Simple. Do 100 push-ups a day and have a torso like a Greek sculpture, like myself. Until then though, I offer you the following humble advice.
I've been running regularly for the last couple of years now, and one of the things you learn quite quickly is that the fitter you get, the longer you can run for. The longer you run for, the more chafing and abrasion you suffer - sometimes in places that you'd rather not discuss in polite company. Two of those places are your nipples.
I think this is a problem suffered largely by men, as women already tend to have underwear and support solutions that prevent this kind of thing happening. At least that's my perception (like I say, it's not really a subject you tend to bring up in polite company).
Now, I could show you some pictures of my own injuries, but I don't really think you'll want to see them. They're really not pretty. Also, I find that if I mention the problem to friends, they think it's hilarious. That's the funny thing; bleeding nipples are absolutely, positively, not funny. Not to the sufferer, anyway. And yet, to the onlooker, it's rather like those home-video football-in-the-groin scenes where everybody but the guy lying on the floor in agony is laughing their heads off.
But I digress.
Let's get straight to the point. The best product that I've used to avoid abrasion is
NipGuards. They're little circular sticky pads with a hollow centre that completely covers the nipple without touching it. They're backed with surgical tape, so they stay in place too. Problem is, they're
expensive. I thought therefore that I'd try and find an alternative and cheap solution to an annoying and painful problem. Here's what I've found.
4th place
Petroleum jelly, a.k.a Vaseline. Pros: cheap, you can blodge it on the area and it's sweat resistant. Cons: can stain your clothing, and you really need to pile it on for it to be effective.
3rd place
Close call for 2nd place this one.
Bodyglide anti-chafe. Pros: can use in multiple areas, apply like a deodorant stick, no stain, long lasting pack. Cons: tends to erode during longer runs (say about 60 mins+), a bit pricey initially
2nd place
Kids waterproof plasters, larger sizes. Pros: super cheap, pennies per box of 10 or 20. Cons: don't always stay on (but you can always use more than one at a time)
1st place
The overall winner for me are supermarket own-brand blister plasters. See picture below. These beauties are easy to apply, they stay on for the duration of the run, and although they're more expensive than standard sticking plasters, they're more reliable. The only con is that when removing them after your run, you'll also end up doing a little localised chest waxing too. I suggest soaking in the shower for a while before ripping them off. Unless you enjoy pain.
If anyone else has any product tips, I'd love to hear about them.
This bloke trying to work it all out.
Comments 6 Comments
It's good stuff; but for me, it wore off too quickly. Maybe my clothing is too abrasive.
I had a good laugh with her, and then I thought, wait a minute... maybe she's onto something because she never has this problem... So I said, "what the hell" and went out and bought myself one. A guy bra shopping... I know this is drawing a pretty funny picture (haha, I know I had a good laugh about it!), but it happened!
Anyway, I had my reservations, but eventually worked up enough courage to put the thing on one afternoon (underneath a nice thick t-shirt), and gave it a thorough testing on a 10 mile run... and low and behold... it to worked like a charm!
With my newfound freedom from sore/bloody nipples I went out and bought a few more from Wal-Mart and Target and I haven't looked back or suffered since!
Now, I'm not saying you should go out and buy some expensive, girly thing. That's just dumb. Instead, just go to Wal-Mart and buy something like a Fruit of the Loom 3/$10 value pack. They even have them in "manly" colors, and in XXL sizes that fit a 40"+ chest very easily. They're essentially a little more than a cotton/lycra Ace bandage with some shoulder straps, and work phenomenally at preventing sore or bloody nipples on long-distance runs.
As for chafing elsewhere, I don't know, I've had women tell me that they get chafe on their sides, but I don't seem to have that problem. For a $10 reusable solution though, it's worth a try.
Anyway, just my .02