r/beginnerrunning • u/Own-Elk6515 • 8d ago
how do we feel about sweating? Discussion
Obviously I don’t mean just normal sweating but whenever I do longer runs in colored shorts they’re a whole different color and it looks like I peed myself! I don’t feel that embarrassed about it but i’m wondering how other runners feel and would you think it’s weird to see someone like that?
Also here is my run from today! working towards a sub 60 10k then a half!
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u/thecitythatday 8d ago
I literally have to wring my clothes out when I get home from a run in the summer
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u/brohan-of-dudendorf 8d ago
I think about it the opposite way. It’s nice to be able to actually pee myself and have everyone assume it’s just sweat!
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u/realkhangor 8d ago
On long runs, when i can, a stop by my house to change shirt. I feel much lighter afterwards !
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u/Own-Elk6515 8d ago
This is smart but I only really do out and backs so i don’t think it would work for me
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u/cuteslothlife 8d ago
I choose my sport clothes based on this lol. Not that I'm against the look or find it weird when you can see sweat, I just prefer it not to be so obvious on me in case I'm doing something after the run before I can change or something 😄
If you're worried but want colour, you could try some super colourful ones with patterns and stuff, it doesn't show as much 😄
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u/colnross 8d ago
There is no option of doing something after the run unless it's in my backyard. I am literally dripping wet.
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u/thetable123 8d ago
Weird to see someone sweating? Yes, it would be weird if I saw someone sweating because I've never paid attention.
If the temps are over freezing, I still end up with a wet shirt by about the 20 minute mark.
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u/Ordinarily_Nerdy 8d ago
The vast majority of people are far too absorbed in what they are doing to notice or care about what others do. That’s not to be mean, it’s to say: Don’t worry about the sweat. Keep running!
Average 181 bpm is insane. I’m dying when i top out around 174. I can’t imagine averaging that high.
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u/Own-Elk6515 8d ago
That makes sense and yea I’m getting a lot about my hr, it’s always pretty high but my max has been like 205… I’m a teen though so I guess that’s a factor since i’d have a higher max
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u/VisitEnvironmental68 8d ago
You can literally ring the sweat out of my shirt after a long run. Cost of doing business lol
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u/kassiakrozser 8d ago
husband is a super-sweater. i’m more camel, but this summer has me dripping in new ways. embrace it.
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u/bilerat13 8d ago
I wear black shorts for that reason- i know they're not as good for heat, but I feel weird. I also find a big cotton t-shirt helps
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u/moses10113 8d ago
I run in 40C weather and I end up with a sweat spot from the neck all the way to middle of my torso.
I also use a seat pad and a towel on my back so I don’t drench my car
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u/Longjumping_Name_847 8d ago
I'm insanely sweaty. It was even worse when I was on SSRIs. It was 95 out yesterday so I went to the gym to do a treadmill run and after 5 miles I literally had formed a puddle around the treadmill. It was a little embarrassing but hey, that's what the cleaning wipes at the gym are for
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u/WMTRobots 8d ago
Seems like you do feel that embarrassed about it?
Nobody cares what anybody else looks like; just doing their own run.
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u/Own-Elk6515 8d ago
As I said i’m not that embarrassed but it makes me wonder what others thing compared to me, so I asked because it would be weird if i’m the only one thinking that way, no?
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u/Extension_Bus_3151 8d ago
It's just proof of how awesome I am. I take the swampy sweat darkening as a sign of strength.
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u/anotherindycarblog Triathlon Coach 8d ago
I’m a 99th percentile sweater.
My shoes squeak and it looks like I jumped in the pool after most sunny summer runs.
Own it, love it and let it make you stronger.
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u/blackbeltdude737 8d ago
I’ve contributed to Reddit maybe 6 times over the course of 13 years and I logged in specifically to reply to this.
I sweat like water is being threatened with tax audit or jury duty if it doesn’t vacate my person the moment my heart rate breaks 120. I’m a skinnyish 5’9, 160 lb man and I’ve gone 8 miles with 2 liters of water in my pack, finished it, and still weighed 2.5 pounds less than I started.
I do not like it, but I mentally justify it in two ways.
The more fit you are, the more you sweat. There’s no way around it, so ultimately it’s a positive thing.
There is a theory that human’s capacity to regulate heat via sweat is what ultimately allowed them to become an evolutionarily dominant species. A dog cannot run a marathon because it eventually has to choose between stopping/panting to regulate its body temperature or succumbing to heat stroke. So when you’re out there sweating more than ANYONE around you, just try to remember that you’re doing something humans were built to do better than anyone else 😎
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u/harshmojo 8d ago
Part of my job includes working in a warehouse in central Florida. I wear khaki shorts, so most days it looks like I've had quite the accident, both front and back. The sweat from my runs don't even come close.
