let's talk chafing...

I can put Body Glide on my inner thighs? Hmmm. Went for a 6 mile run the other day and on the last mile I started to chafe. It didn't seem like the shorts, because they had rode up and all my thighs were hangin out. So it was just the skin itself! I still have red marks on my thighs...ugh. :-(
I guess it's more incentive to lose weight....

Jeanne

Same problem with chafing here! I finally ditched all the shorts that ride up and have gone with lycra shorts (tight like bike shorts, but no padding) that come almost to the knee.

I will second that opinion. I have tried all sorts of jogging shorts but found that they ride up and cause me to chafe. The problem lies with the manufacturers who make jogging shorts with tiny little Kenyan runners with tiny little legs in mind. Unfortunately for triathletes, we also do a lot of cycling which develops the inner thighs a lot more...I am not fat, just very very muscular. I did try vaseline in the past but found that the best option is simply to wear lycra shorts to run.

An added benefit of the lycra/compression shorts for running is the additional support they give your leg muscles. It is actually better for you to have the support there, than not.

Even before I started tri'ing, I always ran with compression shorts ( same thing as lycra/spandex/no-bike-pad shorts but different name ).

I see the pictures of guys in tris running in little speedo shorts, and I just cringe at the thought of what that'd do to me if I tried it. More power to 'em, but I know that my legs would be rubbed raw.

-C

Pammy,

Like you I haven't had a problem with chafing when working out but when I'm in regular clothes walking I sometimes have problems. We have a baby so I have used Johnson's baby powder with cornstarch. It usually clears up the problem in about a day and makes it more bearable until it's gone.

The first time I ran a race in high school, I wore the cross country shorts that were issued to me. They were your regular short running shorts. By the time I hit the last mile of that 5k, my legs were chafing so bad that I nearly cried. In fact, I think I was crying by the end of the race. As I was dragging my poor self towards the finish line, my mom had to run beside me on the sidelines for moral support. Sure, it could have disqualified me, but there was no reason for them to bother considering I was dead last. Anyway, the chafing was horrendous and I learned that skin on skin contact is to be avoided at all costs! Since then, all I run in are compression shorts. My favs are Under Armour compression shorts, though I'd prefer them to have a bit more compression. They wick very well though.

My Underarmour compression shorts ride up. What can I do about that? I'm not chubby, a little fat on the legs, but it's mostly muscle. Anytime I run they ride up!
My tennis skirt/shorts combo does that as well. I'm assuming the problem is me and the thunder thighs.

I've run in my bike shorts twice (not gonna do it a third time!) and they don't ride up, but they go to almost my knee...is that the difference? I just need longer shorts? But is't the tightness the issue as well? As soon as I flex, the shorts go north..Help!

I don't want to have a wardrobe malfunction and have my thighs hanging out!
-Jeanne

Jeanne...that's too funny.

Since I'm a breastfeeding momma, I've been using lansinoh..which is basically pure lanolin on my thighs. Works like a dream! And heals really quick.

Thanks for the tip on the compression shorts! I gotta give that a try!

Keriann

They make two different lengths of UA comp shorts. I'd just get longer shorts. They're bound to ride up a certain amount due to the way your leg moves.

I'm toying with the idea of just getting a plain ole black girdle. That ought to batten down the hatches sufficiently, so to speak. Of course, they'd probably cause a heat stroke. Also, that little roll of fat that hangs out under and over the shorts sucks too.

okay, obviously I'm not the only one. Maybe by next season that extra 40 lbs. I'm lugging around will make my rubbing thighs a non-issue, but for now...thanks for all the advice!