Preface: I am a marine scientist by trade, however, I have run 4 marathons and I am in the midst of training for a half marathon/full marathon during a South Carolina summer. I might not be an expert in studying the physiology of heat related illnesses, but I have enough experience to make it count.

The first time I experienced heat related illness I was 14 years old, a freshman in high school. I was at a summer soccer clinic and if you ask my mother what happened she'll tell you I was so nervous about playing with the varsity team that I made myself sick.