Running - Blister Issues

[slow]

Okay, so I am going to do my first (and only) running marathon...

I am up to about 40 miles/week in mileage. I am starting to get some serious blister issues around my toes and the balls of my feet.

Any advice?

To this point, I have been wearing comfortable broken-in but low mileage shoes (triplicate with rotation) and a good pair of white tube socks.

I have gotten conflicting advice to prevent blisters -- some people say to tape the feet dry, while others have said to lube them up using either BodyGlide or Chamois Butt'r. Someone added that I should keep a sterilization/lancing/taping kit in my drop bag for emergencies.

I have some time and ~250 more miles to test out different methods. Opinions? Products?

Also, the goal is just to survive as I do a 5 mph death shuffle. It doesn't have to be pretty as long as I finish.

[jackback]

way back in the 70's early 80's i ran long distance. i had the same issues until i ditched the socks and slowly broke my feet into the various running shoes. i felt the socks always changed the pressure area on my feet and they couldn't develop the needed skin toughness where the shoe itself pretty much had the same pressure spots.

[ekw]

To this point, I have been wearing comfortable broken-in but low mileage shoes (triplicate with rotation) and a good pair of white tube socks.

(I am an absolutely terrible runner, so I'm not sure how helpful this will be, but...)

Did you get your shoes at a specialty running shop? I used to have terrible blister problems during attempts at running (which I did for my one and only triathlon) and once I got shoes fitted at an actual running store, my feet were much happier. It turns out my left ankle/foot do some weird motion every step and so something about the soles of the shoes was important.

The other thought I have, and this comes from hiking rather than running experience, is about your socks. I switched to using Smartwool socks and my feet were much happier. I think they make a running sock too.

[pwb]

Any advice?

Schedule an appointment with your nearest mental health professional ASAP. Clearly, there's something wrong with your mental state to contemplate this. Pheidippides didn't have a choice but to run; you have lots of alternate modes of transportation to move you 26.2 miles.
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheidippides"][/ame]
But, if you are committed to this, then I'd suggest the cause likely has something to do with ...

Any advice?

... and a good pair of white tube socks. [/QUOTE]

My wife's a runner and she swears by high quality running socks from one of those fancy running stores where all the staff look like they just jogged into work for warmup.

[jaadams1]

Schedule an appointment with your nearest mental health professional ASAP

Awesome!

Any advice?

Honestly...(as in PWB's joking above)... don't. I don't. I swim, but that's because my ankles and one knee wouldn't take the punishment.

[Fresnoid]

I'm pretty experienced at running. I've run a lot of half marathons & won the Masters Division of our regional Runner of the Year series last year.

Definitely get shoes from an informed running specialist. You want a good fit but also a shoe that is designed for your foot type (mainly arch) and for your particular stride mechanics (degree of pronation)

[aztimm]

... and a good pair of white tube socks.

My wife's a runner and she swears by high quality running socks from one of those fancy running stores where all the staff look like they just jogged into work for warmup.

+1.

I've run 3 marathons, and I won't even consider running now in anything but my Balega ankle socks. They're not cheap; I've found them on sale at RoadRunner for $8, but they usually go for around $12 a pair.

I'd swing by a local running shop and take a look at some quality socks. Yea it isn't cheap, but the alternative isn't helpful either. And if you want to comfort yourself, just look at almost anything involved with cycling (bike, shorts, jersey, helmet, shoes, even cycling socks).

[Fresnoid]

+1.

I've run 3 marathons, and I won't even consider running now in anything but my Balega ankle socks. They're not cheap; I've found them on sale at RoadRunner for $8, but they usually go for around $12 a pair.

I'd swing by a local running shop and take a look at some quality socks. Yea it isn't cheap, but the alternative isn't helpful either. And if you want to comfort yourself, just look at almost anything involved with cycling (bike, shorts, jersey, helmet, shoes, even cycling socks).

Yeah, I missed from the initial post that slow is wearing "tube socks" - probably unshaped cotton blend. Definitely go with running socks.

I'm not so sure about aztimm's other advice such as a helmet. That tends to make me overheat when running.

[aztimm]

I'm not so sure about aztimm's other advice such as a helmet. That tends to make me overheat when running.

Lol, I meant to comfort himself (I'm assuming OP is a he) for spending so much on running socks! Take a look at anything cycling-related, and the cost of running (or swimming) pales in comparison.

[slow]

Thanks for the replies.

I am now the proud owner of three pairs of Coolmax socks. More later!

