Runner's tan

[Brit]

What do you do to combat runner's tan? The correct answer is to probably to properly apply sunblock before every run, but clearly I haven't been as good as I would like to be about doing that.

Anyone else have permanent shorts and socks?

[gummybear]

I tan through SPF 50 so yes, I have this issue. Even though it smells like ass, during then "tan" months I slather myself 2x a week with self tanner to even it out. I also alternate bras and shirts (like, a racerback one day, a regular old tank style the next). It's much more obvious on my shoulders than my legs.

[Susie]

I have a cycling shorts/jersey sleeve tan right now. No sock line yet, but it's coming.

Confession: I've considered joining the town outdoor pool and trying to do some midday swims to combat it a little. I don't know if that's realistic, but the thought crossed my mind.

[shorewife]

Isn't running glamorous?! I don't think there's much you can really do other than run really early or really late in the day?

[kams]

Along with white shorts & shoes lines, I have the brightest white stripe on the inside of my elbows.

[taratru]

I have a permanent sock line. All winter long, there it is. I've just given up.

[emilyj]

Nothing. I wear sunscreen religiously, but the fact that I swim outside from April - November means I'm going to battle funky tan lines no matter what. I just give up and embrace them.

[finallykrisb]

I use the gradual self tanning lotion. And I try to run in short shorts and racer backs to combat the tan lines from cycling.

[aurora]

The only thing I do to combat it is sunscreen, but I mostly use that to reduce my risks of skin cancer so less dramatic tan lines are just a side benefit.

[ebeth]

another perma socks and shorts checking in. and now that I have a garmin I'm getting to work on a horrific garmin tan line.

also, maybe it's because I'm a POC and my skin loves the sunshine, but sunblock just keeps me from burning. I still get darker with sunshine exposure and it doesn't take much either.

[Wines Not Whines]

Yep, same here. Sunblock doesn't prevent me from tanning either. It just prevents me from burning. I tan VERY easily.

[texassmith]

I embrace it. I have a permanent racer back and 3" compression shorts tan. Makes me look like a boss when I take the girls to the pool

[jillybean222]

i wear sunscreen and i still get a terrible racerback tan.

[breezy8407]

Yep socks and shorts and white shoulders. Oh and giant Garmin line on my wrist. I embrace it and am admittedly bad about sunscreen.

Normally I don't care much since I am almost never in a swimsuit, but I am in a wedding in August and need to not have white shoulders and really tan arms. I am going to look into spray tanning because I haven't seen any workout bandeau tops yet

This whole suntan concept is lost on me right now though.

[sadlebred]

I have a perma-cyclist tan. I don't worry about it although I slather on sunscreen. In the rare case I have a "nice" event like a wedding to dress up for I make get a fake (spray) tan.

[keweenawlove]

I've learned to accept it. Mine's going to be worse this summer since I've been wearing compression sleeves.

The only summer I worried about it was the summer before my wedding. I really didn't want a racerback line with my strapless dress. It was a huge PITA to be worried about.

[Deleted]

Yep - I accept it too. Tank top tan. Blah. And I had it for my wedding. It wasn't noticeable in person, but you can definitely see it in the photos. 

[osulori]

My legs don't get color when I run whether I wear sunscreen or not (but I still do)...my upper body is a different story. I spent all last summer living in SPF 50 in the hopes of not having tan lines in my BM dress at my sister's wedding in August, and yeah. It didn't completely help :$

[sockerheel]

SPF 50 and self tanner. And running in as little clothing as possible!

[Deleted]

I try to mix up what I wear so that at least my tanned parts blur into my pale parts. Running isn't as bad as cycling. I burned my arms on a ride last summer and I ended up with a perfectly straight burn line across both arms, people commented that the line was so perfect that it looked like a used a ruler.

[derbycitycook]

May 1, 2013 10:22:04 GMT -5 kams said:

Along with white shorts & shoes lines, I have the brightest white stripe on the inside of my elbows.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one! My students are starting to comment on it. 

[mrs.jacinthe]

I get terrible swimsuit lines. If I need to get rid of them, I just see my favorite airbrush tan artist. LOL It's the only sure-thing method that I've found.

[MrsE]

I don't. I still have the racer back tan lines from last summer. I pretty much have permanent tan lines year round... and I'm OK with that.

[wildfloweragain]

It's one more reason why I like to run before the sun gets up.

[runaways]

I just have to embrace it. Takes too much effort for me to do anything else!

[Deleted]

Slather on the sunblock and then use self tanner. I went out for my first daytime run yesterday during lunch and saw noticeable short lines when I got back. Talk about sexy...I had tanlines from my sports bra the day of my wedding. Decided to go for a run before the craziness and I tanned. I need to figure out how to photoshop those tanlines out.

[Brit]

ditzydi - You're in Texas, yeah? Isn't it crazy hot there already for a mid-day run? It was 84 in Indiana the last two days. I felt like I was breathing in steamy shower air as I ran - ick!

[Deleted]

May 2, 2013 5:32:15 GMT -5 Brit said:

ditzydi - You're in Texas, yeah? Isn't it crazy hot there already for a mid-day run? It was 84 in Indiana the last two days. I felt like I was breathing in steamy shower air as I ran - ick!

Yep.  Texas.  It's been pretty mild this year and when I went out for my run the other day I *think* it was in the 80s and overcast.  I've been trying to turn into a morning person so I can get my runs out of the way when it's cooler.