In article said:I'm a healthy, 33 year-old woman who runs, swims and does
aerobic activity and weights (as well as annual
triathlons) on a regular basis. Sometimes I take breaks
from running in the winter and whenever I return to
running, I am plagued by intense itching on my butt and
legs that sometimes spreads to my calfs and stomach after
about 10 minutes into a 3-5 mile run. This is the sort of
itching that makes me want to tear my skin off. It is
horribly uncomfortable. After several runs, the itching
goes away and only returns after another multi-week break
in running. Any ideas as to the cause and possible
solution (other than never taking running breaks)? Is this
a circulation issue or a fat-burning issue? People always
look at me with a blank expression when I describe this
problem but I was hoping veteran runners might have some
suggestions.
Thanks,
Michelle
Michelle,
A post from back in 1998:
In article <[email hidden]>,
(Robin Day) said:I've been back into training about 8 weeks after break of
a few months. Each morning when I get up I get really
itchy legs all over for a few minutes - it then goes away
- This has happened B4 in similar circumstances
- I doubt it's any allergy type of thing - like to changes
in soap powder and all that stuff. I's damned annoyying
- Any Ideas?
If my previous post gets here, it talks a lot more about
the issue.
Simply, the itchiness is the blood going through peripheral
veins which have not yet dilated enough to let the blood
flow freely. Once the blood vessels dilate the itchiness
goes away. On some women runners (especially beginners) you
see the red splochiness on the thighs...an indication of
what I'm saying. Also it's seen in people who get extremely
red in the face. Sweating for some has to be a learned
behavior...especially on the face where many people control
what they are feeling so you don't see it in their
face...again all that is non conscious behavior.
This is the post that arrived after the above and was sent
before it.
Ozzie
It is normal when coming back to running especially among
women...and probably if you're in a colder climate. As the
blood vessels dilate in your peripheral circulatory system,
the blood flowing through the vessels not yet used to being
dialated give one the itchy feeling. You can see in some
women that the legs get splotchy (medical term). The feeling
is one of having to stop and really scratch the itch or that
the itch can be so intense that it feels like one is
breaking out in hives. Often at that point one becomes
worried and stops running to diminish the itchy feeling.
Worked through the feeling with one women a number of years
ago. Because of the itchiness, the doctor prescribed an
antihistimine for the itchiness. Which only prolonged her
problem and pushed the natural process of the vessels
dilating and the itchiness going away.
At mile 1 the itchiness started and she wanted to stop. We
continue slowly for about 3 more miles. At mile 3 of the 4,
the vessels dilated and the itchiness went away. It can be
irritating...and in her case it was so intense that she
would stop each time it got that intense, afraid that she
wouldn't be able to continue and that the intchiness would
increase proportionately. So it prolonged the breakthrough.
For many who believe that sweating is unladylike, sweating
can be a learned reflex. You see some people whose face gets
beet red. Once they get to the breakthrough point, their
face finally begins to sweat...usually with a few beads of
sweat appearing on the nose and then the face breaks into a
sweat, the water evaporates and cools the blood flowing
through the vessels....and the flush disappears.
--
In health and on the run, Ozzie Gontang Maintainer-
rec.running FAQ Director, San Diego Marathon Clinic, est.
1975
