IM training and skin protection

For runs, I mostly start really early so I'm simply not out in the full sunlight. I don't think I'm ever running much past 8 AM here in Saigon, except for brick runs. For those, I usually wear a tech shirt (or the bike jersey I rode the bike in) and cooling sleeves with sun protection. For outdoor rides, again, jersey and sleeves. As far as products,I find that none of them totally prevent sunburn in fair-skinned people, or tanning/freckling on myself (kind of light olive skin that tans if I even think about sun). Products with some mineral sunblock (such as titanium or zinc oxide) tend to do a bit better than others, especially if it's very humid. Banana Boat makes a stick type sunscreen for faces that really seems to work on my lips, nose, even cheeks. I basically just smear it all over my face, and it seems to work well even when wet (and I get REALLY sweaty here). It's actually much more effective than any creams or sprays. I have pretty sensitive skin on my face and am allergic to a lot of soaps, much less sunscreens, but this is one of the few products that doesn't bother me. It's unscented so that helps. Before finding that product I mainly used zinc oxide cream for my face.

If IM length workouts make being out in the mid-day sun difficult to avoid, you might consider splitting them into outdoor and indoor components. Either start indoors, before first light, on the trainer or treadmill, and head out at first light for the outdoor part of the run/ride/brick, or do part of the run/ride outdoors and then head indoors for the rest by 9 AM or so. (Or you could ride late afternoon and run in the dark.) My long rides are only in the 3 to 3:30 range, but I often do the first hour inside on the trainer (from maybe 5 or 5:30 AM on), then head outside to finish up the ride. That also allows me to get in the brick run before it gets to be crazy hot....in theory, at least.

Hope this is helpful.

Definitely not an easy task. I live in Hawaii and have a similar issue.

Good sunscreen with Zinc helps a lot. I typically use Planet Sun. Also always use a good lip balm with sunscreen.

Arm sleeves work well for the bike and run. I can stay pretty covered up with a bike jersey and short sleeve run top using arm sleeves.

Also I always wear a hat for the run.

Trying to get the workouts done in the times away from peak sun helps a lot. Getting out real early is key.