Why should you trust me with scrubbing? Well, I once ran the equivalent of 67 marathons in 67 days with a 25-pound backpack. This is my toolkit for anyone who wants to avoid pain.
Lubricant: Anti-abrasive agents such as petroleum jelly or special balms are your best protection against chafing. Even if your carefully chosen fabrics let you down, generous layers of lube can save the day. You can’t afford to be shy. Especially below. You want to make sure you get to the places you rarely go.
Go seamlessly: I choose shorts, leggings, base layer shorts, t-shirts and running base layers that are either seamless or have flat seams. I always check the seams of the integrated twin shorts and rarely trust the inner briefs integrated into regular shorts. If in doubt, wear the underwear you trust.
Tighten: I prefer tighter, form-fitting layers to looser-fitting clothing. It sounds counterintuitive, but fabrics that stay in one place, close to the skin, work better than loose fabrics that move around more.
Avoid cotton: Cotton is heavy and can be abrasive even when dry. Getting wet from salty sweat is a disaster for your soft tissues. The layers that touch your skin should be made of synthetic or wool-based fabrics. These dry faster and reduce friction.
Powder your toes: Blisters are essentially a sore, nuclear wound and can be more difficult to avoid. Powdering my feet and socks can help reduce moisture that increases the risk of chafing and hot spots.
