Random Places

Training through the winter and spring in New Hampshire for an early summer race in Kansas has been a challenge. The snowy roads prevent getting in any real outdoor miles but more importantly preparing for a long day in the heat is challenging living in a cold climate.

Over the past couple of years since I began my athletic journey I have spent a lot of time digging into physiology research. One of the big areas I have dug into is heat training. Of course, as a retired software engineer I have a compulsion to quantifiably measure everything so I invested in a Core heat sensor. This is a handy device that attaches to a heart rate chest strap that can estimate your core body temperature. It does this externally without the need for a probe in an uncomfortable place. The sensor calculates a “heat stress” level so you can train at an optimal level, hot enough to lead to meaningful adaptation but not so hot that it leads to heat stroke! No, I am not in any way affiliated or sponsored by Core, of course I would gladly accept sponsorship if they offered!

Through the winter I spent many hours on the indoor bike wearing multiple layers of clothing, covered by a full body painters suit, then on top of all that my old heavy winter coat. Yes, this is somewhat miserable and certainly leads to doing lots of laundry. This also led to feeing good through the first several hours of the Unbound XL.

The Core temp sensor simplifies the data by calculating a heat zone from 1 to 4. Optimal heat training should be done in zone 3 but for an endurance event you should try to stay in zone 2 or below. Unbound XL starts at 3:00 in the afternoon and it was a hot day. Within 30 minutes I was in zone 3 and stayed there for the next 3 hours. This was far from ideal but somehow while it didn’t exactly feel comfortable, the heat didn’t seem to bother me like it used to. All those uncomfortable hours on the indoor bike drenched in sweat paid off.

This should prove even more useful for my next big adventure at the Gravel Worlds Long Voyage 300 mile race in August.