I live in the Central Valley, CA. I have been training (running) in 95-106 degree temps for a marathon at the end of August. The marathon will be in much cooler climate in the Bay Area. The temperature at the race will be anywhere from 50-75 degrees, most likely.
Will running in this hellish heat and humidity HELP me for my marathon? Does it benefit me to train in these harsh conditions? Would running in 100 degree heat make me stronger physically for a race on a cool 60 degree day? How about training in a smoggy polluted climate and then running the race in a clean and crisp air?
I already know that training in this heat will prepare me mentally. Come race day, the Bay Area will feel like heaven on earth! Even driving out of the Central Valley I can breathe sooooo much better. Hell, coming down Pacheco Pass or wherever your coming down from, you can see the nasty 'blanket' of pollution hanging on the Valley floor. It looks like your driving into a soup of smog.
Anyways, if there are any Valley marathoners or experienced runners thank know the deal with heat training, please leave a response. Thank you! 