To all my fellow fair skinned athletes. Has anyone done a couple weeks of indoor tanning prior to races of any substantial distance/time (IE a base tan to prevent burning from sun tan lotion fading with sweat)? I ask as I got lit up during Racine 70.3 this past year and with a full on the books for 2014 I am trying to figure out the most effective way of managing this.
I asked a dermatologist this question and she looked at me like I was an idiot. Cover up is the best approach.
tanning beds are way worse for you than getting a tan outside. I’d suggest sunblock like bullfrog os zince/ti oxide, something that will stay in place for the race. reapply if needed.
You can get sun lotion to work for a full IM - so for a half - it shouldnt really be an issue ?
And what about arm coolers to cover your skin ?
Much better than a tanning bed.
Base tan means absolutely nothing when combatting skin damage. Essentially, you are asking if a UV injection is a good idea or not. The answer is overwhelmingly ‘no’. It’s even worse if you are a fair skinned person. Basically, you go to a UV bed, get burned, recover from said burn (assuming you ignore the possible permanent DNA damage), and go out on the course to get re-burned. Why would 2 sunburns be better than 1?
As others have said, the best way to manage this is to cover up and/ or use sunscreen. Reapply after the bike if your concerned. Yes, it may cost you an extra minute or 2 in transition but, seriously, is the race more important than your health?
SPF 100, goes on like glue, but got me through Kona and Florida on sunny days.
De soto makes a nice tri top with cap sleeves that is great sun protection along with sunscreen works great to prevent sunburn. Used it for Challenge Penticton this year and worked great. As others have already pointed out a tanning is not the best option.
SPF 100, goes on like glue, but got me through Kona and Florida on sunny days.
What brand?
I’m pale as a white sheet. After bleaching.
On long runs, I throw a small tube of suncream in my fuel belt. Usually, I use one of those little travel bottles. I coat myself before heading out (at T1/T2), then reapply from my fuel belt later on.
Think it was banana boat
.
It is currently -13 F. I can’t even think about exposed skin right now.
I have done this in the past. Once or twice a week for a few weeks prior to a HIM or IM, nothing the week of. It helps me and I will probably do it again. My dermatologist isn’t the one who has to wake up with a burn because a spot was missed, or washed off my Irish skin. As a kid, when we didn’t know anything about sun-blocks, I got burned so much I am not sweating a little tanning bed action. Just start with less time and build up. Don’t get burned in the bed.
On year I didn’t do that, I got the crescent burn between the tri top and bottom. A bad crescent burn. The drive home was miserable. A year later I could still see it.
Bullfrog is the best sunblock. One application of spf 50 will get you through and IM w/o a burn.
No offense GT but this is an absurd statement…"I got burned so much I am not sweating a little tanning bed action. Just start with less time and build up. Don’t get burned in the bed. "
Please no one listen to this advise. Melanoma is no joke! Take the time to put on extra sunblock folks. I lost my father-in-law to melanoma and spend the better part of each year now fundraising about the awareness of skin cancer and the harmful effects of tanning beds. Most of us don’t race for paychecks here so just take the time to put on sunblock as much as possible. Your family will thank you long into your years.
Good luck to all in 2014!
No offense GT but this is an absurd statement…"I got burned so much I am not sweating a little tanning bed action. Just start with less time and build up. Don’t get burned in the bed. "
Please no one listen to this advise. Melanoma is no joke! Take the time to put on extra sunblock folks. I lost my father-in-law to melanoma and spend the better part of each year now fundraising about the awareness of skin cancer and the harmful effects of tanning beds. Most of us don’t race for paychecks here so just take the time to put on sunblock as much as possible. Your family will thank you long into your years.
Good luck to all in 2014!
I knew your type would show up! sigh
Sorry about your . Everybody dies. Time is 100% effective at death. Please, don’t ever fund raise for “awareness” charities. They are a joke. Look into the finances! If you actually want to do something, raise funds for charities that actually fund research.
