• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
RELENTLESS FORWARD COMMOTION
RELENTLESS FORWARD COMMOTION
  • Ultrarunning
    • Ultrarunning for Beginners
    • Ultramarathon Training Plans
    • Ultramarathon Training Tips
    • Ultramarathon Racing Tips
  • Trail Running
  • Strength Training
  • Running Tips
  • Running Gear
  • Race Recaps
  • Coaching

6 Common Race Day Ailments, & How to Avoid Them.

January 27, 2015 by Heather Hart, ACSM EP 13 Comments

28 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Last Updated on January 27, 2015 by Heather Hart, ACSM EP

Race day ailments seem to be a (painful) rite of passage for new runners; and an unfortunate recurrence for forgetful running veterans.  There is nothing quite like finishing your first race, only to step in the shower and wince in pain as the hot water discovers all of the places your sports bra or shorts chafed your sensitive skin.  Though easily preventable, often times new runners (and sometimes even the seasoned pros) are so focused on the race itself that they overlook potential ailments that could totally ruin the race they trained so hard for.    Here are six common race day ailments experienced by runners, and tips on how you can prevent them from ruining your race.

(Disclaimer: I initially hoped to post pictures of said ailments, but decided I’d spare you guys. You are free to eat lunch and read this post simultaneously.)

Common Race Day Ailments

Blisters

A runners nemesis: blisters on your feet can be incredibly painful, but are often preventable.  Wear the same sneakers that you have trained in; avoid wearing brand new shoes on race day, as they may have what is known as hot spots, or areas that have yet to be broken in and may cause irritation. Be sure you are wearing the appropriate socks, with proper fit and sweat wicking fabric. Lastly, help avoid chafing by covering your toes in anti chafing cream such as Trail Toes*,  Bodyglide Anti-chafe Balm , or sprinkling some anti-chafing powder such as Anti Monkey Butt Powder on your feet before putting on your socks.

Upset Stomach

Trust me and the Baltimore Marathon of 2009: nothing will ruin your race like having to stop for port-a-potty breaks due to an upset stomach.  DO NOT try any new foods the night before, the morning of, or during the race.  This is not a friendly avoidance suggestion, it is a warning to NOT try new things.  Instead, stick with foods that you know your stomach can easily digest, and you have had success with during your training runs. If you are sensitive to high fiber foods, it is recommended that you avoid them the night before and morning of a race. Instead, try foods such as bananas, pasta, or plain bread and bagels, that tend to slow down your digestive system. Stay properly hydrated, and avoid alcohol consumption the night before a race.

Chafing

Chafing can occur in numerous places on a runner, typically anywhere that continuous rubbing of clothing, accessories, or even skin to skin contact occurs. Common sites of chaffing include between the thighs, on the shoulders under sports bra straps, or in the armpits. To prevent chaffing, first ensure that you are wearing dry-wicking, technical fabric. Avoid cotton, as it is more likely to absorb sweat and irritate the skin. Second, generously apply an anti-chafing lubricant, such as Vaseline, or a sport specific product such as Body Glide to the areas that are most prone to chaffing.  To avoid any surprise hot spots, race in clothing that you have previously trained in and haven’t experienced any issues with.

Bloody Nipples

Yes, this is actually a thing.   One that I’m happy to report I’ve yet to experience, but I hear is incredibly painful.   Because women typically wear tight fitting sports bras, this ailment typically only affects men. I’ll spare you a photo in this post, but if you are oddly intrigued, visit this flikr album.  Over the course of a race, nipples constantly rubbing against a shirt can cause irritation, and even bleeding. There are a number of ways to prevent this condition. First, avoid wearing cotton shirts, as they are more likely to chafe, and instead opt for a dri-wicking technical fabric. Apply some sort of lubricant directly to the nipple area such as BodyGlide or Vaseline. Lastly, if necessary, a Band-Aid, or a product designed specifically for this purpose such as NipStrips, can be applied over the nipple to protect the sensitive skin.

Bruised or Lost Toenails

Another gross, yet common ailment especially among longer distance runners, is the bruised or lost toenail.  To avoid such toenail injuries, be sure to wear properly fitting shoes. Often, runner’s feet swell during longer races, or toes bump against the front of shoes on courses that contain a significant amount of downhill. For these reasons, it is often recommended to size up one half of a shoe size in your running sneakers. Also, keep your toenails short to help prevent pressure on the toes from the impact of running.

Dehydration/Overhydration

During the anticipation of an upcoming race, or during the excitement of running a race, a runner may find themselves drinking too much…or too little water.  This is not only an ailment, but a situation that could quickly become dangerous to the health of a runner.  Hypernatremia (dehydration) or hyponatremia (due to low levels of sodium, or too much water) can not only ruin your race day experience, but can potentially become life threatening.  Though these situations are more common in longer distance races, they can affect any athlete at any time.  To prevent drinking too little…or too much… water, practice your race day hydration during training situations.  Account for changes in climate on race day (such as really high temperatures) but don’t go overboard.  If your hydration plan worked well during training, stick with a similar plan on race day.

