BLISTERS!!

HelenAnne

I am a tragic figure, cut down in my prime, a halt put to my gallop … by blisters!
Not really looking for advice – I know it’s trial and error re socks / shoes etc, just want to wail and complain.
I thought I was getting on well – 8 or so weeks from the marathon, no injuries, not too tired, a few 17s and an 18.5m run done, and PBs in half-marathon, 10-mile & 2-mile in August. So I was trucking along nicely, and now I can hardly hobble thanks to a really painful, repetitive blister on the outside of my big toe. I’ve never suffered from blisters before, but this one is quite persistent. I left it alone, it burst, I covered it up, a new one formed, I burst it, I covered it up, I covered it with an extra padded plaster, a new one formed – it’s like a mountain range of burst blisters now.
I am getting anxious about my planned 20-mile on Sunday now ...

Cabaal

Since I started running I've been lucky enough with blisters, only got them towards end of a marathon and nothing major for the most part,

Had awful problems at the start of this year though, an awful lot of pain before a long race in Feb. Only way I was able to run it was those compete blister patches and 1000 mile socks. blister patches are the business.

I have to say that any blisters I have had I've never burst as I figure this is only inviting further issues,

HelenAnne

Cabaal wrote: »

Since I started running I've been lucky enough with blisters, only got them towards end of a marathon and nothing major for the most part,

Had awful problems at the start of this year though, an awful lot of pain before a long race in Feb. Only way I was able to run it was those compete blister patches and 1000 mile socks. blister patches are the business.

I have to say that any blisters I have had I've never burst as I figure this is only inviting further issues,

Thank you! I might try those socks. The first time, it burst itself in a race (a 2-miler, and I didn't notice how much it hurt until I stopped running - mind over matter I suppose!), then I burst the second-generation one as I couldn't get my shoes on with it. I'm wearing TWO Compeed blister patches now!

robinph

I would usually only get them on marathons now, but when I have them post marathon the Compeed do the trick and I'd usually be able to run again with no problems. Have tried various things to prevent them during marathons, but nothing seems to totally work for me during the investigations so far.

spurscormac

At times I have found that I might get one if I'm wearing old socks.
I have some standard socks that I wear for training up to about 10 miles.

For races and longer runs I have socks with a little bit of cushioning on the sole - though one pair is worn through & needs to be replaced. Need to keep on top of it & discard the old ones.
It's trial and error really, what works for one person doesn't always for the next. And sometimes it might just be the seam of a sock has moved causing a hotspot & blister.

kingQuez

I've had my fair share of blisters but nothing too bad lately. These days I tape up anywhere that there are hotspots with some zinc oxide tape before or when a blister starts to form (its cheaper than compeede plasters!), and try to pay attention to how my feet feel during a run.

Back when I started running my feet had lots of hard patches and calouses, which are a disaster for blisters.. the blister forms but so deep in your skin that they take forever to grow out and heal, or else they form beside a hard spot and are forced to grow around the spot instead of going into it where they want to be to protect from the friction/heat you're generating. I usually try to keep them in better form these days (hack off hard bits early as prevention) and for the most part don't have issues anymore.

Cabaal

Actually forgot about this, I use this along with 1000 miles socks.
For me on marathons and long runs (say 18miles +) I've also found putting this stuff anywhere I find I'm blister prone tends to reduce the blisters I get. Works great on ends of toes etc

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000WDW28S/

RacoonQueen

I'm very lucky with blisters. Can pretty much wear any old socks and I'm fine. I use lunaracers in long races and they kill my achilles so I've to cover my achilles to prevent them there. Actually got one on my big toe in Frank Duffy but I burst that and it was fine by Tuesday.

Zinc oxide tape is a good suggestion. Just put it over that spot before every run and you'll be fine.

I think blisters are more of an incorrect shoe thing than a sock thing. For me I get them in one pair of shoes(I have LOADS of shoes) no issues in any of my others for any distance of run. Definitely not socks....and some of my socks are in tatters.

HelenAnne

RacoonQueen wrote: »

I'm very lucky with blisters. Can pretty much wear any old socks and I'm fine. I use lunaracers in long races and they kill my achilles so I've to cover my achilles to prevent them there. Actually got one on my big toe in Frank Duffy but I burst that and it was fine by Tuesday.

Zinc oxide tape is a good suggestion. Just put it over that spot before every run and you'll be fine.

I think blisters are more of an incorrect shoe thing than a sock thing. For me I get them in one pair of shoes(I have LOADS of shoes) no issues in any of my others for any distance of run. Definitely not socks....and some of my socks are in tatters.