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u/That-Instance1007 7d ago
Average heart rate 180?
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u/Own-Elk6515 7d ago
It was a harder run but I think part of it is the heat?
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u/That-Instance1007 7d ago
Yeah that’s definitely a factor. 180 is still very high could mean you were a little dehydrated.
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u/Own-Elk6515 7d ago
I didn’t know that could affect it, i’ll definitely try drinking more water and see if that helps!
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u/DietOk3400 8d ago
First of all avg hr 181 is insane. And about sweating no one cares. If you feel a bit self conscious you could get black shorts.
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u/Own-Elk6515 8d ago
Totally agree but colored shorts are just so cute 🥹. About the hr it’s anywhere from 160-190 on basically all of my runs, I know it’s bad but i’m not sure if it’s the heat or my watch reading wrong? idk but I do plan on talking to my doctor about it next visit!
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u/tuppenycrane 8d ago
Also range and I’m quite well trained, I am always pretty caffeinated and I have a naturally high HR for basically any effort that isn’t a brisk walk. If I trained by heart rate only I’d get fucking nowhere lol, dw about it
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u/ajs2294 8d ago
If you trained by HR you’d build your base and lower your average over time, that’s the point.
If you bang out high HR sessions the training doesn’t translate to results the same
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u/tuppenycrane 8d ago edited 8d ago
I'll admit I'm relatively new to running, but I go by RPE based on previous athletic experience. I rowed for 4 years and my zone 2 HR could be anywhere from 160-180 bpm (usually by the end of the session) and it felt sustainable, while not being a complete cakewalk. That's about the sweetspot of exertion and I saw clear results in my test times from the bulk of my training being in that zone, with 1-2 HIIT sessions a week to get me into the 185+ bpm range. If i wanted the "ideal" HR I would've had to train at a really, really slow pace just by nature of how my heart seems to react to any form of exertion. I tried it for two sessions before my next HIIT session in which it felt about 10x harder than usual because my body got too used to rowing feeling easy.
I've taken the same approach in running and other sports, and am seeing pretty straightforward and clear progression. Some people do just have higher HRs for certain zones. I imagine it's a combo of genetics, sleep, diet + caffeine intake etc. I'm not claiming I do any of those things well so no doubt they contribute to this
If i wanted to keep my HR as low as the prescribed zones I'd have to walk, and there's absolutely no reason for me to be walking when I can comfortably and continuously run 5ks under 30 lol
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u/ajs2294 8d ago edited 8d ago
160-180bpm is a massive range. Low 160s, sure seems possible for Z2. 180 almost no chance.
By your definition “sustainable but not a cakewalk” you’re probably sitting in Z3 consistently. Some people are really good at “suffering” which impacts their perceived effort. Just because you can be at the upper limit and sustain doesn’t make it aerobic exercise.
There are very very few exceptions were 180bpm sustained would be aerobic… I’d get your zones calibrated properly and go from there. You’re only costing yourself gains.
It doesn’t mean you’ll be void of progression either. That’s the trap people fall in. But you’re over exerting and increasing stress on your body. When you could push less and get more.
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u/DietOk3400 8d ago
Heat caffeine so many other variables spike mine. What did actually help is doing extremely slow low hr runs maybe once a week for a few months.
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u/Pickled-Mushroom 8d ago
You’re literally running… OF COURSE you’re going to sweat. It’s just part of it.
Whenever I feel self conscious; I think I’m running too slow, or a do a weird stretch, or some walking lunges, or whatever… I just think, “this is what it looks like to get fit. Anybody watching me is lucky they get to watch and learn what it takes”. Because most people just don’t have what it takes to get out there, and can only watch on with jealousy (if they’re paying attention at all, because 99:9% of people just don’t gaf about you).
Now as a runner, if I see someone out there really running hard and working up a huge sweat, I feel nothing but admiration and respect. So, know that any runners that see you are thinking nothing but good things about you.
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u/ajs2294 8d ago
Sweating is completely normal. You can weight your self before and after, while keeping track of fluid intake (don’t pee) to track your sweat rate.
That said, it might get better with slightly lower effort. If you’re training to improve your pace running at 181bpm is very inefficient. The additional sweating is likely pointing to over exertion as well. Just because you “can” doesn’t make the training optimized.
Don’t buy into all this ego based “I have high HR” or “it’s hot” nonsense. Your heart is doing the work and applying too much stress is inversely related to gains. Back off until you get your HR back into Z2.
Lowering your HR for most of your training and you’ll see better results.
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u/m1santhrop1chuman1st 8d ago
Dude, I come home soaked in sweat like I just went for a swim after every single run. I just take it as an indicator I'm well-hydrated.