To hot to Fence?

[Jeeves]

Anybody got any limits on a max room temp to fence in? Both fencing salles I've been at this summer are NOT air conditioned and exceed 90 F. The sport news is of course talking about the heat related death of a well known football player. I'm wondering if any club calls it off when the temp is 90 F+ and the humidity is over 80%.
What say you, loyal fencers, at what point do you decide between " I'm tough enough to take the heat" and "This is stupid" ?

[ladybug]

Actually while I've been pretty good about getting out and fencing/working out throughout most of this heat wave I am taking the next few days off. I don't know if its the heat or overtraining (I work out "fencing style" at least 5 if not 6 days a week pretty intensly) but I've found myself becoming extremely irratable lately, to the point of blowing up at people at work for no real good reason. I'm usually pretty easy going so this is WAY unusuall for me. Anyhow, even if its not the heat getting to me I can still use it as my excuse to "chill" for awhile.

[Purple Fencer]

Actually, my salle has an industrial A/C system running during the heat, so I have no real probs.

[Inquartata]

I currently enjoy the advantage of AC where I fence, but in the past have fenced in 110 degree heat and direct sunlight. I think as long as you're well-conditioned, have no serious medical problems, take it easy and STAY HYDRATED you should be OK, especially if you're indoors and can at least use fans. Just my proverbial 2 cents.

[big poppa]

I enjoy working out in heat , but then im a sick puppie. Get a gallon of ice water and drink it during your workout. When it's gone fill it back uo and drink it too. you must stay hydrated. if you don't want to drink water , don't fence in the summer

[DamedEscrime]

I'm lucky. My salle put in a new heat and AC systen last winter. I am grateful for that eventhough I still sweat like crazy and come home soaked. I don't think I could make it trough the workouts plus fencing if there were no AC.
Fot those of you who are not as lucky, be sure to take frequent breaks while working out and drink plenty of WATER. If you sweat profusly you may need a sport drink the contains electolytes.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion, which can be deadly include
nausea, headache, fatigue, you may stop sweating altogether.

If you feel this way tell your coach and immediately get cooled off by going to a cooler place and replenishing your fluids.

Play hard, but play safe.

[Moonitic]

I've been to ladybug's location in the heat (& cold). It's NOT fun.

I haven't been fencing this summer, but I wanted to, because of my heart condition. When one has mitral valve prolapse (even WITH the medication to control it), one must avoid getting "overheated."

So yeah, it's been too hot for me to fence. Blah!

[epeemike81]

I have been fencing at the new Boston Fencing Club. the fencing floor is simply too large to air condition (the ceiling is so high that the club could have two floors with high ceilings, if they had the money.

So, the fencing floor is incredibly hot, but with enough water, and the advantage of an air conditioned office and locker rooms, it is not a big deal. The key is just to drink tons of water.

btw, to anybody even REMOTELY close to the Boston area, you have to come see the new club! It is a great place, and I believe is the second largest space in the country.

-m

[Zelda]

I've fenced in 35C heat in a tin shed with about 85% humidity (we lasted about 2 hours before our coach said, right PACK UP AND MEET ME @ THE COFFEE CLUB IN 10 minutes) Lots of water and a good industrial fan or two always helps!

[Cutter]

Big Poppa, not ice water...it can shock your system when your body temperature rises. Just cool water is best.

[HilandDoug]

I skipped my second epee lesson on the 7th of August partly because of the heat. Last week, I became nauseas (sp?) prior to my lesson, and didn't want to repeat that. It was a nice excuse that I also worked until 7pm, and didn't get home until 7:30, so I wouldn't have gotten to the salle and warmed up until after 8, and we're only there until 9. I'm kinda bummed.

It'll be cooler next week, so I'll be pumped up again then!

[big poppa]

hey guys it's 96 in cleveland, no fencing for me today no matter how sick I am. Im gonna go and sit in the wading pool with my kids, peace out!

[big poppa]

Oh Jeeves at this point 96 degrees I say this is stupid.I fenced in the 88 nationals those that were there can recall the 100 plus degree temp in that non air conditioned venue( this is the drought of 88 summer). It was so hot inside, we had to go outside to get cool avg temp outside 103. It the first time a ever passed out during a bout. that national was truly the " fires from Hell". Don't screw with the heat or the LAPD

[Moonitic]

I was wondering where you were, Doug. I had to drop off Tina's Pampered Chef stuff & remind EVERYONE to rsvp for the wedding if they hadn't yet.

So, if you haven't yet...do it. Erin's getting ornery!

[damianip]

We've no AC at our club so we hibernate for July and August.

A club I visit occasionally, BCAF, just got AC. It's great, although I haven't been there this week. With this heat, I don't know if it could keep up.

Paolo

[Peach]

I'm thinking of coming up to BCAF on Sunday for the sabre--I hope the AC is working! I've done a couple of the summer tournaments and the heat in the upstairs was atrocious, especially with the canal below raising the humidity.

[damianip]

Peach,

Have you been there since the AC has been installed? It really has helped upstairs, at least in the evenings I've been there (Friday night: épée night!!!!).

In previous summers, even with the fans, it would get wicked hot up there.

However, I'm going to miss that thick "eau de canal" bouquet rising up late during a steamy evening of fencing.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!


Paolo

[Peach]

Paolo - no, I haven't been there since the AC got installed (the last time I was up there was during the "blizzard" that didn't materialize) (I spun off the road in the slush on 202 on the way home and had to be towed back onto the pavement). I'm looking forward to it! Even if, as has happened the last couple of times I went up to BCAF for sabre, there are no more than four fencers. I couldn't get to fencing tonight so didn't have a chance to recruit anyone else at FAP to go.

--D

p.s. did you see yourself quoted in American Fencer?

[Purple Fencer]

Originally posted by damianip:
<STRONG>I'm going to miss that thick "eau de canal" bouquet rising up late during a steamy evening of fencing. </STRONG>

I love the smell of eau de canal in the morning. Smells like...fencing. (Thank you, Robert Duval )

[swordsen]

Cool, I get to tell a "Back in the day..." story.
My club used to meet in an old skating rink. Cinder block walls, tin roof, no insulation and of course no AC. We are in south georgia. some of us with keys used to go in and practice at odd hours (11pm) but afternoon practices were still held at 4. I can honestly say we never called off practice due to heat. I can also say that in 88 at the chicago nationals (my first) where every one was complaining about the stifling heat, we didn't notice it at all.

Now of course we have a gym with AC and are horribly soft and spoiled....