While some race day ailments may simply be bothersome, others may start out small, such as a blister, and eventually become debilitating over the course of the race. Keep in mind the simple suggestions listed above to help prevent these ailments, and you’ll be able to focus simply on running your race.

__________________________________________________________

What is the worst ailment/injury that you’ve experienced during a race?  In retrospect, was it preventable?

__________________________________________________________

*Amazon affiliate links used in this post.

Filed Under: Running Tips Tagged With: Beginner Running

About Heather Hart, ACSM EP

Heather Hart is an ACSM certified Exercise Physiologist, UESCA certified Ultrarunning Coach, RRCA certified Running Coach, co-founder of Hart Strength and Endurance Coaching, and creator of this site, Relentless Forward Commotion.   She is a mom of two teen boys, and has been running and racing distances of 5K to 100+ miles for over a decade.  Heather has been writing and encouraging others to find a love for fitness and movement since 2009.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. John (Daddy Runs a Lot)

    January 27, 2015 at 11:00 am

    As a bloody-nipple sufferer, the only advice I can give for avoidance is a compression top. If I run while wearing a shirt, it’s tight, wicking material. When I was a bit…um, heftier, I’d wear a looser fitting top on top of the compression layer, but I always wear a compression layer. Without it, if I’m wearing a shirt, I’ll end up with “gunshot wounds” by mile 6 (and uncomfortable nipples for a week, if I run even a 5k)

    Reply
    • Heather

      January 27, 2015 at 3:07 pm

      Great tips John! And makes me even more thankful I’ve yet to experience the chafing nips!

      Reply
  2. Cheri @ Overactive Blogger

    January 27, 2015 at 9:58 pm

    I woke up sick the morning of the Greensboro Marathon and barfed from mile 18 on. Will watch what I eat in the days leading up to a race next time!

    Reply
    • Heather

      January 28, 2015 at 7:07 am

      oh my gosh that sounds HORRIBLE! Lesson learned the hard way! I’m so sorry!

      Reply
  3. Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner

    January 28, 2015 at 9:42 am

    Sometimes I get chafing on the bra strap during longer runs and boy do they hurt. They just come and go. I started using a chamois cream and it works really well.

    Reply
  4. Larisa Dixon (@0to26point2)

    January 28, 2015 at 9:45 am

    oh these are great ones. I have experienced them all minus the the whole bloody nipples. I think thats more of a guy issue. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Eat Pray Run, DC

    January 28, 2015 at 3:26 pm

    i ran forever w/out having any toenail issues…and then it happened. i kinda managed to save it but it made me recommit to keeping those toenails trimmed down! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Pretty Little Grub

    January 28, 2015 at 7:16 pm

    I appreciate you not showing pictures! I’ve had my fair share of these but luckily no bleeding nipples…ouch!

    Reply
  7. Katie (@momslrb)

    January 28, 2015 at 11:23 pm

    I use to think the bloody nipples was just legend until I saw a poor guy one time.

    Reply
  8. Erica G

    January 29, 2015 at 12:00 pm

    Out of these, over the course of the years I have experienced blisters, chafing, upset stomach, and perhaps a case of dehydration. I was definately out of whack on my salt balance!

    Reply
  9. Stephanie H. (@FitMomTraining)

    January 29, 2015 at 6:36 pm

    Blisters are always my downfall! I just can’t get away from them. I’ve had the underhydration issue as well which has left for a very crappy end to a half marathon. Yuck.

    Reply
  10. Toni Church (@tonee78)

    January 29, 2015 at 7:22 pm

    Sadly I have experienced them all. The stomach issues hit me hard during the NYC marathon, but I think it was more nerves than food. I never try anything new on race day anymore for that reason!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Ultramarathon coach Heather Hart running down dirt road  with text "Meet Heather"

I'm Heather, mom of two, ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist, and an overzealous athlete who cannot focus on a single discipline, so I train for all of them at the same time. When in doubt, I run...and then write about it. Read More…

RUN COACHING:

Image of Runner climbing down a large rock on a trail with words "Running & Training Tips"
Ultrarunning Coach Heather Hart running through the mountains during a race with text "Ultramarathon Training & Racing"
Heather Hart climbing up a large boulder during a trail running race with text "Races & Adventures" on image
Hart Adventure Racing Logo

Subscribe

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Footer

My name is Heather Hart, I am a mom. I am an athlete. I am a writer. I am an adventurer with a wandering spirit and wandering feet.

  • About
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact
© 2022 Relentless Forward Commotion
28 shares