New-Skin Liquid Bandage, Anti-Chafing Spray and Liquid Spray Bandage.

We all love to talk about how many mile we run, how fast we are going, or what races we are doing. I know I do it all the time… heck, most of this blog is built around that. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been doing this running thing for several years. I have found out what works for me and what does not. That doesn’t mean that everything is constant. I’ve had a busy first part of the year with running numerous races.

Training this summer:

As part of my cool down from so many races, I am getting back to basics. That means (still) more miles on the road, but focusing on running consistently without so much recovery time. No matter how many marathons you run, there is still some built in recovery time. I’m going to enjoy keeping my weekly milages high and try to avoid peaks and valleys in total distances.

Part of my staying out there will be aided by New-Skin. This summer I’ll be testing out some products (one of which I already had to use during a race) and sharing my journey with you. There are a few things (besides injury) that can slow us down and impeded our progress as a long-distance runner. Let’s take a look at two of them:

Blisters.

The one way to absolutely ruin a run, or a race. Not only does it bring a screeching holt to your activity, if it gets worse and goes untreated, you can be sidelined for weeks as it recovers. Weeks of not running it NO GOOD for a runner. As you may remember, back in April I experienced blister symptoms in the early miles of a 50 mile race. Nothing like running 38 miles after a blister develops, right? Well, since then my feet have been in the “tender” zone. I thought I was in the clear until the San Diego RnR marathon in early June. Again, a blister started to develop in the early miles and I was left running the last 18 miles with a dollop of Vaseline hoping to get me to the finish line.

Two weeks later, I would be running the San Francisco Marathon with concerns of the area giving me issues again. I had a couple options:

1. I could try to put an adhesive over it and pray that it stays in place, doesn’t quit and end up floating around in my sock.
2. Give New-Skin a try… and at 4 in the morning, I was applying New-Skin Liquid Bandage to my right foot on race day.

San Francisco Marathon, June 2013

New-Skin® Liquid Bandage and Liquid Bandage Spray

About:
New-Skin® Liquid Bandage and Liquid Bandage Spray can be used to help prevent bacterial contamination in minor cuts and scrapes. Both dry rapidly to form a tough protective cover that is antiseptic, flexible, waterproof, and lets skin breathe.

Just one stroke or spray protects the wound by keeping out dirt and germs and provides protection against infection with an antiseptic.

How it works:
The active ingredient in New-Skin® Liquid Bandage and Liquid Bandage Spray is 8-Hydroxyquinoline, a first aid antiseptic. Available with a brush-on applicator or spray, New-Skin® Liquid Bandage can be used to protect minor cuts, scrapes, blisters and hangnails.

Quoted from New-Skin Fact Sheet

I went with the brush-on applicator version (pictured right in the photo above), It went on pretty smooth and was almost like applying a nail hardener (yes, I have an older sister). It went on as a liquid and dried pretty quickly. It was kinda cool as it supplied a protective shield over the area. I was generous with it as I needed it to hold on for the entire marathon… and it came through. 3 hours and 51 minutes of running up and down San Francisco and experienced no issues.

Both the brush-on applicator and the spray are also an antiseptic treatment for small cuts and wounds. It’s nice to know that in the middle of a run, rather than slapping on Vaseline, you could not only protect the area, but start the healing process. Thankfully, I didn’t have an open wound so I can’t speak for whether it stings or how it interacts with the wound. But I can definitely tell you that I will have this handy for future running concerns. I’ve run with adhesives over blisters and even the good “name-brand” versions have given me issues in the past.

Chafing.

Mention it to a long distance runner, or triathlete and most can relate to having an issue at one time or another. Hopefully, it is not a reoccurring issue for most of you. The first couple years of my running days, it was part of the ritual. I would apply a roll on chafing “solution” to problem areas and log the miles. I thought this was normal and part of the routine. Thankfully, I don’t have to do it as often as I used to. I actually rarely have a need for it anymore.

New-Skin® Anti-Chafing Spray

About:
New-Skin Anti-Chafing Spray is a waterproof silicone-based formula that prevents and soothes chafing and blistering from friction or rubbing.

How it Works:
This easy to use, no touch spray application goes on as a thin protective layer and creates a barrier against friction and moisture.

Quoted from New-Skin Fact Sheet

The cool thing about this, in comparison to the roll on version I previously used, was it was easier to apply to a general area. With the roll on applicator (if you had a rubbing issue like your inner thigh), you had to roll to the specific area hoping you were getting the “trouble area.” With the spray, it’s much easier to cover a more general area. Covering more ground with the spray is better than covering too little with the roll types. Also, this does not have a “chalky” residue like some other anti-chaffing products (think deodorant).

It might not be fun and exciting to talk about the maintenance that keeps us out there, but it is just as important as hitting those splits. I’ve experienced being sidelined due to allowing time for recovery, but in the cases like SFM a couple weeks ago, time was not on my side and I was glad to have a solution already handy. Thankfully, I don’t come across too many chaffing issues, but I know that it is a frequent problem with plenty of runners. One thing to consider with Halloween a few months away is to think about some potential rubbing issues with your costume. Wait, we are all running in costume for Halloween, right?

New-Skin is available at most over the counter drugstores, grocery stores or pharmacies. Here are some other ways you can stay connected or tap if you have any questions about their product line: website, twitter, facebook.

New-Skin® recently conducted a survey finding that 66% of people cite general fitness, exercise, conditioning and overall well-being as their motivation or reason for running. New-Skin has been providing active skin protection for over 100 years. Get outdoors and be active with New-Skin.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of New-Skin. The opinions and text are all mine.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of New-Skin.  The opinions and text are all mine.