what is the actual mechanism that makes it harder to exercise in higher heat?

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Compared to jogging in high 60s/low 70s (F) with a slight breeze and partial clouds, jogging in mid-80s (F) no breeze full sun means a worse pace and also much harder struggle to get that worse pace.

When I google online, I get kinda very generic answers: “your body has to work harder to cool” “sweat is less effective” “extra stress on body”, etc but I don’t understand what the actual biomechanics are that make me less capable when I’m working out. Like, OK, if my body has to sweat more, how does that make my muscles less capable of pushing me through a 3-miler? What does the extra stress actually mean? What is actually getting stressed that prevents me from hitting my normal pace?

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edit: first time posting here and this sub does not disappoint, thanks for such quick responses!

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Okay, imagine your body is like a car, and your muscles are the engine that makes the car go. When you exercise, your muscles need energy, and they get this energy from the food you eat.
Now, when it’s really hot outside, your body has to do extra work to keep cool. It’s like the car’s engine getting really hot. So, some of the energy that your muscles need to exercise is used to cool down your body instead.
Think about it like this: when you exercise, you have a lot of energy, right? But if it’s super hot in your room, you might start feeling tired faster because some of your energy is used to stay cool and not get too hot.
So, in higher heat, it’s harder to exercise because your body has to use some of its energy to stay cool, which leaves less energy for your muscles to work and move. That’s why you might feel tired more quickly when it’s really hot outside.

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