Protect Yourself From the Sun with a Running Cap
I went to the pasta dinner the night before the 2010 Boston Marathon and happened to sit with some veteran runners in their 70's. They were impressively fit, but their skin was a bit leathery from overexposure to the sun.
I'm very careful to apply sunscreen before I run, no matter what the season. But sunscreen isn't always enough. For extra protection from the sun, a running cap is a great thing to wear.
When I interviewed Shalane Flanagan earlier this year, she said that she almost always wears a cap when she runs to help protect her fair skin from the sun while logging miles at high altitude.
I have a Nike Dri-Fit Featherweight Running Cap, which has a Velcro strap to adjust the hat to fit your head. While the Velcro allows for a snug fit, when you through the hat in the washer, the expose loops catch on the hat and cause it to "pill".
Recently, I had a chance to try a running cap from Jack Rabbit Caps. Jack Rabbit Caps have stretch elastic, rather than Velcro. They come in two sizes, Small/Medium and Large/Extra Large. Women's caps have an opening for a ponytail.
Jack Rabbit Caps come in two different fabrics, a moisture-wicking polyester mesh for warm weather running and medium-weight wool flannel for cold weather running. The wool cap can be purchased with or without ear flaps.
I like the polyester Jack Rabbit Cap. I use it on my long summer runs. It's lightweight and cool and keeps the sun out of my eyes. It fits very comfortably and securely, without being too tight. It washes easily and dries quickly.
Jack Rabbit Caps cost from $25-35, depending on the type and fabric. You can also get your cap personalized with up to 2 lines of 20 characters, which makes a nice gift. For Race Directors or teams, you can get custom running caps made with your logo or design.
Do you wear a running cap? What kind do you wear? Tell me in the comments.
Disclosure: I received a Jack Rabbit Cap for evaluation.
Related Posts:
New Sunblock Can Be Applied to Wet Skin
You Can’t Outrun the Sun
Do You Need Sunglasses For Running?
Interview with Shalane Flanagan
