This weird thing has been happening to me after my workouts. I run on the treadmill and get so tired and hot that when I slow it down for cool down, I become really chilled. I feel like I might pass out, but it only lasts about one minute and then I feel fine. I just tell myself to keep walking and hold on to the side rails until I feel better. Have you ever heard of such a thing? It's kind of spooky.

--lemart23

That is spooky, lemart. I've had the same kind of thing happen to me after sprinting to the finish line at the end of a race and having to come to a dead stop in the finishing chute to have my number recorded. I also got the dry heaves.

Lemart, I have this picture in my mind of you running at top speed and then just when you're about to blow up, slowing the treadmill way down to a crawl. If that's the case, you probably need a more gradual cool down.

The more intense your pace, the more gradual your cool down should be.

• Take a walker who works out at four miles per hour (15 minutes per mile) for 30 minutes -- a reasonable cool down would be slowing to 3 mph, and then 2 mph, taking at least five minutes to do so.
  
  
• If someone runs for a half hour near their maximum speed (let's say 8 mph, or 7.5 minutes per mile) and then slows the treadmill to a 4 mph walk for two minutes, the change in intensity is way too drastic for such a short time. Slowing so suddenly could potentially cause a sudden drop in blood pressure. That can cause temporary dizziness -- similar to when you feel dizzy from standing up too quickly after sitting or lying down for a while. Have a qualified exercise specialist or trainer monitor your blood pressure prior to, during, and just after your workout to see if there are any sudden changes in your blood pressure. If there are, consult your doctor.

The other possibility is that you're just throwing off a lot of heat in a cool gym. Regardless of the temperature -- American College of Sports Medicine guidelines say 68-72 degrees, with no higher than 60 percent humidity, is ideal -- after you get all heated up, your body tries to cool itself after your workout. Hanging out in a clammy shirt in a slightly cool gym, say 66 degrees, can lead to the chilled feeling. I always put on a dry t-shirt when I'm done with my cardio workout before I continue stretching or lifting weights. There's a little more laundry to do, but it's better than feeling like you're training in a walk-in refrigerator!

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