Posted by Kit Barker | Posted in Fitness progress, Thoughts | Posted on 24-10-2009
I’m not sure I need to explain the title too much, it should be self explanatory!
I didn’t quite manage the 10 miles I was hoping for today but seeing as it was raining and windy and I ran up some steep hills, I wasn’t too upset.
It was a hard run today, physically mentally. I did have to walk up one of the hills because I was exhausted. In the end I managed 8.5 miles in just under 1.5 hours.
After getting home I showered as normal but was in for a world of pain as the tingly-minty-menthol Original Mint Source shower gel set my cracked and slightly bleeding nipples on fire! Too late to do anything about it but scream (I was alone in the house) and curse each one of the 7,635 mint leaves that were causing me pain!
I’m sat here more than an hour later and I’m still sore from the stupid shower gel! I hope it eases soon!
Kit,
You’ve probably learned this one the hard way, but (speaking as a veteran of just one marathon!) a small tub of vaseline is the marathon runner’s friend. Copious amounts on nipples, groin, inner thighs and anywhere else likely to rub makes life a LOT more comfortable!
Take care,
Si
Sounds nearly as much fun as getting chilli in your eye when cooking!
Alternatively, if you’ve tried the vaseline, I once read that sticking a piece of sticking plaster over them will prevent friction….peel off carefully I’d imagine.
Never had this problem myself and wonder what type of shirt you’re wearing, sack cloth? I find wearing any old loose cotton tee shirt better than tighter synthetic materials. Or maybe its exagerated by static…..Sparky Electrode Nipples!!!
It’s your endurance you are trying to increase, it sounds to me like 8.5 in 90 mins may be a bit too fast just yet. Perhaps you should try to pace yourself a bit, not getting too exhausted too quickly. I would recommend reading up about heart rate monitors and try to keep your pulse at a reasonable level, say less than 60%. You don’t really have to actually buy one to get your head round the training theory.
How are your team mates getting on? …..have they received their complementary bottle of Minty gel yet?
Cheers
Chris
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I’ll try Vaseline next time I’m out.
To be honest I’ve never had this issue before either except when wearing synthetic running shirts. Wearing my old baggy cotton t-shirts has never given me a problem. But the last time I was out it was chucking it down and I got soaked through. I think that was part of it as once wet, cotton gets very heavy.
But anything that gets rid of bleeding nipples has got to be worth a try!
I’m not sure I was running too fast to be honest. That seems to be a good pace for me. I think the main issues were the weather, going up a massive hill I don’t normally go up and it been only the second time I’d run that distance and I’d not been out for a week.
Oh, and I’d not really eaten properly throughout the day beforehand. A quick banana 30 minutes before was the best I could do. No breakfast either.
As for my running mates… I’m not too sure to be honest. Smack has had a groin strain and bad back so he’s been out a week or so. Rich has been busy with other more important things. And JP, well, he cycles everywhere anyway and is very fit. He doesn’t need to get concerned yet I don’t think!