Paul Arden | Tuesday, 20 May 2025
Last week I told Rickard that I had discovered a way of keeping my heart rate lower on long runs here in the tropics. I explained that by placing ice cubes in a head band, positioned against my forehead, I could keep more control over my heart rate. Rickard said it must be great not to care what other people think about you! I pointed out that I’m the only white man in Grik, I look like a combination of Santa Claus and a Yeti, and I’m running around an airfield in a tri suit. Ice strapped to my forehead is the least peculiar thing about me!
It was actually quite interesting and took a fair bit of research to work out what was going on and what to do about it. Here in Malaysian tropical humidity, sweat doesn’t evaporate and consequently the core temp goes up during exercise. The heart, in order to try to lower the core temp, pumps blood close to the skin where it can have a better chance to cool. That’s why you can look like a lobster.
Before you know it, you can find yourself in threshold or even max heart rate, while trying to stay in Zone 2. Once that has happened it’s very difficult to lower the heart rate again and the result is that I blow up, the wheels fall off and I collapse in a heap.
Dousing myself in cold water doesn’t work either, because now the body thinks it’s cold and tries to regulate itself accordingly, resulting in exactly the opposite of what is required. However there are three areas that directly cool blood: the forehead, the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. Ice under your socks is not very practical when running, so that leaves the forehead and the palms of the hands.
I’m not sure what practical use this has for fishing, very little I would imagine if you live in temperate climates, but if you are fishing the tropics it could be good to know! I take a buff, load it with ice cubes and wrap it into a headband, placing the ice cubes close to the forehead. Not so close that the ice causes skin contact which can be painful, and is why multiple wraps of the buff is the most practical. Yes, the water melts and drips over your sunglasses, and sometimes gets in your eyes.
A miniature peak might be a good practical addition to your attire. In camouflage of course. Perhaps a poker dealers visor? That’s plastic, green and will look fantastic during the Ironman. Better still, if you wear it upside-down you can load up with even more ice!
I’m going to teach the Orang Asli to guide fly fishing for Giant Snakehead. That way, when the river is blown out, they will have the option to take guests fly fishing on the lake. The plan is to spend around one week/month anchored close to their village. When the river is clear we can make day or overnight trips fishing for Mahseer. This I think will be great promotion for this fantastic river. There are a few things that need to be worked out, better fly selection for a start. And then when the river is coffee-coloured we can spend time on the lake.
They also have some waters close to the village that are unfished and hold Common Snakehead. This will be very interesting to check out. These are smaller cousins of the Toman/Giant Snakehead. And it will be nice to chase a new species.
I’ll still be Zoom coaching as normal during these times and this will be unaffected.
Have a great week! I have a boat full of petrol and I’m going fishing.
Cheers, Paul
PS I have some videos to upload which I will do tonight/tomorrow!