The sun in NZ will burn you in seconds, and having lived in the UK for the first 35 years of my life where I never saw the sun I needed to be careful.
I use the neutrogena spray first thing in morning on arms, legs, shoulders. Then some invisible zinc on face and bottom of back where a gap can appear between shorts and top when on bike.
Then reapply the spray in T2 - get the change helper to just spray me on shoulders / upper arms as I’m tying shoes.
In my first IM then I tried using normal sun block lotion. This didn’t go well. Got flustered, and then a bit over enthusiastic with how much was needed. Ended up with loads left on hands. Wiped on only thing I could, my black shorts. Then spent the next 4.5 hours running around looking like I was a 13 year old the day after discovering incognito mode on the internet.
My tri suit covers shoulders and upper arms (in my experience sleeveless suits tend to rub the sunscreen off your shoulders and you get tan/burn lines). Tail of my helmet covers my neck to where the suit starts. And I pull on a cap for the run. Has worked fine for me in 70.3s in hot races including Dubai, and I’m quite fair skinned.
If you have a Trader Joe’s in your area, they have a sun screen stick that works really well. Its easy and quick enough to put on in transition (I do sub-4 minute transitions on a 70.3 and I apply to my arms and neck during each one). A lot of races have volunteers applying sunscreen, but if you burn you are at their mercy (I still have a tan from a burn I got in IM Boulder last year).
If you are super concerned about your race time put an aerosol sunscreen spray can in your T2 bag. Carry it out in your hand and onto the run and spray yourself while you go to get the maximum coverage. Then toss it at the first aid station. 15 seconds saved, world champs slot assured
Kinesys 50 for long races, Kinesys 30 for shorter ones. I apply before the swim. In a 70.3 or longer, I’ll reapply after the bike – especially behind the knees. Kinesys sells a 1-oz bottle that you can apply on the run, if 15-30 seconds matters to you.
For my nose and ears and cheeks, I prefer the thicker sunscreens like Laroche-Posay, Aloe Gator.
I’m a bit OCD when it comes to sun protection because I’ve had a history of melanoma.
So you’re suppose to put sunscreen on every 2 hours. That’s kind of hard to do on the bike, unless you get off.
For me, I use a long sleeve Kiwami Kona aero wing on bike and use desoto cooling arm sleeves on the run. My kits are all sleeved. I used to use the desoto cool wings, which I used for entire race (IM and HIM). I’ve never had a sunburn in a race.
+1 on DeSoto skin coolers. I wear them on the bike and often run as well. Keeps sun off your arms and keeps you cool so long as you keep them wet.
Also note – I’ve seen some research that shows that when you get sunburned, your body’s core temperature rises, which degrades performance. So… it’s probably worth at least 15 seconds to put on sunscreen. You’ll make it up by running faster.
I am training for my first 70.3. I was wondering if any of your expierenced athletes could give your advice on sunscreen during the race. I am OCD about protecting my skin from the sun so this is something I am kind of worried about.
When and how do you apply sunscreen?
Have you found certain sunscreens work better or last longer?
Is there sunscreen at the water stations or is that somehting you have to bring yourself?
Thanks. I appreicate the help.
Just use arm sleeves. If it’s a wetsuit swim you just have it on to start, if it’s a non-wetsuit swim, have the sleeves rolled up and place them within your swim skin or tri suit, then as you run from the water to the bike, put them on your wrists and roll them up your arm. I mean, you still need sunscreen for the hands, neck and face but with the arm sleeves you take care of a big part of this.
I’m a bit OCD when it comes to sun protection because I’ve had a history of melanoma.
So you’re suppose to put sunscreen on every 2 hours. That’s kind of hard to do on the bike, unless you get off.
For me, I use a long sleeve Kiwami Kona aero wing on bike and use desoto cooling arm sleeves on the run. My kits are all sleeved. I used to use the desoto cool wings, which I used for entire race (IM and HIM). I’ve never had a sunburn in a race.
But I thought arm sleeves didn’t work well in humid conditions?
My sunscreen program will depend on the race conditions. But for a 70.3 in Florida I will usually apply 15-30 min before swim. Nothing special but I prefer the sports stuff that will be sweat- & water-proof. That’s more to keep it from running into my eyes than for durability. Nothing more than spf 45. I don’t think it makes a difference beyond that anyway.
Then I will have a small ziploc bag with sunscreen on my race number belt. I attach it with a rubber band. Then I can rip the bag off and apply more sunscreen after I leave T2 with no time lost.
I also wear a shirt sleeve tri suit and a visor plus my bald spot.
If I know it’s going to be a scorcher (and an Ironman), I apply a coat before bed, then another when I wake-up on race morning in my accommodation. By the time you get to the race venue, the sun is up and you are probably sweating/nervous, so that coat will be less effective.
I will have a sachet of it in my T2 bag to reapply to neck/arms on the move. You can DIY this, by cutting the lid off a gel or baby food pouch, emptying & cleaning it out, then filling it with sunscreen & taping it closed. At least that’s what I did when it was 40 degrees. Get a Tri suit with good coverage - obviously
Apply liberally pre race, then small spray can of SPF50 in my run belt that I spray on at the run start. I usually throw it out once applied. At IM Boulder it was so hot I held onto it and resprayed as needed. Doesn’t slow you down at all and I have used this for three fulls without getting burned at all.
That’s good to hear about not getting burned with DeSoto arm coolers. DeSoto says their new sleeves block 90% of UVB rays, which is equivalent to an SPF of only 10. I’d burn to a crisp in an IM with only SPF 10, so I use fabric with a UPF of 30 (blocks about 97% of rays).
What’s your skin type? If you’re fair skinned like me and have had success, I might give them a try.
Fair skinned, east Asian. I wore the desoto for all of IMWI, which temp was perfect and mostly sunny.
Regarding humid heat, I don’t find sleeves/tops a problem on the bike because of air flow. Also the Kiwami, you also get an aero benefit. On the run I just pour water on the sleeves and ice down my kit and am fine. I also find it beneficial when it is cold. I did IMLou in 2018, which was wet, windy and slight cool, with Kiwami long sleeve during bike and desoto sleeves on run.
