Most of us probably experienced running in the sweltering sun this past weekend, and for some parts of the country, for more than a week! Because melanoma has personally affected my life, I am now very careful about running in the sun.
I am in no way saying not to run in the sun, rather I would like everyone to run “safely” in the sun. 
So how DO you running safely in the sun? Here are a few tips:
- Cover up when possible. I know this is hard in the summer months, but if you can wear a light weight t-shirt or tank made of a performance fabric, it is a lot easier to keep the skin protected.
- Wear sunscreen! I know many runners are hesitant to wear sunscreen for fear of it running into your eyes and burning. Trust me, I feel your pain. I had this happen to me in a race and it was very annoying and painful. There are a number of sunscreens now that are sweat proof and do work. You can also try wearing a visor or hat to prevent some of the sweat from dripping down into your eyes.
- Run in the early morning or evening hours when the UV index is lower. Although you can still get sun exposure, the sun’s rays are not as strong as these times.
Don’t forget your ears and lips! It is not uncommon to get skin cancer on your ear lobes or lips, as many people forget these areas of the body! Make sure you use sunscreen on your ears and a good lip product for your lips. I was recently sent some Aquaphor Lip Repair and Protect to try out. I love that it has an SPF of 30—it’s so hard to find lip products that have a higher SPF! It also stays on well and keeps your lips nice and hydrated! 
During the day, I usually just wear sheer lip gloss, and I am more than happy to replace it with this and keep my lips sun safe at the same time!- Don’t forget the sunglasses! Your eyes can be damaged by too much sun too—don’t forget to wear glasses that have UV protection and are polarized if possible. If you don’t wear sun glasses or a visor, you will end up squinting. When you squint, you can develop tension in your upper back. Stay sun safe and comfortable and wear sun glasses. You don’t have to wear special running sun glasses, though I do find them to be much more comfortable and lightweight.
What are your favorite products to stay safe in the sun?
30 Something Mother Runner was provided with a complimentary tube of Aquaphor Lip Repair and Protect and a gift card in exchange for providing my unbiased opinion on the product. Please be assured that all opinions and writing are my own unless indicated (by quotation marks).
Yes yes yes to all – I wear sunblock, definitely hit the ears and back of the neck, sunglasses always and a hat to help shade the face and protect your scalp. I usually get the target brand sports sunblock and it seems to stay on really well.
I always wear sunblock when out in the sun, but I never remember SPF on the lips. I’m so glad you pointed that out!!!!
I also have my awesome running specific sunglasses that I love so much!
I used the RIT wash in sunscreen for our clothes!
I definitely wear a hat when I’m outside and fairly often a very light three-quarter sleeve cotton shirt. Since I live in the Northwest I actually can get away with that even for activities most of the time. Sometimes I go for a T but never a tank. I could get better about the sunglasses. At my age I can already see the difference between areas that got more sun (hands, forearms) and those that didn’t.