No matter what the temperature is outside, your core body temperature will increase over time with exercise. How high your body temperature rises depends on environmental factors and the pace you keep up during your workout. The more intense your workout, the faster and higher your core temperature rises. Even long, leisurely workouts such as jogging can have a noticeable effect on core temperature.
Elevated Temperature
How high your body temperature rises depends on your level of exertion, but it can exceed safe levels, especially during intense workouts or when working out in hot conditions. A normal core body temperature ranges from 97.7 degrees to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit. During exercise, your temperature can easily reach above 104 degrees, according to professor Len Kravitz, Ph.D., at the University of New Mexico.
Mechanism
In order to fuel your body during exercise, your metabolism uses oxygen to break down glycogen and give your muscles the energy they need to contract repeatedly. Each muscular contraction produces heat, and since the body is only 25 percent efficient, you lose 75 percent of that heat to the environment. Still, the 25 percent that gets left behind causes your core temperature to increase throughout your workout.
Dangers
If you don't maintain a proper, balanced core body temperature, you can experience temperature-related illnesses, some of which are quite dangerous. With increased temperatures, you risk the possibility of incurring heat stroke, dehydration or heat exhaustion. Although intense workouts such as sprinting and plyometrics will increase core temperature faster, longer, easier exercises such as jogging will still elevate your temperature over time.
Heat Loss
Your body loses heat on its own during and after a workout, but if you've pushed yourself to a high core temperature, you should help your nervous system reduce it back to resting levels. Dress appropriately during warm-weather workouts to allow to maximum heat loss, don't push yourself too hard if you feel faint or light-headed, and stay hydrated.
References
Writer Bio
Steven Kelliher is an experienced sports writer, technical writer, proofreader and editor based out of the Greater Boston Area. His main area of expertise is in combat sports, as he is a lifelong competitor and active voice in the industry. His interviews with some of the sport's biggest names have appeared on large industry sites such as ESPN.com, as well as his own personal blog.