Gold Bond
I grew up watching the hokey commercials for Gold Bond on TV and wrote it off a hoax. ”Why,” I thought, “would you buy dust to put on perfectly clean skin?” It made no sense.
At least until Massanutten this year. What I failed to mention in my race report was that after hours of running in salty, sweaty heat followed by more hours in wet clothing, I ended up with the worst case of chafing imaginable. By the end of the race, every seam was etched in.
I was so desperate for relief that Rob talked me in to trying Gold Bond, and lo and behold, it made going to work the next day possible. It kept the raw spots dry enough that movement wasn’t excruciating and healing could start. I absolutely needed the extra strength version but even the regular strength would be a relief to have when you need it. Trust me.
Bag Balm
Why so wonderful? This goop prevents the angry skin described above.
Why this instead of Vaseline (which didn’t help me at Massanutten) or Body Glide? Simple – it doesn’t wash off or disappear like the others (must be the lanolin?) and it’s more than a skin lube. It’s got a healing ingredient built in.
I remember using it in the 1970s but it’s been around forever, and for good reason – it works! I’ve used it on several rainy-day runs lately and am happily chafe-free. Besides, it transforms ultrarunner feet into something almost sandal-worthy.
It can be hard to find (I finally found it at one drug store and the local farmer’s co-op), but it’s well worth the hunt.
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Technu Rash Relief
The lush crop of poison ivy this year almost makes me yearn for the past couple of extreme drought years. Almost. On the bright side, it helped my find this stuff.
We were on our way to SweetH2O when the itchy spot on my wrist erupted into the dreaded bumps. The itching got so bad we ferreted out a drugstore so I could buy something, anything to stop the agony. There were the usual supects…and this. The stakes were high but I always prefer natural so I took a chance.
It worked. Two treatments and the next morning it was fine and it didn’t reappear. I’ve had way too many opportunities to try it since then and every time it’s worked like a charm. I even put it on the sunburn I picked up at Howl at the Moon this weekend (report on it’s way…) because I had nothing else at hand, and that’s the skin that hasn’t peeled. But it’s worth it for the PI healing alone!
Thanks for the tips Susan. I can relate to the chaffing. I was in bad shape at 25 miles in Laurel Valley Saturday, but was glad that I brought along my Glide. After applying it I felt like I was on fire. I read the label and it was Glide with FxHeat in it! OUCH!!!! Stupid rookie mistake. It only burned for 10 minutes, but that was a LONG 10 minutes :]
We have bag balm here in the pharmacy where I work. I am going to give it a try.
August 12, 2009 at 10:13 am | Reply
I am not a runner, but the Bag Balm sounds like great relief to my heels, which suffer since I am always in sandals. will certainly try.
August 13, 2009 at 10:14 pm | Reply