Is there ANY cure for a beetroot face?

[runningnearbeirut]

Thanks to this programme I can now run 5km in just less than 30 minutes. My breathing is much faster than Laura's recommended rate (I can only do 2 strides for in then 2 strides for out). Otherwise I'm feeling ok when I get back and recovery doesn't take too long... BUT my face is ALWAYS bright pink/red from about half way round (even if it's not particularly hot out).

Is there ANYTHING I can do? I take water with me and drink some on the way round - poured some over my face the other day as I felt particularly warm! I don't overheat anywhere else when I run (well obviously I sweat, but I don't change colour!) and generally feel the cold rather than suffer from the heat.

[Beek Graduate]

A cold shower when you get back! I get beetroot face very quickly too! Feels like your face wants to explode and burst!

[runningnearbeirut Graduate]

Maybe I should have asked for "prevention" rather than "cure"!

[ksed Graduate]

If so please let me know!!!! I'm usually violet after 5k!!

[dottiemay Graduate]

When/if I remember, I put on some foundation before heading out. Doesn't completely 'cure' it, but looks more like a healthy glow than a glowing beacon!

[katee1958 Graduate]

I have the red face syndrome as well, I just thought it was because I was unfit LOL

[ju-ju- Graduate]

I get that every time... I wear my beet root face with pride as evidence that I've DONE IT... Effort, exhilaration, graft... What on earth is wrong with that? How boring if our faces looked the same all the time?

[ju-ju- Graduate]

I get that every time... I wear my beet root face with pride as evidence that I've DONE IT... Effort, exhilaration, graft... What on earth is wrong with that? How boring if our faces looked the same all the time?

[DavD Graduate]

I'm afraid there's not much to do about it. I've heard that proper breathing during exercise help minimize the beetroot effect a bit but I don't see any real improvement since I've tried! Lol. So like Juicyju, I just wear my tomato face proudly, proving everyone including myself that I've worked out really hard.

[NineChooks Graduate]

I try to avoid the mirror when I get back - it's not kind - ha ha

[nomoresloth Graduate]

I agree completely with juicyju and DavD, we earned our beetroot face with hard work and I think everyone should see how hard we worked out. I keep having this wonderful colour up to 60 minutes after a run so if I have something important to do after a run I have to make sure I go early enough to have my usual colour again when its needed.

The only thing that irritates me every time is that, after 3/4 of the run, I can see the sides of my bright pink nose (Call me Rudolph!). I don't have an exceptional large nose but the colour change makes it more visible to me than usual. Of course the rest of my face has the same colour as my nose but I'm not able to see it (until I look in a mirror at home).

[sofaqueen Graduate]

Me too, I go like a beetroot really quickly whatever he weather but to me it means I'm working hard. I love that glowing feeling when I stop that tells me that I've achieved a good fitness session and I also wear my red face with pride

[vixiej Graduate]

it shows that your blood supply is getting to the surface, bringing nutrients to your skin, which will keep you looking younger for longer - enjoy it! (This it what I tell myself if I accidentally catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror.)

Vix

p.s. if you want to improve the breathing, trying yoga, it can really improve your breathwork

[suki_007 Graduate]

I found that I was totally, completely and embarrassingly beetroot when I first started, but now it is much better, more of a brightish glow(!) - although in this hot weather sweat drips into my eyes, which is another not great look! Maybe you will find that as you keep running your beetroot-ness will lessen!

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Salad cream!?! Sorry just me being flippant I used to go purple in the early days, now just a very bright healthy pink'ish but rather wet most days as I drip with sweat. Its a healthy glow don't worry about it, it shows you have put loads of effort into your run.

[nomoresloth Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

Lol, Oldgirl, your "salad cream" made me re-read all the posts to see if anyone had really adviced salad cream... well, I also read bacon instead of beacon (dottiemay's post) so perhaps it's just too late for me