A determined marathon runner shocked crowds who came out to cheer on the participants with his blood-soaked T-shirt after he forgot to lube up his nipples for the race.

Joey Zmudzinski warned others of the perils of running without taking the appropriate precautions, when he posted the wince-inducing snap of his T-shirt with blood streaked down from his nipples.

The 38-year-old was running the 13.1-mile race in Memphis, Tennessee, when he realised three-quarters of the way through that his stiff nipples had begun grazing against his cotton top.

READ MORE: Stoner WWE star RVD’s wild new life with ‘Twerk Queen’ OnlyFans wife and weed business

He claims he had to battle the last four miles of the Great American River Run in severe pain, after he had forgotten to apply a plaster or a lubricant beforehand.

I was in a lot of pain. I looked down and that's when I thought 'oh wow, I'm bleeding'.
'I was in a lot of pain. I looked down and that's when I thought 'oh wow, I'm bleeding'

The dad-of-two, who shared the shocking moment on Thursday (Feb 9) to warn others to protect their nipples ahead of spring races, was left with 'raw' nipples for days and they took a week to heal.

Joey, from Bryant, in Arkansas, US, said: "I was in a lot of pain. I looked down and that's when I thought 'oh wow, I'm bleeding'.

"I didn't realise I was bleeding [at first]. I had music in my ears so didn't pay attention when my nipples start bleeding until we got to the ninth or tenth mile."

My nipples took about a week to heal
'My nipples took about a week to heal'

To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here .

"It was painful but I just kept pushing. I had to push myself past knowing it was going to burn.

"I kept pushing and instead of taking off my shirt, I just went with it.

"I was worried when it first happened. I thought it was crazy.

"The first shower and first 24 hours sucks then they scab over. Then you have a scab on your nipples and just like if you fall or scrape your elbows, you bleed a little bit then it returns to normal.

"My nipples took about a week to heal. They were raw for the first 48 hours then it scabbed over.

"My advice would be to put plasters on your nipples or look into nipple covers, or run without a shirt. Your body's going to warm up anyway.

"I was over it - I was ready to get the race over with."

Blood streams down Joey's T-shirt after the extreme chafing
Blood streams down Joey's T-shirt after the extreme chafing

Joey first started running five years ago and has since completed 15 half marathons and two marathons after dropping more than 3st.

He has now advised runners try shirtless jogging to avoid a similar fate.

Joey said: "I did my first marathon about four years ago. I thought 26 miles was stupid - but then I signed up for another one.

"I just recently dropped 43lbs and got back into my running. I was talking to my fiancé and I was telling her I wanted to do a full marathon.

"A lot of guys run without their shirts on. This picture is from a couple of years ago but since then, if I have bleeding nipples or I know I'm going to run, I'll tape them up with band aids.

"After the third or fourth mile, you get that runner's high. You get in this high where you just roll with it."

READ NEXT:

Follow the Daily Star US on Facebook

All the news, entertainment, sport and fun stuff you love about the Daily Star, brought to you by our American team.

Give the Daily Star US Facebook page a follow to make sure you're not missing out.