Leggings are perhaps the greatest thing to happen to women’s pants since, I don’t know, ever. Leggings with pockets, leggings with prints, leggings with those amazing mesh panels behind the knees. But as much as I love my leggings, the moment it starts getting warm I want to throw on a pair of shorts for running. Running in shorts helps my legs tan naturally and makes me feel all female empowered and whatnot. The one problem with shorts? Finding a way to prevent chafing while running.
I’ve got thick thighs that touch basically of the time. Like a lot of other women, I used to avoid wearing shorts during physical activities because I didn’t want to deal with the chafing. I’m not really sure what changed other than the fact that I got fed up with weird tan lines from capris-style leggings, but I finally ditched my solo-allegiance to leggings and started switching things up with shorts. So my thighs haven’t changed, but my running gear definitely has. Here is how I deal with chafing.
Use an anti-chafing stick
My favorite product is the For Her anti-chafing stick from Body Glide. It’s easy to use, just apply it on any areas where you normally experience chafing. For me, that’s my thighs. It comes in a convenient deodorant-style stick so you can bring it with you if needed, and a lot of women also use this product to prevent sports bra chafing or on their arms.
Wear some bike shorts
I have several pairs of shorts with the built-in liners. The liners stay put while I’m walking, but the moment I start to run they roll right up and disappear under the edges of my shorts. Highly ineffective for preventing chafing, so a better option is to wear a pair of bike shorts underneath your regular running shorts. It’s more expensive up front than buying an anti-chafing stick, but it will be cheaper in the long run.
Buy moisture-wicking underwear (or men’s underwear)
Moisture-wicking underwear will help prevent any sweat from moving too far past south. Even if thigh chafing isn’t a huge concern for you, wearing underwear that wicks away moisture is still a good idea when exercising. Cotton is also pretty breathable, so if you’re hesitant to shell out a lot of money for underwear designed to wick away moisture, try wearing long-legged boxer briefs under your shorts. These will protect your thighs and it’s normally pretty cheap to pick up a pack.
Treat chafing immediately
Even if you do everything in your power to prevent chafing while running, it can still happen from time to time. It’s best to treat the chafed area immediately. Start out by washing the area with warm water and a gentle soap. Dry the area thoroughly, and moisturize. If the chafing isn’t too bad, go with a high-quality lotion like Eucerin or use some coconut oil. If the chafing is particularly bad, petroleum jelly might be better.
Don’t let a fear of chafing while running stop you from getting out there and trying it. You could find out once and for all that it’s not for you, or you could discover that it’s your new favorite thing.