Good luck in 2014!
Well your a true GEM! Yes everyone does die…no news there brilliant one. I do raise money for an organization that spends there money on research so no need for your advise there either.
Do you actually have anything to contribute to the conversation other than advocating the increase in skin cancer exposure by visiting tanning beds?
We can agree to disagree or continue sparring. I have the time…
Never use a tanning bed. Just asking for skin cancer. I’m fairly pale and use the Neutrogena sport spf 100. I can be out for 4+ hours at altitude and not burn at all using it. It’s worked great during races as well. Bit more pricey then most sunscreens but definitely worth it.
pastie redhead here…
I thought I was getting a burn on my back from missing sun screen on my back/shoulder blades but it turned out it was my sleeveless tri jersey chaffing me on the swim. I dislocated my shoulder in a bmx bike crash a few years back (dropped into a ramp wrong and landed on my head/shoulder… oops) so anything pull over takes care putting on especially something tight which meant at augusta I tried a full zip regular jersey which I put on in T1 and wow what a difference that made for overall comfort. I wasn’t worried about my shoulders burning at all and it was slightly longer so I didn’t get that burn line between my shorts and jersey either.
Raleigh between the chaffing on my shoulders, the heat, the hills, and no hat I was miserable on the run. Augusta with normal sleeves and a hat plus being smart with the sun screen I was so much happier, well other then aggravating a by big toe I broke years ago. I probably did have more of a “base” a few months later but the real difference came from smart choices and covering up.
I don’t see myself going back to a sleeveless anytime soon outside maybe sprints where the swim isn’t long enough to chaffe and then putting on a jersey wastes too much time. And an hour that early in the morning isn’t enough to worry about badly burning.
Well your a true GEM! Yes everyone does die…no news there brilliant one. I do raise money for an organization that spends there money on research so no need for your advise there either.
Do you actually have anything to contribute to the conversation other than advocating the increase in skin cancer exposure by visiting tanning beds?
We can agree to disagree or continue sparring. I have the time…
But you said “awareness,” silly one. And I bet it is actually all awareness money. I bet you have a lot of time.
I did contribute to the conversation, and answered the exact question being asked. You just didn’t like what I said and got on your high horse. Be careful you do not fall. And if you are going to go around blasting what other people say, be prepared to accept the same back. Don’t dish if you can’t take without getting upset. I do not care if we agree or disagree. Your opinion means nothing to me, and I did not solicit it. I just answered a specific question that was soliciting an answer. Posting your own answer with any amount of social grace would probably not elicited a response you found upsetting!
I really hate grammar rebukes, but if you are going to go around getting all huffy at least work on grammar. “Your” implies ownership. I don’t think you meant to say that.
Well your a true GEM! Yes everyone does die…no news there brilliant one. I do raise money for an organization that spends there money on research so no need for your advise there either.
Do you actually have anything to contribute to the conversation other than advocating the increase in skin cancer exposure by visiting tanning beds?
We can agree to disagree or continue sparring. I have the time…
But you said “awareness,” silly one. And I bet it is actually all awareness money. I bet you have a lot of time.
I did contribute to the conversation, and answered the exact question being asked. You just didn’t like what I said and got on your high horse. Be careful you do not fall. And if you are going to go around blasting what other people say, be prepared to accept the same back. Don’t dish if you can’t take without getting upset. I do not care if we agree or disagree. Your opinion means nothing to me, and I did not solicit it. I just answered a specific question that was soliciting an answer. Posting your own answer with any amount of social grace would probably not elicited a response you found upsetting!
I really hate grammar rebukes, but if you are going to go around getting all huffy at least work on grammar. “Your” implies ownership. I don’t think you meant to say that.
Actually, your works perfectly well, as he was referring to the advice you gave, which makes it “your advise” . If you were going to pick on anything, it should have been the misuse of there instead of their.
But hey, you’re the one that is advocating the dermal equivalent of smoking, so no surprise.
John