Anyone else feeling sluggish and fatigued this summer?

You might have gotten this before, but if you've been feeling like this for a while now, I'd consider getting your iron levels checked. Can't hurt, and it would rule something out at least.

I'm with you about the heat. I get excited if it is under 75 degrees at 6am on a weekend day. All you can do is run your best, set a bit lower of expectations about distance and pace on your runs. Although I might like to run a 10 miler on a Saturday morning at 7:20 pace, if I can go 7-8 miles at 7:40 pace when it is 75 degrees and 80-85 humidity, I call that a win.

Just wait, that first time this fall where you can run when it's 55 degrees and overcast you are going to feel like a champion!

Laughlin wrote:

You might have gotten this before, but if you've been feeling like this for a while now, I'd consider getting your iron levels checked. Can't hurt, and it would rule something out at least.

I didn't specifically have an iron test but did have a CBC workup done a short while ago where ferritin aside my levels came back normal

Hemoglobin -14.6

Hematocrit- 43.2%

RBC-4.75x10e6/up

feel the same wrote:

I'm with you about the heat. I get excited if it is under 75 degrees at 6am on a weekend day. All you can do is run your best, set a bit lower of expectations about distance and pace on your runs. Although I might like to run a 10 miler on a Saturday morning at 7:20 pace, if I can go 7-8 miles at 7:40 pace when it is 75 degrees and 80-85 humidity, I call that a win.

Just wait, that first time this fall where you can run when it's 55 degrees and overcast you are going to feel like a champion!

Thats what I'm hoping for, I'm more apt to shut it down on non key runs if I don't want to deal with the heat but slug through on key ones albeit slower but thats expected I suppose.

Eat more nut butters, you need that kind of healthy fat for healthy hormone levels and energy.

Dolter wrote:

Ever since the summer started kicked off a cool day is 80 degrees by 8am in Ohio.

Body just feels weak and sluggish eating a lot and hydrating more and still feel it. Just weak and slow with general feeling of fatigue.

Not sure if its me physically or just the heat. I was doing pretty good this winter/spring.

I think I just need more sleep. 5 to 5.5 hours a night isn't making it.

Rip Van Winkle wrote:

Dolter wrote:

Ever since the summer started kicked off a cool day is 80 degrees by 8am in Ohio.

Body just feels weak and sluggish eating a lot and hydrating more and still feel it. Just weak and slow with general feeling of fatigue.

Not sure if its me physically or just the heat. I was doing pretty good this winter/spring.

I think I just need more sleep. 5 to 5.5 hours a night isn't making it.

Yeah you can't sustain for that long man, based on sleep studies our cycles are 90 minutes for sleep. Although at 5.5 a quick 30 minute nap might do you wonders.

Sand Dunes wrote:

Eat more nut butters, you need that kind of healthy fat for healthy hormone levels and energy.

I've increased my omega 3s, by taking more fish oil and eating fish plus trying to eat am avocado a day and some all natty pb (legume I know)

Dolter wrote:

Laughlin wrote:

You might have gotten this before, but if you've been feeling like this for a while now, I'd consider getting your iron levels checked. Can't hurt, and it would rule something out at least.

I didn't specifically have an iron test but did have a CBC workup done a short while ago where ferritin aside my levels came back normal

Hemoglobin -14.6

Hematocrit- 43.2%

RBC-4.75x10e6/up

You said "ferritin aside". Does that mean ferritin wasn't normal? I've had a low iron issue in the past (that seriously affected my training) where ferritin was 11 (male runners should be at least 40) and everything else was much closer to normal. If your ferritin was low I think it'd be worth taking an iron supplement to see if that changes things.

Could be a medical issue (stress/anxiety/etc.) or diet. Are you a coffee drinker? How is the air quality in your city?

Yes, Ohio here as well. It's totally normal to feel a little beat down when it's hot and humid. Just run by effort and forget about pace. When fall comes, you'll pick up the pace instantly and automatically.

Laughlin wrote:

Dolter wrote:

I didn't specifically have an iron test but did have a CBC workup done a short while ago where ferritin aside my levels came back normal

Hemoglobin -14.6

Hematocrit- 43.2%

RBC-4.75x10e6/up

You said "ferritin aside". Does that mean ferritin wasn't normal? I've had a low iron issue in the past (that seriously affected my training) where ferritin was 11 (male runners should be at least 40) and everything else was much closer to normal. If your ferritin was low I think it'd be worth taking an iron supplement to see if that changes things.

My CBC didn't include ferritin.

Also I do have moderate stress/anxiety and drink coffee.

Air quality sucks here but was never an issue before

Run a lot shorter and faster some days. Trying to run the same mileage is going to keep you feeling the heat, fatigued and slow.

check your ferritin level, it could be iron deficiency

douglas.p wrote:

check your ferritin level, it could be iron deficiency

Or it could be the heat?

Not a bad idea to get a checkup, but its probably just the heat. High humidity just saps you, there is really no way to have a good run when the dew point is high, which is why elites train in places like oregon, california, and colorado.

I had some blood tests back in 1990. Doc said they were completely normal. Made me realize the problem was not my body, but my mind.

So why was I so tired and run down much of the time?

I was just trying too hard too often.

No need too very think this. It's been crazy hot and humid. It affects some people more than others.

85 deg and 78 dew point in the mornings here. Ignore feelings and work through it. Builds character if you man up!

I had 6 easy miles scheduled yesterday for after work and, around 6pm, the heat index was still like 102 (I think it was like 92 with 65% humidity) and I just said the hell with running today. I felt bad about the decision for about 3 seconds.