The Running Thread --2025

[xjillianpaige]

I'm trying to be a more responsible adult and use sunscreen when I go out for a run (which I finally did today, almost 2 months post-Dopey, and only 3.5 weeks until Springtime ) Anyway, I hate wearing sunscreen when I run, I don't seem to sweat right or something, and my heart rate trends a little higher. Despite being paler than a hitchhiking ghost, I've never gotten burned, or even extra tanned on a run, but I know that doesn't mean it's a healthy way to exist

So...QOTD: what's your go-to running sunscreen? I tried a Coppertone Sport stick, and it was awful.

Sunscreen?

Unfortunately, this is me as well. I am not consistent about sunscreen and my body def got a little red during Boston. My name was actually visible from writing it on my arm in sharpie from getting burnt around it. I do tend to tan quickly and easily but every so often I turn red.

 

[avondale]

ATTQOTD: I live in the Washington, DC, area. I wear sunscreen from about the beginning of March through mid-October (about 3 weeks before and then after the equinoxes). I usually only wear it if it's between 10am and 4pm, although I would extend those hours if I'm just going to be out sitting in the sun for some reason.

I'm very light skinned. I am also an extremely prodigious sweater. (When playing tennis outside before noon for an hour or two in the humid summer, I literally wring out my tennis skirt from the sweat that accumulates.) The problem I have had is both sunscreen running into my eyes and also looking like I'm bleeding milk all over my body as the sunscreen sweats off. I've tried both chemical and mineral sunscreens, and many "sport" versions. In addition, I HATE feeling like my skin is goopy and sticky, and usually in order to get a reasonably high SPF number, sunscreens are thick and you get your skin feeling goopy and sticky.

The absolute best that I've found is Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence, SPF 50. It's Japanese, if you can find the "true" stuff rather than a knock-off. It is so much lighter in texture than anything US-based. It actually rubs in really easily and it doesn't feel sticky! And it doesn't sweat off like milk! I have worn it for many high-Sun situations (such as visiting Hawaii last June), and it definitely works for Sun protection. A little of it goes a long way, too. The "true" stuff also has very little smell - it smells a bit like rubbing alcohol initially, but that only lasts as long as it takes to rub it in.

The downside is that it's pretty expensive and the "true" version is hard to find in the US. I used to be able to get it via Amazon by reading reviews carefully. However, it seems like now Biore is making a "US version" which is just at good at Sun protection and not running off like milk, but a little less easy to rub in and has a bit of a scent.

Incidentally, the "running into the eyes and making them sting" thing is probably not just your sunscreen...it's also your sweat + salt. FWIW, you can't always get rid of that.

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: With yesterday being the big registration day that was crazy I wanted to ask, If you did not get into a desired race (Not just Disney) what was your plan B?

ATTQOTD: I've never had a race sold out on me before, but I was worried at wdw registration. Luckily, my plan B is we have a local marathon one week usually after wdw marathon of the Houston marathon is the week of or after as well that would have been a option. Not as exciting, but would save $$ on the plan B. Then I guess I would just try again the following year and hope for better luck.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

Put me in the category of girl who burns, doesn’t tan. I’ve been getting annual skin exams for over ten years because I’m so fair. I like Hawaiian Tropics and Neutrogena, all regular sunscreen. I tried the mineral stuff after my previous dermatologist recommended it and I HATED it! I can’t emphasize that enough. The regular stuff works for me, and luckily I don’t sweat much above my eyes, but sometimes sweat will drop around the corners and my eyes sting a little bit. I put up with it.

As y’all can guess, I love Jimmy Buffett music and it was so devastating when he died, and it was skin cancer that got him.

 

[PrincessV]

I tried the mineral stuff after my previous dermatologist recommended it and I HATED it! I can’t emphasize that enough.

You are not alone. I’m pretty crunchy-granola about a lot of things and the idea of non-chemical sunscreen is very appealing to me… but every formulation I’ve tried that’s zinc- or titanium-oxide based makes me break out in hives. I’m totally fine with the “bad” chemical sunscreens, though. I’m glad they’ve found a way to formulate them in a more reef-safe way.

 

[KSellers88]

ATTQOTD (yesterday): I wear Cerave moisturizer on my face and Sun Bum on my arms, neck and chest. I do not really worry about my legs that much.

ATTQOTD (today): Disney is the only race I've ever had an issue trying to get in to. I have never tried to run a major or anything. Luckily, I have always managed to get in to every Disney race I have tried for (I am not lucky in any other aspect of life, so I guess this is my luck). All that said, I have never had to have a plan B.

 

[flav]

ATTQOTD: I was recently targeting a race that ended up being full by the time I tried to register. I registered for another one two weeks earlier that falls in a very busy weekend and kind of regret it now. Unfortunately that organization stopped allowing switching events in 2025 or I would have done it.

I already mentioned DH not winning the NYC lottery in 2023 and going the ITO route instead.

Finally, DD (not the usual runner DD) and her friends wanted to do their first HM in the city. There is still place but they are priced out. So they decided to run their own unofficial HM at the end of summer.

 

[SimbaMufasa321]

AATQOTD: I swear by blue lizard sport. Its an Australian brand but I swear it rubs in so much better and doesnt bother me when I sweat.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

I don’t live that much farther north. I grew up in central Oklahoma (now in KS).

