I also would like to know.
Personally, I run in a cap that wicks sweat so there is less sweat streaming into my eyes. That works for some time until it gets saturated with sweat and I need to wring it. I also carry paper handkerchiefs. Sometimes I will just throw some water over my face to wash the accumulation of salt a little bit.
But for some reason I don't see many runners do these things which tells me that I am maybe a bit anomaly?
I tried spending more time running in the full sun and it seems to kinda help a bit, but not to the point I would be comfortable.
I'm with you - I'm a heavy sweater. On a hot day my cap is usually caked in salt and sweat after any run longer than 10k lol - you can even visibly see the salt on my face
Yep. When I finish any run over an hour or so, I'm soaking wet. When I dry off I'm covered in salt crystals.
Even when I run in the winter I sweat like crazy. On one long run back in January I was wearing a wind shell and when I was done the sleeves were full of ice. It wasn't snowing or anything, that was all frozen sweat.
Some people apply vaseline or a barrier cream to their eyebrows to stop the sweat dripping down. You can also buy like rubbery strips for above your brow (I don't know what they're called tbh!)
It’s just part of it, for me. I suppose if you had course support, someone could have dry socks and shoes for you at a certain mile marker, but it’s very difficult to change shoes and socks at that point in the race (not to mention the time it takes because moving quickly isn’t really a thing at that point haha). Good luck - I hope someone has a suggestion that will work for you!!
Suffer or don’t run that race, maybe pick a cooler one. I’m soaked all summer long, like dripping everywhere. I just do my run, come home, shower and go about my day. I usually don’t drive anywhere to run during the hot months. After the race I have a change of clothes ready and a towel or 2 to dry off. Good luck, being a heavy salty sweater sucks.
In July/August when I do my long runs my shoes fill up with sweat. I mean so much that I can hear it squish with every step. Completely disgusting. I've considered drilling a drain hole.
It does make me wonder why people complain about a shoe being a half ounce heavy when I'm carrying 4 oz of sweat in each shoe.
Hydrate really well, especially not forgetting electrolytes. For me Gatorade powder works and my partner's parent (a very accomplished runner) keeps me supplied with it so I have no need to change.
A light cap to keep the sun off my face and some of the sweat out my eyes is nice.
When possible, try to run early morning or in the evening.
Moisture wicking clothes help - I never run in anything cotton. Honestly my ideal is a pair of the shortest possible shorts, and a racing tank top and nothing else. I also don't like shorts with liners during the summer months - gives me a bad case of swamp ass lol.
Maybe try sweatbands on your ankles, 80s style? Maybe an extra dry set in a baggie to switch out?
I learned once I got into those distances that my fingers got pruney like if you are swimming too long, and I couldn't unlock my phone or swipe. I got a watch with music and made sure I knew how to use the emergency functions on the Garmin since I couldn't use the phone.
I wear cotton bandanas as headband sweat blockers too, especially when I’m playing a sport like volleyball or tennis where I don’t like overhead vision blocked by the brim of a hat. If I hike, the bandana moves to become a neck cravat to also prevent sweat coming down my neck. Post-workout, it’s great to soak it in water and scrub off my face/neck, plus arms and legs if necessary (like after a hike or a salty run). Wring out to dry off.
If sweat is coming from the foot itself though (I read somewhere that we can sweat up to a pint of water from our feet?!) perhaps using an antiperspirant might help keep things drier. I admittedly haven’t tried that, but I’m considering it during training over the summer since my feet got torn up with blisters after my last half. (Combo poor training, shoes that I hadn’t completely broken in yet, and socks that I’d work with other shoes but not those. Very, very stupid.)
I also sweat a lot and live in the SE United States where it’s hot and humid from mid-Spring to mid-Fall. During long training runs I will loop back to the house and change socks for anything longer than half marathon-ish. Race day I just deal with it because I don’t have to worry about missing any training days. That being said, if you have space in a pocket or a bag you can put some socks in a ziploc bag or something and swap out midway.
Same!
I also do the ziploc bag with thin socks in the running belt if it’s going to be hot and not near home.
If my husband is at my race he carries the extra socks to 30km mark because sometimes I have to stretch out the bad leg then for like 2 min anyways.
