Chafing (Ouch)
For those who have been running for a while and regularly run distances of at least fives miles, chances are you have encountered the unpleasantness of chafing. If you took a Physics class you probably remember that friction occurs when two surfaces rub against each other. But whether or not you recall your Physics lessons, you may have experienced the effects of friction as your clothing rubs against your skin or your underarm rubs your upper ribcage.
Whenever I run 10 miles or more, I try to remember to apply Vaseline to my underarms where they rub and to my inner thigh area. Other runners use newer products, such as Body Glide, which have been designed especially for athletes. In the summertime when more profuse sweating is the norm, I find that chafing can occur on runs shorter than 10 miles. Sometimes chafing isn’t apparent until after a run and is minor in nature. If it becomes noticeable with several miles remaining in a run, that’s an indication of more extreme chafing. And it isn’t just the discomfort one feels as chafing develops – it’s the aftermath.
Have you ever been taking your shower after a chafing run or race and experienced that moment when the soap goes over a chafed area? The painful sensation usually causes me to clench my teeth and suck in air as my brain’s pain sensors express their unhappiness. If you run daily, like I do, you must take care to really apply generous amounts of your lubricant for the next couple of days to reduce the chafing and avoid its worsening. The last thing you want is an area with a big “raspberry” that keeps getting worse and worse.
Another area that seems to only affect male runners is chafed nipples. The loose shirts worn by men rub this sensitive spot with much friction. In cooler weather I put on round bandages for protection. One of my female running buddies laughs and makes fun of my “pasties.” I started using them after the 1988 Jacksonville Marathon. I finished and noticed two streaks of blood on my shirt from each side of my chest descending for several inches. That was very painful for almost a week. I learned my lesson that day!
With proper planning, most chafing can be prevented. Or you can omit using lubricants or bandages and then when you get that “ouch,” you’ll ensure you have the products you need at hand to reduce the chances of chafing on future runs.
Any interesting chafing stories out there? How about from ultrarunners? Western States 100-milers?
At
you will find over a dozen Florida Running & Triathlon articles, interviews with running personalities and dozens of these “All in a Day’s Run” essays.