I’m sitting here, wondering about how part of Central Oklahoma wound up in Kansas.
I will see myself out…

As for sunscreen, I have to use triple digit SPF if I’m gonna be running in the sun. For most of my afternoon runs, I am able to stay mostly in the shade. And I have little packets of SPF 30 that I can tuck in a running belt for when the sun comes up during the marathon.

And especially if you are younger, please be diligent about using sunscreen or else you will get to see the dermatologist twice a year like I do. And getting all of these precancerous spots frozen off twice a year is painful..

 

[marty3d]

ATTQOTD: Plan B - as crazy as it sounds, since Goofy has been selling out faster than Dopey the last couple of years, my plan B was Dopey (please don’t judge me). Plan C was the Marathon. Plan D the Half. Plan E? Well, there was no plan E.

Luckily the fantastic people on this board helped me get into Goofy.

 

[FFigawi]

ATTQOTD: No plan B for me. It was Dopey or bust. Far too long a trip to make it worthwhile for one or two races.

 

[PrincessV]

ATTQOTD: I opted not to register at all for MW, so my “plan” was to see if I could help get another DISer in… I’m not sure it worked lol! Depending on how life goes over the next couple months, I’m considering Princess, though, so I guess I need to start thinking about a plan B… and C… and probably D.

 

[Erika10021]

ATTQOTD: I only missed out on one race weekend which was super stressful and disappointing. We ultimately ended up getting a Dopey registration (with no intention to run the marathon, yeah that didn't work) but it was so much work and stalking telegram! Plan B was to get Club runDisney membership.

ATTotherQOTD: I generally only use sunscreen when it is prime sun hours and it's a long run. I am a huge stickler for wearing a hat and sunglasses though!

 

[Herding_Cats]

ATTQOTD:

For Tuesday if I couldn't get a Goofy bib the plan B for me was a Dopey bib and skip the 10k (well....I'd *say* I was going to skip the 10k, but we all know the truth), plan C was HM and M separately, and plan D was just the M. The priority was getting DD and DH into the 5k (which was the first thing I paid for), and after all of my payment screen issues and going for *my* 5k bib last, my confirmation email for it was time-stamped for 10:43.....so very much much by the skin of my teeth.

None of my local races really sell out except for the Bayshore (the half) but even that doesn't sell out as quickly as a disney race, so if I ever decide I want to run that I feel confident I could get in.

 

[Herding_Cats]

For the cross trainers/gym users:

I'm going to have DH build me a box for doing step-ups (so I don't have to use/damage my adjustable-incline bench) but I'm unsure of how high to make it. I know that there are commercially available ones that have 3 different heights, depending on which face it's on, but I'm really only looking for 1 or 2 heights so I don't have to make it unbearably heavy or purchase additional plywood (we have about a 4x4 sheet leftover from a different project) AND so this project will only cost us the time of labor.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

ATTQOTD: my plan B has been charities the last few registrations, and honestly it’s been plan A for security and then I don’t have to worry about registration. I did get the DL 10k through general registration and never felt rushed.

I don’t know what my plans are for next year since I may be looking at non Disney races next year. I might be interested in the ten miler next spring, depending on the themes. I’ve got Southwest credits to use and thankfully these don’t expire (yes I went there ).

 

[LSUlakes]

For the cross trainers/gym users:

I'm going to have DH build me a box for doing step-ups (so I don't have to use/damage my adjustable-incline bench) but I'm unsure of how high to make it. I know that there are commercially available ones that have 3 different heights, depending on which face it's on, but I'm really only looking for 1 or 2 heights so I don't have to make it unbearably heavy or purchase additional plywood (we have about a 4x4 sheet leftover from a different project) AND so this project will only cost us the time of labor.

I dont recall how high I built the ones I had as it has been more than 15 years ago and I no longer have them. However I would like to offer the following advice from my experience. Round the edges as much as you can, your shins will thank you for when at some point you miss the top. Advice item 2, is to build the sides at a slight angle. I do not recall why that was such a big deal, but for some reason it was.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I dont recall how high I built the ones I had as it has been more than 15 years ago and I no longer have them. However I would like to offer the following advice from my experience. Round the edges as much as you can, your shins will thank you for when at some point you miss the top. Advice item 2, is to build the sides at a slight angle. I do not recall why that was such a big deal, but for some reason it was.

So you’re saying make it like a trapezoid? We have a router, so he can nicely round off the edges.

 

[Fischstick]

For running, I never apply the sunscreen higher than eye level. So it can’t run into my eyes. I’m a big head sweater! Then I wear a hat and sunglasses. I rally like the trader joes super goop dupe. It’s cheap and light.

But my biggest secret is running in the dark…before the sun comes up. No sunscreen needed.

 

[camaker]

I dont recall how high I built the ones I had as it has been more than 15 years ago and I no longer have them. However I would like to offer the following advice from my experience. Round the edges as much as you can, your shins will thank you for when at some point you miss the top. Advice item 2, is to build the sides at a slight angle. I do not recall why that was such a big deal, but for some reason it was.

My guess it that it’s for increased stability. If you just have a vertical-edged box the force from your step down backwards is going to make it want to tip over towards you. Angling the sides is going to help prevent that.