Tag Archives: Runners nipples

British10k only 3 days away – last minute preparation time

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Less than 72 hours to go until the race on Sunday!

Training pretty much all done.  Not too worried about the distance, it’s more doing it in a good time and with 25,000 other people running, not being caught up in the pack and my starting pace not what I want.  Want to get sub-45 minutes which I know I can do.  Sub-44 even better and race day adrenaline might get me there.

The race starts at 9:35am and it’s a 2km walk to the start from tube / rail drop off.  Not a problem, just need to leave enough time.  Still trying to figure out where Nic and the little Nobles can go to get best views of the runners, with a hope of seeing me!

2 minutes before the start, the Band of Her Majesty’s Lifeguards, will be playing the National Anthem.  A very cool way to start.

Sounds like it’s going to be a busy busy start.  25,000 runners is huge and all on the streets of this great city – closed off again to traffic.

Day of rest today after a 10k training run yesterday.  Was aiming for sub-45 minutes but got hit by a car – nice – when crossing a drive.  Nothing major, all ok, just pushed back a little bit and think the driver was more shook up than me!  Forgot to stop the watch though so it meant about 45 seconds extra on the time.

So what to do in the last 3 days to make sure we’re all ready for the big day…

  1. One last easy training run tomorrow – 48 hours before.
  2. Sort out train and journey times for Sunday morning – it’s an early start.
  3. Figure out where the Noble fans will go and where to meet them after.
  4. Pasta action for the next few nights – carb loading.
  5. Plenty of water – hydration.
  6. Make sure the trusty Garmin watch is fully charged and ready to go.
  7. Drinks and Jelly beans (Jelly Belly of course) for post-race refreshments.

And – the big one – don’t forget the Vaseline (to stop chaffed legs and the deadly runners nipples).  Forgot this a few times over the last few weeks – stupid mistake – and chaffed legs (top of thighs) are back.  Very sore.  Daily moisturising needed to fix it.  Lots of Vaseline needed for Sunday.  Go for Vaseline – not the expensive creams.  See my last blog post on this – “Runners nipples the conclusion – I’ve cracked the problem“.

Wish me luck!

Love this quote from Mo Farah…

Don’t dream of winning, train for it.

10 top running tips

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10 tips from my previous blog posts on how to get the best out of your running…

  1. Always use Vaseline – read more (this helps with the infamous runner’s nipples)
  2. Don’t run on empty – read more
  3. Don’t run when not feeling well – read more
  4. Vary your training and run some hills – read more
  5. Ignore the weather and just run – read more
  6. Do some intervals (run slow and then fast and repeat) – read more
  7. Have a plan – read more
  8. Don’t forget to recover – read more
  9. Be motivated – read more
  10. Set a pace and keep to it – read more

These are tips that I’ve found work very well and help you improve – both speeds and distances covered and they help to keep injuries at bay.

One extra one not mentioned – let’s put in as number 0 – so right at the top, get good shoes!  So so so important and it makes a huge difference.  Go to a specialist running shop – like Sweatshop – and get professional advice.  Try the shoes out, test a few pairs and see which suit you best.  And the blog post about the good shoes tip is here.

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

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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…

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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…