Thanks! I'm blaming shoes too, actually - I'm alternating two pairs but they are both old-sh - well over 500 miles on them both. I have a new pair in the post (I hope!) so maybe that will help. I think it could be that they're worn down, as I haven't had blisters with the same shoes / socks / distances before.
Thanks everyone!

lway

Cabaal wrote: »

Actually forgot about this, I use this along with 1000 miles socks.
For me on marathons and long runs (say 18miles +) I've also found putting this stuff anywhere I find I'm blister prone tends to reduce the blisters I get. Works great on ends of toes etc

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000WDW28S/

Sorry but I just have to ask, when I followed the link above ( I recommend Bodyglide btw, very good stuff) there was the below in the Customers also bought section.

What is Lady Anti-Monkey Butt powder for

[IMG]http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/<a class=outboundlink data-outboundlink=http://www.boards.ie/out?f=972&url=aHR0cCUzQSUyRiUyRnBvc3RpbWcub3JnJTJGaW1hZ2UlMkY5aWJubzczNnAlMkY=&h=ea231 href=http://postimg.org/image/9ibno736p/ target=_blank >[/img]

Condo131

lway wrote: »

What is Lady Anti-Monkey Butt powder for

[IMG]http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/<a class=outboundlink data-outboundlink=http://www.boards.ie/out?f=972&url=aHR0cCUzQSUyRiUyRnBvc3RpbWcub3JnJTJGaW1hZ2UlMkY5aWJubzczNnAlMkY=&h=ea231 href=http://postimg.org/image/9ibno736p/ target=_blank >[/img]

Had to look it up! :rolleyes: This is the product description.

Condo131

OP...you could try some of my suggestions in this post a few weeks back.

mdlb

HelenAnne wrote: »

Thanks! I'm blaming shoes too, actually - I'm alternating two pairs but they are both old-sh - well over 500 miles on them both. I have a new pair in the post (I hope!) so maybe that will help. I think it could be that they're worn down, as I haven't had blisters with the same shoes / socks / distances before.
Thanks everyone!

I used to have a lot of problems with blisters, even with bodyglide/vaseline and 1000mile socks.

heard about these and got a pair and haven't had a blister since!!!
http://www.x-socks.com/men/running-short/135477/detail

Got them in Belgium so I'm not sure if you can get them in Ireland or maybe online

Dow99

These are the business for blisters and they are soooo comfortable to wear with extra cushioning in the sole.

http://www.drymaxsocks.com/extremerunning.php

They are not cheap,, €30 a pair, but they are superior to 1000 mile socks.

Yes €30 for a pair of socks is ridiculous, but they have transformed my feet from being blister plagued to blister free and therefore worth every penny!!!

You can buy them from http://www.ultramarathonrunningstore.com/ takes about 5 days for delivery.

dublin runner

I use Injinji socks. Brilliant sock but hard to get over here. Expensive but they last.

Well worth the money in my opinion.

HelenAnne

Thanks, everyone!

pico84

HelenAnne wrote: »

I am a tragic figure, cut down in my prime, a halt put to my gallop … by blisters!
Not really looking for advice – I know it’s trial and error re socks / shoes etc, just want to wail and complain.
I thought I was getting on well – 8 or so weeks from the marathon, no injuries, not too tired, a few 17s and an 18.5m run done, and PBs in half-marathon, 10-mile & 2-mile in August. So I was trucking along nicely, and now I can hardly hobble thanks to a really painful, repetitive blister on the outside of my big toe. I’ve never suffered from blisters before, but this one is quite persistent. I left it alone, it burst, I covered it up, a new one formed, I burst it, I covered it up, I covered it with an extra padded plaster, a new one formed – it’s like a mountain range of burst blisters now.
I am getting anxious about my planned 20-mile on Sunday now ...

Best piece of advice ive got about them is if they hurt burst them if they dont leave them go away naturally.
They just seem to be par for the course really not much you can do about them i find bar deal with the pain of it. You eventually get used to them and they wont hurt as much

pico84

RacoonQueen wrote: »

I'm very lucky with blisters. Can pretty much wear any old socks and I'm fine. I use lunaracers in long races and they kill my achilles so I've to cover my achilles to prevent them there. Actually got one on my big toe in Frank Duffy but I burst that and it was fine by Tuesday.

Zinc oxide tape is a good suggestion. Just put it over that spot before every run and you'll be fine.

I think blisters are more of an incorrect shoe thing than a sock thing. For me I get them in one pair of shoes(I have LOADS of shoes) no issues in any of my others for any distance of run. Definitely not socks....and some of my socks are in tatters.

Ive been getting a lot more blisters since i started wearing lunarracers, not sure are the size wrong for me or what. The only thing is i never during a race just afterwards when I take them off

BrandNewMedium

I would advocate a healthy application of talcum powder around the problem area pre run, certainly works for me.

HelenAnne

Thanks everyone! I am surprised at how popular this thread is. obviously I'm not alone!
Bought some 1000 mile socks at lunchtime, so we'll see ...
Thanks everyone.

