments.

Yes, I was drinking and eating. I thought it was enough. We had just finished a rest stop with a light lunch at mile 40. I ate half ham sandwich, salty pringles (chips) and a yummy little debbie brownie. I drank one full sport bottle (part water part Gatorade) first 20 miles and a full bottle the second 20. With the heat, maybe it was not enough.

However, I will say, on Friday, I was so thirsty! I just could not drink enough water! I drank a lot and I was still thirsty. So maybe that carried over to Saturday's ride.

Also, I usually have a waist belt Camel Back that holds 48 ounces and I forgot it at home this week. Also forgotten was my sport watch that I have set to go off every 45 minutes to remind me to eat a bite or two of my Cliff bar I have stuffed in my pocket.

With those two things left at home...I can see now that it is possible for me not to have eaten regularly and keep sipping on water enough to keep me going. I guess I was a little fuzzy headed at 4am

[Grog]

I think the rule of thumb is to drink about 1 bottle (600ml) an hour in fair weather... in HOT weather, I'd up this quite a bit, maybe 1 1/2? So one bottle per 20 miles sounds like very little to me, especially if it was really hot.

A bite or two every 45 minutes is also not very much, even if you actually do it... Eating every 20 minutes might be more in tune with your energy needs, on rides longer than an hour...

[wannaduacentury]

Goodness! I guess I am glad I stopped now after hearing your comments.

Yes, I was drinking and eating. I thought it was enough. We had just finished a rest stop with a light lunch at mile 40. I ate half ham sandwich, salty pringles (chips) and a yummy little debbie brownie. I drank one full sport bottle (part water part Gatorade) first 20 miles and a full bottle the second 20. With the heat, maybe it was not enough.

However, I will say, on Friday, I was so thirsty! I just could not drink enough water! I drank a lot and I was still thirsty. So maybe that carried over to Saturday's ride.

Also, I usually have a waist belt Camel Back that holds 48 ounces and I forgot it at home this week. Also forgotten was my sport watch that I have set to go off every 45 minutes to remind me to eat a bite or two of my Cliff bar I have stuffed in my pocket.

With those two things left at home...I can see now that it is possible for me not to have eaten regularly and keep sipping on water enough to keep me going. I guess I was a little fuzzy headed at 4am

Along with the hydration aspect in the heat, is it possible that you just weren't acclimated to it as well? I know I have to acclimate myself when it warms up and it gets humid too where I live. Just a thought. Jenn