[FR.LLC]

[QUOTE=pwb;277842]Pheidippides didn't have a choice but to run
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheidippides"][/ame]

Hi-Tech in 500 BC would have been bare-feet or running sandals, and he probably didn't get blisters.

[thrasher]

Okay, so I am going to do my first (and only) running marathon...

I am up to about 40 miles/week in mileage. I am starting to get some serious blister issues around my toes and the balls of my feet.

Any advice?

To this point, I have been wearing comfortable broken-in but low mileage shoes (triplicate with rotation) and a good pair of white tube socks.

I have gotten conflicting advice to prevent blisters -- some people say to tape the feet dry, while others have said to lube them up using either BodyGlide or Chamois Butt'r. Someone added that I should keep a sterilization/lancing/taping kit in my drop bag for emergencies.

I have some time and ~250 more miles to test out different methods. Opinions? Products?

Also, the goal is just to survive as I do a 5 mph death shuffle. It doesn't have to be pretty as long as I finish.

Your shoes may be too small...it's a fairly common problem among those who take up long distance running. Your feet can swell during longer runs, thus pushing them into the toebox, causing pain and blisters. My street shoe size is a 10.5, and I could (and NEEDED to!) wear an 11 or 11.5 during my marathon training. You just don't want them to be so big that your feet slide around when running.

[jim thornton]

Both my sons were on the high school cross country team, and there is a cheap and easy answer to your blisters.

Duct tape.

It sounds like a joke but it's not. Cover your blisters with a bit of duct tape. Works much better than a bandage and prevents further friction.

I use it during the tennis season when my feet are unused to land sports, and it works like a charm.

Expensive socks? Better shoes? Badges?

We don't need no stinking badges!

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqomZQMZQCQ"]We don't need no stinking badges! - YouTube[/nomedia]

[slow]

The irony is my girlfriend is a very good runner. She made a couple of early suggestions, but then started distancing herself the same way a swimmer might avert their eyes to someone taking 100 strokes to swim 25 yards.

This weekend we did a local 10 miler. I finished fifteen minutes ahead of the racewalkers. But the good news -- not a hint of blisters!

This coming weekend I am supposed to do 20 miles. That will be more of a test.

[Fresnoid]

The irony is my girlfriend is a very good runner. She made a couple of early suggestions, but then started distancing herself the same way a swimmer might avert their eyes to someone taking 100 strokes to swim 25 yards.

This weekend we did a local 10 miler. I finished fifteen minutes ahead of the racewalkers. But the good news -- not a hint of blisters!

This coming weekend I am supposed to do 20 miles. That will be more of a test.

Be careful about your mileage. The general rule is don't increase your mileage by more than 10% from one week to the next. Otherwise, you are much more likely to get hurt.

[jaadams1]

Be careful about your mileage. The general rule is don't increase your mileage by more than 10% from one week to the next. Otherwise, you are much more likely to get hurt.

I'm going to remember this one, especially for my running training.


Currently at:
0 miles per week of running
x 1.10 (to increase by 10%)
--------
0 miles per week of running for next week.

I can handle this! Thanks for the suggestion!

[jim thornton]

I'm going to remember this one, especially for my running training.


Currently at:
0 miles per week of running
x 1.10 (to increase by 10%)
--------
0 miles per week of running for next week.

I can handle this! Thanks for the suggestion!

You, sir, are Wenachatee's finest!

[jaadams1]

You, sir, are Wenachatee's finest!

Thanks! ...and close enough to the spelling, I'll give it to you.

[aqueoushumor]

A few years ago, I did 2 marathons in one day (my first and last). But I do like the half marathon distance. Couple things I like...Balega socks and Duct tape. 5 mph is hardly a death shuffle. Every time I read that book, the tortoise wins. How long does it take the average person to finish a marathon? The average person doesn't do a marathon!!
Good luck.

[slow]

Quality socks from a running storeTM plus liberal application of Vasoline has seemingly solved my blister problem.

I think if I had more time to prepare, I would look at the duct tape approach with no socks. But this is a one shot deal and I only intend to survive the seven hour cutoff.

Re: Distance...I am following this training plan where I do a long run every OTHER weekend. I had already done a 17 mile so the jump to 20 was not too dramatic.

Re: Shoes/size...The make/model were professionally (?) fitted at a tri-store. They said I had good running mechanics (in terms of not hurting myself). I am already 14+ so have been doing all my running in size 15s.

So far all of this running has been an interesting experience but not one I intend to repeat in the future. Looking forward to getting back to the water full time!