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Click to view davemacd76's profile Rookie
davemacd76
3 posts since
Apr 1, 2007

May 24, 2007 7:28 PM

Sweat: To wipe or not to wipe?

Hey,
I've just been wondering, when i work out I'll get that layer of sweat all over my arms, neck, face, etc....
I want to maximize the workout and keep sweating as much as possible. What is the best way?
Should I wipe the sweat away? Leave it during the workout? or is there no effect and does it not matter?
thanks again everybody.
Click to view run50096's profile Expert
run50096
53 posts since
May 24, 2004
1. May 24, 2007 7:52 PM in response to: davemacd76
Re: Sweat: To wipe or not to wipe?
Wipe, but use only one square.
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Click to view milkbaby004's profile Legend
milkbaby004
464 posts since
Jul 28, 2003
2. May 24, 2007 7:56 PM in response to: davemacd76
Re: Sweat: To wipe or not to wipe?
I am not interested in sweating as much as possible and am not sure that has any direct correlation to how good your training run was. However, unless you are trying to get some heat acclimation done, the more comfortable you are during your run, the faster you can do your training or the harder you can hammer it. I personally wipe some of the sweat away because it feels cooler, and heat buildup usually slows you down so you cannot complete your run at the desired training pace.
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Click to view bigapplepie's profile We're Not Worthy
bigapplepie
2,636 posts since
Dec 14, 2007
3. May 24, 2007 8:21 PM in response to: davemacd76
Re: Sweat: To wipe or not to wipe?
Why do you want to "sweat as much as possible"?
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Click to view melistic's profile Legend
melistic
839 posts since
Oct 11, 2007
4. May 24, 2007 8:28 PM in response to: davemacd76
Re: Sweat: To wipe or not to wipe?
Ew Dave. if it doesn't bother you don't worry about it, if you wipe don't flong it at me.
Mel
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Click to view Stevie Ray Lopez's profile Legend
Stevie Ray Lopez
532 posts since
Dec 3, 2007
5. May 24, 2007 8:29 PM in response to: davemacd76
Re: Sweat: To wipe or not to wipe?
All I know is "if it's yellow, let it mellow."
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Click to view JimR022's profile Legend
JimR022
1,008 posts since
Jan 16, 2002
6. May 24, 2007 9:22 PM in response to: davemacd76
Re: Sweat: To wipe or not to wipe?
I assume you're inquiring about it's 'cooling' effects. I'm not sure if a heavy layer of sweat will cool you better than a thinner layer (like what would be left behind after you wipe it)...the thinner layer would evaporate faster, and it's the evaporation that removes the heat...not the sweat itself.
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Click to view davemacd76's profile Rookie
davemacd76
3 posts since
Apr 1, 2007
7. May 24, 2007 9:49 PM in response to: davemacd76
Re: Sweat: To wipe or not to wipe?
about 'sweat as much as possible', thats a good point. I never thought about it, but I figured there was some correlation between that, and the level/quality of workout.

Ok thx everybody, and thx Jim.
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Click to view Ariann092's profile Legend
Ariann092
681 posts since
Jan 4, 2005
8. May 24, 2007 10:54 PM in response to: davemacd76
Re: Sweat: To wipe or not to wipe?
Tough question. On one hand, letting sweat sit makes me feel overheated. On the other hand, whenever I wipe sweat, the new sweat that forms seems much more likely to drip than the original sweat layer. Sweat dripping in the eyes seems worse than having a hot forehead (the body sweat doesn't bother me until I stop moving). There's also that factor of flashing everybody while I try to wipe sweat off my head with my t-shirt. Life is hard as a heavy sweater.
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Click to view jingchunyu's profile Pro
jingchunyu
66 posts since
Dec 14, 2007
9. May 25, 2007 8:38 AM in response to: davemacd76
Re: Sweat: To wipe or not to wipe?
Lick it to get electrolyte back
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Click to view dg12002's profile Legend
dg12002
622 posts since
Aug 26, 2003
10. May 25, 2007 8:45 AM in response to: davemacd76
Re: Sweat: To wipe or not to wipe?
Heavy sweater here. At times I wear a coolmax bandana outdoors only. The only time I wipe is when it goes into my eyes otherwise I love the sweat.

Indoors on the mill I wear coolmax clothes, rarely use my towel but it's there when needed. When I wear cotton shirts it just hangs there and keeps me hotter.

Use at least 1 square, take that Sheryl Crow.
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Click to view rolling1977's profile Pro
rolling1977
166 posts since
May 23, 2006
11. May 25, 2007 8:53 AM in response to: davemacd76
Re: Sweat: To wipe or not to wipe?
I used to take the front of my shirt and pull it up and wipe from the top of my head to my chin to relieve the tickling sweat drops. I found that I would feel hotter shortly thereafter, until the sweat came back. I have learned to wipe it out of my eyes only, now, and leave the cool wethead alone. I thought I was the only one who had considered the wipe/don't wipe question. Either you people are as strange as me, or I'm normal.........

------------------
Jimmy Legs
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Click to view NorthernElf's profile Legend
NorthernElf
214 posts since
Dec 14, 2007
12. May 25, 2007 9:54 AM in response to: davemacd76
Re: Sweat: To wipe or not to wipe?
Serious ? I don't think wiping or not has anything to do with your workout. It might have a negligible effect on how you FEEL during the run, in terms of cooling. However, as someone said, as soon as you wipe it, more comes, right ?

I just want to keep it out of my eyes.

Want to maximize sweat ? Eat salty food and drink lots of water....but what's the point ?
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Click to view racerboy's profile Amateur
racerboy
30 posts since
Feb 29, 2000
13. May 25, 2007 10:56 AM in response to: davemacd76
Re: Sweat: To wipe or not to wipe?
1 square....poke a hole in it...and use the single finger swipe method
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Click to view bigapplepie's profile We're Not Worthy
bigapplepie
2,636 posts since
Dec 14, 2007
14. May 25, 2007 11:40 AM in response to: davemacd76
Re: Sweat: To wipe or not to wipe?
Sweat has no correlation to the quality of a workout, particularly as most of your runs should be easy.

If sweat reflected the quality of a workout we could all move our treadmills in to the sauna.
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