Look deep into nature,
And then you will understand everything better.”
-Albert Einstein
Hopping off my 14-hour flight to Honolulu, I was excited to spend a couple days relaxing at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort before heading off on our adventures into more remote territories of the Pacific Paradise. Expecting parrots, flamingos, and monk seals, I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by a waddle of penguins. Black footed penguins, native to South Africa and Namibia, have adapted to tropical weather, whereas most penguins long for snow, ice, and glacial waters.
Our fine feathered friends have evolved to thrive in various temperatures over millions of years. All living creatures have an amazing inherent ability to acclimate to the environment, and to pay these traits forward to kin. Acclimation is especially important the farther we go from the tropics where the length of daylight amplifies seasonal differences in temperature. This phenomenon creates extremes of blistering summers and frigid winters. As the mercury rises in the northern hemisphere, we too can demonstrate the remarkable resilience of our bodies by gradually acclimating to the summer heat.
As we head outdoors in the upcoming months it is important to stay hydrated to avoid heat cramps, heat exhaustion or even heat stroke. Cover up during peak sun and pace yourself. Heat training can boost our performance by improving aerobic capacity through increased production of hemoglobin (the key protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to all your organs and tissues) and increasing plasma volume (the liquid portion of blood that is important for thermoregulation). By training in warm weather, your body gets better at sweating and cooling down, to help your body maintain core temperature. These adaptations will improve your endurance and threshold, even when returning to cooler temperatures.
Connect with nature and stay cool, hydrated, and free as a bird!
And for my friends down under, please refer to by prior Winter Training blog to enjoy your Winter Wonderland safely!