Let's Talk Boobs

Everyone likes boobs... everyone but ME on a long run.  (Fellas, you have no idea how lucky you are to run shirtless in summer.)

Ever since my long run reached the 16-18-20 digits, I've had major problems around the chest and back.  My long runs end with chaffing, or sweat rash, even sores, around my rib cage.

Chaffing results from friction between the skin and your clothing fabric.  There are three main causes when it comes to the sports bra arena... (source)

1.  Wearing a size too big.  If the band of the sports bra around your rib cage is too loose, it moves on the run.  This friction causes the red rash.  Over great lengths of time (like 4 hour long run!?), the rash can result in an abrasion of the skin.  When you do trunk twists, the band of the sports bra should not move left to right with you.  If it does, you need a smaller band size.  I'm still wearing the same sports bras from 40 lbs ago, so this is probably part of my problem.

Abrasions on my back from last weekend's long run.
Sorry guys, no front views!  :)

2. Trapped Moisture.  The insane heat of this summer is not helping the booby cause either.  After just a couple miles, my clothes are soaked to the bone.  One rule of thumb here... COTTON is the enemy.  Certain fabrics (like cotton) trap moisture, rather than pulling the sweat away from your skin.  That's why many runners also trade underwear for spandex when they run.  Ever have sweat rash on your panty line?  Painful!  You should always wear a sports bra made out of wicking fabric to encourage quick evaporation of your sweat.  My bras are all wicking material, but this crazy summer humidity is pooling sweat faster than it can evaporate.  I'm thinking my only solution is to change halfway through the long run?

SportShield has completely
solved my underarm chaffing
 issues of the past.

3.  Sensitive Skin.  If your sports bra is snug-fitting and moisture-wicking and you're still battling chaffing... you may just have sensitive skin.  You can try the cheap version of petroleum jelly... smear it on your impact spots before the run.  However, petroleum jelly does break down fabrication faster than the advanced, more expensive, products like 2Toms SportShield or BodyGlide.  I've had skin issues all my life, so pretty certain my sensitive skin just adds to the dilemma.  I'm like a tri-fecta here!

Under Armour has been my go-to brand for sports bras, with other $20 versions from Target thrown in the mix.  What is your favorite brand of sport bra??  Please share!  I need to try out some alternatives.

PS. If you ever do get bad chaffing, quick healing is essential!  Try a diaper rash cream.   I had some leftover from the baby days, and was delighted at how wonderful it worked in clearing up the sweat rash.

Confession

I chafe. 

I chafe so bad that I've been know to scream out in the shower.  You know when that cold water hits the spot for the first time... OUCH!!  Are you thinking TMI?  Leave now, it gets worse... All is fair topic amongst runners, right?!

All super heroes wear Spandex, right?!

When I first started running (+50 lbs ago!), my inner thighs got it every single time I ran.  No exception.  It really made this new sport of running fun... And then I found compression shorts.  All Hail the Spandex!  Someday my inner thighs will not touch and it will all be good.

Next came the sports bra lines.  Talk about some sore girlies!  So I tossed the cheap $10 cotton sports bras from the '90's, and invested in some quality moisture-wicking ones.  Even at that, when I get over the 10 mile mark, I have to lube up the girls beforehand, or I'll come back with painful red marks.  My pricey Under Armour sports bras are now my go-to for the long runs.

Finally, the underarms.  Again I replaced the cheap cotton tanks for moisture-wicking material that pulls perspiration away from my body.  It helped temporarily.  Then I started losing weight, and there was suddenly extra material in the underarm area as my tops became more and more loose.  When you're overweight, loose fitting shirts are just more comfortable (on the ego).  Unfortunately, they also accelerate chafing.  Do I have to... snug fitting clothing?  You betcha!

I work hard, thus I sweat hard.  Naturally, I decided to just double-up on the deodarant.  After some research, I found that makes it worse!  You should stick to talcum powder, cornstarch or potato starch to stay dry... or just lube up and problem solved.  Lubricants allow the skin to slide rather than rubbing raw.  There are lots of fancy ointments and creams out there, but my budget right now is good ole fashion petroleum jelly.  It can also be used on feet and toes to avoid blisters.  

I'm anxious to try out the 2Toms product sample on the way (review and giveaway to come!).  They have a contest in-progress right now to win a year's supply of products... Have I made it perfectly clear that I NEED that yet?!?!  So help a gal out... Like the 2Toms facebook page, then scroll down a bit and find my wall post (Jessica Wucki McMullin) and please, pretty pretty please, click like under my post!  Got chafing problems yourself? Enter the contest.

After all that, I'm off to a long-tempo run.  Hopefully chafe-free today.

Are you a fellow chafer?!

What's your favorite product and/or prevention method?

Don't forget to enter my KIDS YOGA GIVEAWAY!