I struggle to take in solid food when it is really hot. I think someone mentioned using ice - I know SK had ice on her neck at Wildflower and I filled my sports bra with ice at every rest stop on DMD last Saturday. Reducing the core temperature really helps.

In terms of fluids, as it does get hotter, I tend to go more for the plain water and endurolye combination. Also V8 (the elixir of life). These things seem easier on my stomach than sports drinks. However, when temperatures are moderate I get a lot of calories from sports drinks. I think you just have to experiment and see what works at different temperatures and in different situations - it does sound, Amy, like you've had some improvement over your symptoms from last year. So that's good, right?

I had a wicked headache all morning Sunday after DMD. I drank a LOT of water Sunday and it gradually went away. I don't know if it was dehydration, but I suspect it was. There was just no way not to get behind in that ride.

We had a guy on our Death Ride team this year who suffered from heat exhaustion type symptoms. (He had to drop off the team unfortunately because he really was not well and I honestly think there was more to his issue than heat exhaustion.) But anyway, he did say something about his doctors telling him that once you have heat exhaustion "episodes" you are more likely to have this issue in the future. I don't know if it is true or not, it's just what he relayed.