BrandNewMedium

Be sure to flatten them and reshape them before washing, otherwise I find the two layers get out of sync, can be painful on the toes.

jmcc99_98

I have just gotten new runners - Asics GT 3000 and have got a blister for the first time ever (Previously had Kayano 17s and Saucony Omni 8's)

I am almost positive the blister was caused by the new runners, do you know if my feet will harden where the blisters have formed and thus the problem goes with time as my feet get used to the new runners or am I just likely to keep getting them? I had the runners well fitted by amphibian king and I like them very much (Much lighter than the Kayanos)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

RunningKing

Get a new pair of runners as well, actually get 2 pairs and alternate them.

jmcc99_98

@runningking do you mean abandon the new pair and get another new pair or alternate between the new pair I just bought and another pair?

ooter

i used to get really bad blisters on the balls of my big toes when i played football,the only thing that stopped it happening was a couple of layers of gaffer tape on the problem areas before playing.
nowadays i don't really get them when i run but i did get one last week after wearing a brand new pair of compression socks for the frank duffy 10k so i'd say wearing the correct socks has a lot to do with it.
where would one get that zinc oxide tape?

Murph_D

I have never had a blister from running. I use 1000-mile socks for all long runs. There's nothing special about my feet (I have gotten blisters from long walks wearing regular socks/shoes) so I think these socks work for me (plus my shoes fit well). Compeed is great - got walking blisters on recently and was still able to do LSR next day using it, so definitely a lifesaver (well, lifesaver is overstating it but you know what I mean).

hot to trot

To prevent blisters you really need to address the foot/sock interface and also the sock /shoe interface.

Presuming you have got the best fit of shoes that you can, here is my few bobs worth.

For shoe friction ENGO patches are worth checking out .

Double layered socks can be helpful as long as they fit well. I have short feet and I find the inner bunches up. I tried another pair recently and they took the skin off the top of my toes where the seam was . Doh! May also be worth getting think breathable liner socks and wear under regular socks.

Either keep your feet dry with talc or cornflour or else lubricated with vaseline, hydropel, or body glide stuff.

Taping ideally with breathable tape and proactively.

IF you get a big blister puncture it around the margins and drain it . tape it down tight.

Dont puncture a blood blister. Risk of infection is very high.

If its under your toenail , its worth sticking a needle under the nail or through the nail and draining it as the nail wont come off for months and the pain relief is phenomenal and instant.

ooter

hot to trot wrote: »

If its under your toenail , its worth sticking a needle under the nail or through the nail and draining it

whoa,too much information..:eek:

Dilbert75

I've 3 pairs of Brooks GTS12 Adrenaline runners, size 9. 2 pairs are width D, one pair is width 2E. The oldest pair of D + the pair of 2E are fine. Wearing the newest pair of D coincides with me getting repeated blisters on the tops of my second & third toes on my right foot. Some socks exacerbate it but they're fine with the other runners. Luckily they're nearly worn out now but it goes to show that sticking to the same model, size and fitment is no guarantee of no problems.

HelenAnne

Thanks again to all the blister-cure advisers. In case anyone wants an update on my horrible feet, I stuck on a Compeed, bought new socks (1 pair Hilly socks, 1 pair 1000 mile - 1000 mile slipped into my shoes under my heels, Hilly seem great), used talcum powder on my feet and wore my marginally less worn-out shoes for my LSR. Managed a 4-mile race on Saturday followed by 20-mile run on Sunday with only one small tip-of-toe blister to show for it. I threw so many solutions at my poor feet that I don't know what single thing improved the situation, but I'm happy with my weekend's running, and I love the Hilly 2-layer socks and think I will wear a pair for the marathon, so I'm glad to have discovered them. Thanks again, everyone.

Murph_D

Good that things have improved but personally I would not be happy with just a small blister. This thing is beatable! Keep eliminating the variables.

HelenAnne

I will! I'm expecting to be blister-free once my replacement shoes finally arrive - I think my shoes are the culprits - I've had one pair since mid-2012 and the other since the beginning of this year and at on average 40 miles a week that's probably too long ... waiting with bated breath for my new ones which have been in the post for WEEKS!

Pink11

Sorry for bumping an old thread. I never had issues with blisters before. I always invest in good socks but in the last few weeks I've been hitting some rough times.... with blisters!!!!!

I run up to 30kms at the moment but they are even starting to form towards the end of a 10k now. I've tried some tips I found online - wearing two layers of running socks and smothering the areas prone to blisters with vaseline before I head out. Although it helped I still had some blisters and pain.

I'm really down about this as silly as it sounds. I feel great and running long distance so comfortably and in good time. I feel like a baby but honestly the blister pain gets so bad it becomes almost impossible at times to continue. My feet feel like they are bleeding.

