Tag Archives: Nipples

These should not have been hard runs. What happened?

2 very very hard runs this week. Neither should have been particularly challenging – by the planned distances and paces alone. 8 miles yesterday – should have easily done it in under an hour but pace was all over the place after 1.5 miles in and finished up taking almost 1 hour 10 minutes. Then 4.5 miles today – intervals – but way slower than normal. One other run this week – on Monday – only 5 miles but good pace and felt good. So why so slow these last 2?

This is week 2 of the 10k plan. One run from the 4 planned runs last week was missed – due to my little sister coming to stay with her family. But wanted to do 3-4 this week and get back on track. Started off ok on Monday with a good 5 mile run but then 3 days off and late nights and long days on trips – so too long a break between runs.

I picked up a cold on a work trip to London last week, which never helps, and it’s still lingering on the chest a bit. And also has been passed onto the rest of the family as well. To top it off, it’s very very hot, and pollen season here in the UK, so hayfever is kicking in.

Add all these together and running (or any other exercise) is going to take a hit. When I set out yesterday for the 8 miles, I planned a nice easy 7:30 minutes per mile but finished at over 8:30 – rubbish. Legs were so heavy as well.

Back to the normal plan next week – only 6 weeks to go. And need to focus on pace and speed work more.

The moral of the story this week…

Don’t leave big gaps between training
Don’t run when sick or set realistic expectations and take it very very very slowly
Come up with a plan on how outdoors to run during the pollen season

Number 3 is in progress and I’m open to all suggestions. Do you suffer from seasonal ailments like hayfever and how do you train around them? In previous years it’s not affected my running like this and never in May.

Some pointers that I’ve found to help me before (though not this week):

Wear wrap around shades
Run in the early morning where possible
Stick to roads and avoid parks and grassy areas
If you belong to a gym, use a treadmill – air conditioned enclosed spaces a big big plus
Rub Vaseline on your nose and up your nostrils – stops pollen particles getting up

Vaseline as a miracle running medicine again – you’ll remember the previous post on sore nipples.

Runners’ nipples – the conclusion… I’ve cracked the problem

Interestingly the last post on this painful and unsightly running injury continues to have the highest number of views. So a follow-up is overdue and needed after 600+ more training miles and no nipple problems!

There are specialist (expensive) creams and roll-on things, special plastic covers (yes really) and even special (small) plasters. There are also compression tops, running tops made from special materials and even running with no top on! But what I’ve found that works 100% of the time for me, is good old fashioned Vaseline. A plain old big tub of the stuff – that costs less than £2.50 – sitting with my running kit ready. Just a good rub on either side about 5 minutes before a run – from 30 minutes ones up to 3 hour 30 minute ones – and no bleeding or soreness. Result. Don’t put it on and after the longer runs you know it. One possible side effect – that I’ve not seen much of – is it can stain your running top.

What is this amazing product? It dates back to the 1850’s and actually started as the residue that had to be remove from oil rig pumps. Some bright sparks had been rubbing on them to heal cuts and burns. Exactly what made them do is, is a whole other question. But 150+ years on and it’s a runners’ dream product – with a fair bit of refinement to give us what it is today (medicinal petroleum jelly).

And amazingly it’s good for other things – that you may not know about – like hayfever. One I need to test again as it’s that time of the year…

Don’t forget your tub for the big day. 9 sleeps time for me for the London Marathon.

Runners nipples – ouch…

Forget tennis elbow, runners nipple is an official long distance running injury and it hurts. It even has it’s own Wikipedia entry – under the official title “Fissure of the nipple“.

The first time you get it, you’ve no idea until you’ve finished running and look down at your t-shirt and see the blood. And then it hurts (and even more when you get a shower afterwards). All being well you’re not wearing a white running top.

For men it’s even more frustrating, why should they bleed? They seem to have no purpose or use but they still bleed and hurt – rubbish.

Once you start building up the mileage (runs an hour or longer or thereabouts) you’re into runners nipple territory and a little prep before your runs help big time. Good old Vaseline helps and for me 90% of the time stops it happening. Longer runs just mean more Vaseline. And worst case it doesn’t happen as bad.

You can buy – more expensive – branded goods like “Body Glide” and they work just as well, and according to the labels are better than plain Vaseline. Personal preference really. Some theories about one reacting to cold and water worse but I’ve never noticed. You can even go as far as nipple covers or guards, small plasters, though these can move and come off. For ladies, good sports bras can really help. Decent running tops help as well – as the materials don’t rub as much.

On the London Marathon route, the helpers – including 1st aiders – around the course, have jars of Vaseline to use as you run round.

Not a dangerous running injury as such but can be painful so a bit of prep before your run is well worthwhile.

And yes you can even get the fridge magnets…