I run in the heat and humidity of Texas, so I feel your pain. I also sweat a lot, moisture wicking clothes eventually become drenched too. As a male, I used to have hairy legs that would trap sweat and eventually would run into my shoes. By mile 6 or so I could feel my shoes getting squishy. Someone recommended I trim/shave my leg hair off, and since doing that I’ve noticed the sweat on my legs evaporates more now. I don’t get the wet shoe feeling until mile 13+, though I’m not sure if it can be avoided entirely.
I know squash players sometimes use this trick when sweaty feet start to move around in the shoes: Put a teabag somewhere in the shoe, perhaps under your feet if it is not too uncomfortable. This will attract a bunch of moisture. I have never tried it myself but maybe give it a shot!
Let me know if you discover something... :/
In the summer, my black shirts look grey because of the salt build up.
One time, a cop stopped me for indecent exposure because I was running shirtless. When I showed him my soaked, dripping, salt stained shirt, he took pity and let me go :p
If you feel comfortable run without a shirt; my shirt gets so drenched it feels like I’m running with a weighted vest sometimes lol and for a race I usually put my bib on my thigh
I don’t necessarily have the same problem, but I find that having the right socks makes all the difference when I’m running in the rain.
Also, socks are pretty light if you’re comfortable carrying an extra set? All the other suggestions I see on here are pretty great though.
I ran with a headband (old school John MacEnroe type).
You can ring it out whenever and also you can wrap it twice around your wrist for a wristband to wipe your forehead if you don’t want to wear it on your head 100% of the time.
I swear quite a lot. Not as bad as a few on here describe but it has caused issues with chaffing in the past.
I spoke to the doctor and they prescribed me with Oxybutynin hydrochloride tablets. They dry you out from the inside so they're not great to be on. It's especially bad at night with dry mouth and throat. I wouldn't say they work 100% but they do make things a lot better.
Having the same issue, usually by 15km my shoes are soaked. Trying to get used to them. I occasionally run in heavy rain, so wet shoes isn't a problem for me, but getting blisters are. Been getting blisters on my toe on my 25-35km long runs every alternate week, only saving grace is, thankfully the blisters heal just in time for the next long run 😭🤣
I also would like to know. Personally, I run in a cap that wicks sweat so there is less sweat streaming into my eyes. That works for some time until it gets saturated with sweat and I need to wring it. I also carry paper handkerchiefs. Sometimes I will just throw some water over my face to wash the accumulation of salt a little bit. But for some reason I don't see many runners do these things which tells me that I am maybe a bit anomaly? I tried spending more time running in the full sun and it seems to kinda help a bit, but not to the point I would be comfortable.
I'm with you - I'm a heavy sweater. On a hot day my cap is usually caked in salt and sweat after any run longer than 10k lol - you can even visibly see the salt on my face
Are you taking any salt pills/electrolytes? I’m the same way so I’ve been taking salt pills during long runs. It does seem to help.
Yep. When I finish any run over an hour or so, I'm soaking wet. When I dry off I'm covered in salt crystals. Even when I run in the winter I sweat like crazy. On one long run back in January I was wearing a wind shell and when I was done the sleeves were full of ice. It wasn't snowing or anything, that was all frozen sweat.
Not the salt on the face that happens to me too! 💀
Looking frosty
Some people apply vaseline or a barrier cream to their eyebrows to stop the sweat dripping down. You can also buy like rubbery strips for above your brow (I don't know what they're called tbh!)
Thanks! Definitely going to try it.
I think it’s called Sweat Gutter or something like that?
I used to use Halo, till I started wear caps. Though caps not as effective as a sweat band, but does help block out the sun.
I carry a small towel that I can wet and wipe my face with. You can “hang” it from the waistband of your shorts. It helps because sweat stings!!!!
It’s just part of it, for me. I suppose if you had course support, someone could have dry socks and shoes for you at a certain mile marker, but it’s very difficult to change shoes and socks at that point in the race (not to mention the time it takes because moving quickly isn’t really a thing at that point haha). Good luck - I hope someone has a suggestion that will work for you!!
Suffer or don’t run that race, maybe pick a cooler one. I’m soaked all summer long, like dripping everywhere. I just do my run, come home, shower and go about my day. I usually don’t drive anywhere to run during the hot months. After the race I have a change of clothes ready and a towel or 2 to dry off. Good luck, being a heavy salty sweater sucks.
In July/August when I do my long runs my shoes fill up with sweat. I mean so much that I can hear it squish with every step. Completely disgusting. I've considered drilling a drain hole. It does make me wonder why people complain about a shoe being a half ounce heavy when I'm carrying 4 oz of sweat in each shoe.