I'm getting the blisters on the inner side of both feet. In almost the exactly same area on each foot. After a run longer than 20/25km I find myself getting ones under my big toe on the balls of my feet.

I've seen a lot of recommendations for different brands of blister socks I've yet to try which I'm going to look into. Anyone else find anything new to report though?

Pink11

jmcc99_98 wrote: »

I have just gotten new runners - Asics GT 3000 and have got a blister for the first time ever (Previously had Kayano 17s and Saucony Omni 8's)

I am almost positive the blister was caused by the new runners, do you know if my feet will harden where the blisters have formed and thus the problem goes with time as my feet get used to the new runners or am I just likely to keep getting them? I had the runners well fitted by amphibian king and I like them very much (Much lighter than the Kayanos)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

I'm using the GT 3000's at the moment. Fantastic shoes. I was actually told to try the Kayonos though so find it interesting that you prefer the GT 3000s to them. Should I just forget about trying a pair of Kayonos do you think?

HelenAnne

Pink11 wrote: »

Sorry for bumping an old thread. I never had issues with blisters before. I always invest in good socks but in the last few weeks I've been hitting some rough times.... with blisters!!!!!

I run up to 30kms at the moment but they are even starting to form towards the end of a 10k now. I've tried some tips I found online - wearing two layers of running socks and smothering the areas prone to blisters with vaseline before I head out. Although it helped I still had some blisters and pain.

I'm really down about this as silly as it sounds. I feel great and running long distance so comfortably and in good time. I feel like a baby but honestly the blister pain gets so bad it becomes almost impossible at times to continue. My feet feel like they are bleeding.

I'm getting the blisters on the inner side of both feet. In almost the exactly same area on each foot. After a run longer than 20/25km I find myself getting ones under my big toe on the balls of my feet.

I've seen a lot of recommendations for different brands of blister socks I've yet to try which I'm going to look into. Anyone else find anything new to report though?

how old are your shoes? I started this blister thread, and I haven't had problems with them in ages now (hurray!) but sometimes I find i start to get them when my shoes are getting old and worn out.

clear thinking

Cheapo penneys runnin socks and vaseline do the trick, put on the socks and only then apply the vaseline to the area you get the blisters.

Pink11

Thanks for the replies. Helen, great to see you sorted the problem. My shoes are new. I carefully broke them in but now they are hurting out of nowhere. I really can't understand why this is happening!

clear_thinking: maybe I didn't put on enough vaseline then? Do you put loads on? I planned on doing 25km today after taking the weekend off to allow feet to heal. Decided the rain was a good enough excuse to post pone till tomorrow but glad I did as I think I needed to give my poor blister feet extra time!

Used to get them at the end of 2 toes.

Would wrap them in silk tape. Generally did the trick except they would be off by the end of a 30km trail run. But just put up with them really. Friend did the MdS and when you see what they endure you kinda think it's no biggie, again once you mitigate the damage with tale, socks, whatever.

clear thinking

Pink11 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. Helen, great to see you sorted the problem. My shoes are new. I carefully broke them in but now they are hurting out of nowhere. I really can't understand why this is happening!

clear_thinking: maybe I didn't put on enough vaseline then? Do you put loads on? I planned on doing 25km today after taking the weekend off to allow feet to heal. Decided the rain was a good enough excuse to post pone till tomorrow but glad I did as I think I needed to give my poor blister feet extra time!

Yes, about a teaspoonful, onto the sock at the blister point. After the first few times you can put less as there will be residue in the shoe itself.

Clearlier

It has been a while since I got blisters (thankfully) but the only way I found of preventing them was to tape up my the areas of my feet that normally got blisters beforehand. I used elastoplast but I expect that many other types of tape would probably work too.

Pink11

Thanks again for the tips guys. Will try them out and report back. Hopefully this will help others too!

lgk

Look up the book Fixing Your Feet book / site.

Pink11

Well, I decided to try the easiest tip again and .... it worked!

Ran 23k blister free tonight. I waited for my nasty painful blisters from my 30k run last week to fade away first and off I went tonight trying out the tips.

I PLASTERED the area with vaseline as I was told on here. AND plastered some on the OUTSIDE of my sock. It worked a dream. My feet don't even feel like I ran that distance. It's amazing!

Such a simply thing has made life so much easier. If anyone is suffering with even the smallest blister, please vaseline yourself up! You will run even better. Thanks again everyone.

lgk

Sudocrem is also good, antiseptic properties a bonus. If you can get the Body Glyde Liquified Powder, that is also good.

vanderlyle

I picked up a few blisters recently on the inside of my right foot. A callus formed around the area, and expanded as more blisters came and went. When a big blood blister appeared, I headed for the podiatrist. He scraped off the callus, drained the blood blister, and dressed it. He told me to lace my shoes very tightly to prevent my foot from moving within the shoe. And this seems to have done the trick.