Thigh Gaps and Running
UltraVegAthlete
Posts: 667 Member
I ran my first marathon in 2016. I did not have a thigh gap. My thighs rubbed raw. It was so painful! I had them wrapped and I hobbled around for two weeks.
My second marathon was in 2017. I lost enough weight to get a thigh gap. No rubbing.
My next marathon is in a month. And then I have a second one in May. And then I have a 50 Mile race in July. My thighs are touching again. I’m worried about rubbing, so I’m going to try and lose a little bit of weight that I had gained over the winter.
Does anyone else have experience with this? Stories to share?
My second marathon was in 2017. I lost enough weight to get a thigh gap. No rubbing.
My next marathon is in a month. And then I have a second one in May. And then I have a 50 Mile race in July. My thighs are touching again. I’m worried about rubbing, so I’m going to try and lose a little bit of weight that I had gained over the winter.
Does anyone else have experience with this? Stories to share?
4
Replies
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Skin against skin rubbing?
Or wore some sport shorts or tights and still got it?
If so, wrong material I'd suggest.0 -
Wear compression type shorts/leggings?7
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I have never (and will never) have a thigh hap and I have done plenty of long distance races without chafing. Personally, I prefer to wear capris or tights when I run so that they don't creep up like shorts can. If you like to wear shorts where skin can rub skin, use something like Body Glide.
If you're not having this problem during your long training runs, you shouldn't during the race. One of the benefits of those long runs is testing out clothing and nutrition for the race. Nothing should be different on race day.7 -
Just wear something that covers the part that rubs. If it still really hurts, try body glide.
I wear capris.0 -
I will never have a thigh gap. I'm training for an ultra after multiple marathons. I have given up on thigh gap.
VASELINE
Vaseline in my cleavage, Vaseline around my chest, Vaseline between my thighs.8 -
Body glide worked well when I was into triathlon. I used it between thighs, under arms, around neck and on the nipples0
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Vaseline is great for chaffing. I will never have a thigh gap because of the way that I'm built and I'm okay with that. My thighs have always rubbed and vaseline has helped quite a lot with that1
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i don't have a thigh gap, but have never noticed rubbing - i mainly wear leggings so that might be why2
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Compression/performance shorts/capris.0
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The Scandinavians have a saying: “There’s no bad weather; there’s only bad clothes.”
Your thighs are fine. Get some compression shorts.10 -
The Scandinavians have a saying: “There’s no bad weather; there’s only bad clothes.”
Your thighs are fine. Get some compression shorts.
I love my thighs. This wasn’t about loving them or hating them. I don’t really care about how my legs look visually, just as long as I can run comfortably. Which is a benefit of a thigh gap when it comes to very long distances. At least in my case.
Thanks everyone for sharing! I’ll look into getting some Body Glide or Vaseline4 -
UltraVegAthlete wrote: »The Scandinavians have a saying: “There’s no bad weather; there’s only bad clothes.”
Your thighs are fine. Get some compression shorts.
I love my thighs. This wasn’t about loving them or hating them. I don’t really care about how my legs look visually, just as long as I can run comfortably. Which is a benefit of a thigh gap when it comes to very long distances. At least in my case.
Thanks everyone for sharing! I’ll look into getting some Body Glide or Vaseline
Fair enough. The use of the specific phrase “thigh gap” lead me to make assumptions. Lube will help, but honestly, for me, changing my wardrobe was more effective.2 -
mkyoungdds wrote: »If you're not having this problem during your long training runs, you shouldn't during the race.
Unfortunately, this is not how it works. It has happened to me more than once that items of clothing tried and tested into a million long sessions actually chafed on race day.
The reason is it may happen (and it does regularly) that race day conditions are different than your training runs, it can be warmer, more humid, downight wet, colder...and this changes the way clothing can chafe.
However, this is no excuse, you should always test your racing gear while in training but prepare for surprises.
4 -
These shorts were a game changer for me. My thighs are generally fine on runs less than 5 miles but when I start logging more miles and it get warmer out I have issues. http://www.runningwarehouse.com/Brooks_Womens_Greenlight_7_Short_Tight/descpage-BWG7ST2.html
Also I've had issues with Body Glide alone so I layer deodorant with body glide and that does the trick.0 -
Body glide for sure!0
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bendyourkneekatie wrote: »I will never have a thigh gap. I'm training for an ultra after multiple marathons. I have given up on thigh gap.
