Q: Is it true that elite marathoners don't wear sunblock during races? Why?
—Andy Brownstone, via e-mail
A: It's true, Andy, and it has to do with these athletes being able to optimize their body's thermoregulation. Put simply, sunscreen could mess with the body's ability to keep itself cool. What researchers suspect is that the oils from the sunscreen might be clogging the skin's pores and preventing the sweat from evaporating. Or, the oils change the way sweat spreads over the skin and is able to evaporate. Research shows that waterproof sunscreens with higher SPFs - anything over SPF 15 - reduces the body's ability to sweat. It's this evaporation of sweat, over large swaths of skin, which cools the blood flowing near its surface. This colder blood, in turn, helps cool the rest of the body.
For elite athletes pushing themselves at their maximum sustainable intensity, staying as cool as possible could play a critical factor in their performance. I won't say whether it means the difference between a first place finish or a last place finish; there are too many other factors involved. But, at the highest level of competition, where the difference between first and last place is so small, the person who's able to stay the coolest should have an advantage.
REALITY CHECK
OK, before this goes any farther, let's get one thing straight: CTS is not endorsing that anyone ignore lathering up with a sunblock before heading outside to train or even to compete. We can't guarantee that you'll enjoy a faster performance because you're not wearing sunscreen or a sunblock. However, we can guarantee that you put yourself at a much higher risk of developing skin cancer if you head out without a sunscreen or sunblock covering your exposed skin. Also, recent research out of Oregon State University disputes the theory that sunscreens limit a body's ability to stay cool. Where's there's any doubt, we advise you to play it safe. Wear sunscreen. |
This isn't to say you should go out and let your skin burn to a crisp. Sunburned skin actually presents its own problems. Much like oily sunscreens, the dead skin cells clog the pores and prevent sweat from evaporating. For this reason, it's more important for athletes competing in long events such as ultra-endurance competitions, adventure races, and even marathons and century rides to use sunscreen. Due to the length of these events, the advantage of going sunscreen-free is negligible compared to the serious disadvantage of trying to finish with a painful sunburn.
At the elite levels, an athlete will train while wearing a moderate sunscreen and stay adequately hydrated throughout to insure he or she sweats enough. Over the course of many hours, his or her skin will change into a deep, dark tan that will delay the onset of a sunburn. On raceday, he or she will skip the sunblock, drink plenty of water, and avoid the sun at all costs until the start of the race. Only then will they expose their skin to direct sunlight.
By Dean Golich, CTS Coach
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