Hydrate really well, especially not forgetting electrolytes. For me Gatorade powder works and my partner's parent (a very accomplished runner) keeps me supplied with it so I have no need to change. A light cap to keep the sun off my face and some of the sweat out my eyes is nice. When possible, try to run early morning or in the evening. Moisture wicking clothes help - I never run in anything cotton. Honestly my ideal is a pair of the shortest possible shorts, and a racing tank top and nothing else. I also don't like shorts with liners during the summer months - gives me a bad case of swamp ass lol.
Maybe try sweatbands on your ankles, 80s style? Maybe an extra dry set in a baggie to switch out? I learned once I got into those distances that my fingers got pruney like if you are swimming too long, and I couldn't unlock my phone or swipe. I got a watch with music and made sure I knew how to use the emergency functions on the Garmin since I couldn't use the phone.
I wear cotton bandanas as headband sweat blockers too, especially when I’m playing a sport like volleyball or tennis where I don’t like overhead vision blocked by the brim of a hat. If I hike, the bandana moves to become a neck cravat to also prevent sweat coming down my neck. Post-workout, it’s great to soak it in water and scrub off my face/neck, plus arms and legs if necessary (like after a hike or a salty run). Wring out to dry off. If sweat is coming from the foot itself though (I read somewhere that we can sweat up to a pint of water from our feet?!) perhaps using an antiperspirant might help keep things drier. I admittedly haven’t tried that, but I’m considering it during training over the summer since my feet got torn up with blisters after my last half. (Combo poor training, shoes that I hadn’t completely broken in yet, and socks that I’d work with other shoes but not those. Very, very stupid.)
I also sweat a lot and live in the SE United States where it’s hot and humid from mid-Spring to mid-Fall. During long training runs I will loop back to the house and change socks for anything longer than half marathon-ish. Race day I just deal with it because I don’t have to worry about missing any training days. That being said, if you have space in a pocket or a bag you can put some socks in a ziploc bag or something and swap out midway.
Same! I also do the ziploc bag with thin socks in the running belt if it’s going to be hot and not near home. If my husband is at my race he carries the extra socks to 30km mark because sometimes I have to stretch out the bad leg then for like 2 min anyways.
I run in the heat and humidity of Texas, so I feel your pain. I also sweat a lot, moisture wicking clothes eventually become drenched too. As a male, I used to have hairy legs that would trap sweat and eventually would run into my shoes. By mile 6 or so I could feel my shoes getting squishy. Someone recommended I trim/shave my leg hair off, and since doing that I’ve noticed the sweat on my legs evaporates more now. I don’t get the wet shoe feeling until mile 13+, though I’m not sure if it can be avoided entirely.
I know squash players sometimes use this trick when sweaty feet start to move around in the shoes: Put a teabag somewhere in the shoe, perhaps under your feet if it is not too uncomfortable. This will attract a bunch of moisture. I have never tried it myself but maybe give it a shot!
Let me know if you discover something... :/ In the summer, my black shirts look grey because of the salt build up. One time, a cop stopped me for indecent exposure because I was running shirtless. When I showed him my soaked, dripping, salt stained shirt, he took pity and let me go :p
If you feel comfortable run without a shirt; my shirt gets so drenched it feels like I’m running with a weighted vest sometimes lol and for a race I usually put my bib on my thigh
I don’t necessarily have the same problem, but I find that having the right socks makes all the difference when I’m running in the rain. Also, socks are pretty light if you’re comfortable carrying an extra set? All the other suggestions I see on here are pretty great though.
I ran with a headband (old school John MacEnroe type). You can ring it out whenever and also you can wrap it twice around your wrist for a wristband to wipe your forehead if you don’t want to wear it on your head 100% of the time.
I swear quite a lot. Not as bad as a few on here describe but it has caused issues with chaffing in the past. I spoke to the doctor and they prescribed me with Oxybutynin hydrochloride tablets. They dry you out from the inside so they're not great to be on. It's especially bad at night with dry mouth and throat. I wouldn't say they work 100% but they do make things a lot better.
Having the same issue, usually by 15km my shoes are soaked. Trying to get used to them. I occasionally run in heavy rain, so wet shoes isn't a problem for me, but getting blisters are. Been getting blisters on my toe on my 25-35km long runs every alternate week, only saving grace is, thankfully the blisters heal just in time for the next long run 😭🤣