Maxx Jolliffe Used This Heat Training Suit to Prep for Badwater 135

What It Is?

‍Badwater 135 is 135 miles through Death Valley in July, where the pavement alone can push past 130 degrees. To survive it, ultrarunner Maxx Jolliffe trained in the CORE Heat Training Suit, a disposable, sauna-like suit that turns an indoor trainer or treadmill into a full heat chamber. No trip to Death Valley required.
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Why It Works

‍The science behind it is simple. Heat stress pushes your body to produce more blood plasma, which then triggers your body to make more red blood cells. More red blood cells means more oxygen getting delivered to working muscles. It's the same core adaptation athletes chase at altitude camps, except you get it from your garage.
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The Data

‍Studies show five weeks of heat training, five sessions a week at 50 minutes each, increases hemoglobin mass by 3-4%. That's the same hemoglobin boost as a three-week altitude camp. And the benefits aren't limited to hot races either. Heat training has been shown to improve VO2max, lactate threshold, and power output in all conditions, whether race day is 50 degrees or 90.
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The Bigger Play

‍Altitude camps cost thousands and mean weeks away from home, family, and your normal training routine. The CORE Heat Suit delivers a similar physiological edge from your own house, on your own schedule. That's why it's not just an ultrarunning tool. WorldTour cycling teams and elite runners are already using heat protocols to find gains that used to be locked behind expensive travel.
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The Playbook Take

‍Heat training used to be something you stumbled into by living somewhere brutal. Now it's a protocol you can run from your living room. As more endurance athletes look for legal, low-cost performance edges, expect heat suits to become as normal as altitude tents were a decade ago.
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How to Use It

‍Start with 3 sessions a week at 30-50 minutes during easy to moderate training, building up to 5 sessions weekly. Begin 5-6 weeks out from race day for full adaptation, and pair with a core temperature sensor to stay in the optimal heat zone (38.5-39°C). Hydrate aggressively before, during, and after. Each package includes 2 reusable disposable suits — rinse and air dry between sessions.

Heat training carries real risks, including dehydration and heat exhaustion. Always train under medical guidance or coach supervision.