VASELINE
Vaseline in my cleavage, Vaseline around my chest, Vaseline between my thighs.
The inner arms too
How long is your ultra?0 -
You ultra runners are on another level. Much respect. I have a gf who's going from triathlon (she did her first full IM last year) to ultra running over this fall/winter. Any recommendations?2
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bendyourkneekatie wrote: »I will never have a thigh gap. I'm training for an ultra after multiple marathons. I have given up on thigh gap.
VASELINE
Vaseline in my cleavage, Vaseline around my chest, Vaseline between my thighs.
The inner arms too
How long is your ultra?
word, yo. Tricep/lat chafe suxors.1 -
bendyourkneekatie wrote: »I will never have a thigh gap. I'm training for an ultra after multiple marathons. I have given up on thigh gap.
VASELINE
Vaseline in my cleavage, Vaseline around my chest, Vaseline between my thighs.
The inner arms too
How long is your ultra?
It's 50 miles. I was going to start my Ultra running career with a 50k, but I have a friend running the 50 mile race in July, so I thought why not join him?!1 -
That happened to me during my first 70.3. Ugh. Guess how many times it's happened since? I think I go through a can of trislide every other race!1 -
I did a two hour run last weekend...without my band-aids.
0 -
UltraVegAthlete wrote: »
It's 50 miles. I was going to start my Ultra running career with a 50k, but I have a friend running the 50 mile race in July, so I thought why not join him?!
That's just the sort of crazy I love.
You would get along well with my friends & me.1 -
Monistat has a really good chafing gel for $5. I keep the bottle with me during the day, but I rarely have to reapply. Try that! It lasted all day when I worked outside in the hot summer with shorts on0
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There's a product called RunGuard that's like Bodyglide that works well. Looks like deodorant and is basically vaseline. I don't need it often, but it is good if I know I'm going to be sweating a lot and my shorts will be wet.0
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Sports Shield by Two Toms, is the thing.
If you do an ultra, you're going to chafe no matter how thin/lean you are. (I have run more than 30 of them.) I suggest you put some lube between your thighs, upper arms, neckline, nipples (dudes), waist line (top of the hip bone), between your toes, and maybe even your butt cheeks (Let me assure you that chafing there is super unpleasant.) If you are wearing a pack, check where the straps hit you. Carry a little sample size of Body Glide. Most running stores have a bowl of it by the till.
Basically, if you can dip yourself in some running lube...
FYI, vasoline stains your clothes. I don't recommend it.1 -
Vladimirnapkin wrote: »Sports Shield by Two Toms, is the thing.
If you do an ultra, you're going to chafe no matter how thin/lean you are. (I have run more than 30 of them.) I suggest you put some lube between your thighs, upper arms, neckline, nipples (dudes), waist line (top of the hip bone), between your toes, and maybe even your butt cheeks (Let me assure you that chafing there is super unpleasant.) If you are wearing a pack, check where the straps hit you. Carry a little sample size of Body Glide. Most running stores have a bowl of it by the till.
Basically, if you can dip yourself in some running lube...
FYI, vasoline stains your clothes. I don't recommend it.
Now picturing this.
3 -
BruinsGal_91 wrote: »Vladimirnapkin wrote: »Sports Shield by Two Toms, is the thing.
If you do an ultra, you're going to chafe no matter how thin/lean you are. (I have run more than 30 of them.) I suggest you put some lube between your thighs, upper arms, neckline, nipples (dudes), waist line (top of the hip bone), between your toes, and maybe even your butt cheeks (Let me assure you that chafing there is super unpleasant.) If you are wearing a pack, check where the straps hit you. Carry a little sample size of Body Glide. Most running stores have a bowl of it by the till.
Basically, if you can dip yourself in some running lube...
FYI, vasoline stains your clothes. I don't recommend it.
Now picturing this.
Haha that’s the best!0 -
Body Glide. It’s used by runners of all sizes to reduce chaffing. I never go to a race without it. And I don’t know about ladies, but guys should also tape their chest to prevent bleeding.1
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