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Running sockless
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So, for those of you that are running sockless, how long before you stopped getting blisters? I eased into it, going 1-2 miles before going back to socks, etc.

However it's been about a month now, and while I don't get blisters in the original spots, I am getting blisters in new spots almost every run. Smallish (Less than a pencil eraser) and I don't notice them, but Sunday left me with a dime sized one in a new spot on the right side of the heel.

Any ideas as to why they keep coming up in different spots each time? How long before they stop appearing?

Currently doing between 20-30 mpw.

John



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Re: Running sockless [Devlin] [ In reply to ]
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Re: Running sockless [stickboy1125] [ In reply to ]
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For best results, wash and thoroughly dry your feet before applying. Wiping alcohol between toes after drying also helps reduce moisture. Pour one level teaspoonful of BlisterShield into each sock. Shake the socks to spread the powder uniformly. For added protection, apply additional BlisterShield behind your heel after the sock is on.

Since the post was about running sockless, which I'm doing so I don't have to mess with socks in transition, not sure how that recommendation is applicable. Or do you just shake it into your shoe?

John



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Re: Running sockless [Devlin] [ In reply to ]
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just put some directly in your shoes and shake them a bit to spread the powder around.
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Re: Running sockless [Devlin] [ In reply to ]
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I'm not sure that successful sockless running is a matter of conditioning your feet. I think it's a matter of finding the right shoes with the right fit and the right lace tension.

My guess is that you will not be successful running sockless in your current shoes.

FWIW, I only race sockless. I get blisters every time, but I tolerate it. But it's only one spot and it's from a seam inside my racing flat. I can either coat that spot on my foot with liquid bandage or try to put a dab of vaseline in that spot in my shoe.

I assume you are trying to develop the sockless skill in training hoping it carries you over to racing? It would be pointless if your training and racing shoes are different.

That's my speculation anyway.
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Re: Running sockless [jyeager] [ In reply to ]
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In Reply To:
I'm not sure that successful sockless running is a matter of conditioning your feet. I think it's a matter of finding the right shoes with the right fit and the right lace tension.

My guess is that you will not be successful running sockless in your current shoes.

FWIW, I only race sockless. I get blisters every time, but I tolerate it. But it's only one spot and it's from a seam inside my racing flat. I can either coat that spot on my foot with liquid bandage or try to put a dab of vaseline in that spot in my shoe.

I assume you are trying to develop the sockless skill in training hoping it carries you over to racing? It would be pointless if your training and racing shoes are different.

That's my speculation anyway.

That's what I was wondering about on the lace tension. The small blisters are gradually going away, I've found that I need to lace tighter than I normally would. This new one was weird, I hadn't even had a blister in that spot before. Think maybe I was looser than usual on the laces.

And yes, my training/racing shoes are the same brand/model/size.

Oh, and I'll look into that powder the other poster suggested. Thanks!

John



Top notch coaching: Francois and Accelerate3 | Follow on Twitter: LifetimeAthlete |
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Re: Running sockless [Devlin] [ In reply to ]
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I rub some glide stick on the insides of my shoes in key places and that seems to help avoid blisters.
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Re: Running sockless [Devlin] [ In reply to ]
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I also, only race sockless and train with them.

I was getting minimal blisters but saw an interview with one of the pro's that mentioned putting vaseline on the tongue of the shoe to make it easier to get into and decrease blisters. I have done this and have had not problems since. I also put a dab in the back of the shoe just in case.
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Re: Running sockless [wickedcheezit] [ In reply to ]
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In Reply To:
I also, only race sockless and train with them.

I was getting minimal blisters but saw an interview with one of the pro's that mentioned putting vaseline on the tongue of the shoe to make it easier to get into and decrease blisters. I have done this and have had not problems since. I also put a dab in the back of the shoe just in case.

Yeah, I haven't had any at all related to the tongue of the shoe. Mostly along the inside line of my (mostly flat) arch, and those are disappearing, and one on the right heel at the top of the shoe, and now the one on the right side of the heel about 1/2" above the curve. I'm thinking both of the ones on the heel were caused by lace tension.

I still get the small ones along the line of the arch, but don't even feel those until after, and figure those will disappear as my feet toughen up.

John



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Re: Running sockless [Devlin] [ In reply to ]
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depends on the shoe. with my asics trainers, it never got comfortable. with my newton racers, it was comfortable the first time and I've never had a blister. some shoes are nicer to your feet that others I guess.

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Re: Running sockless [jockeys] [ In reply to ]
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when the Zoots first came out, I immediately bought a pair, spoke to the store rep and he said they are meant to wear sockless. I said "Sweet". Went for a 6 mile run and ended up with major blisters. All I could do was laugh. I do like the Zoots and still run in them, but I still get blisters.

Like others, I use vaseoline and tolerate the blisters come race day. The powder stuff the previous poster mentioned does sound interesting, however.
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Re: Running sockless [jyeager] [ In reply to ]
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I'm not sure that successful sockless running is a matter of conditioning your feet


So, calluses don't prevent blisters? Have you ever worked in construction/cut grass, etc before?

Blisters can be caused by alot of things, but will most certainly be prevented with calluses.

With the perfect shoe, sized perfectly, you can probably prevent blisters, but conditioning your feet to the shoes you currently have is another approach.
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Re: Running sockless [LSUfan4444] [ In reply to ]
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I've been a runner for thousands of years. I have yet to have a friction spot turn in to an impervious callous. The only callouses I've ever developed are on the outside edge of my little toes and on the pad of my foot between the big toe and it's neighbor.
No blisters have ever calloused...only bled and scarred.

How about you? Ever gone running barefoot in a new pair of shoes, gotten a blister on your first run, kept at it every day and had it become a nice tough callous? Ever just HTFU'd your barefoot running and succeeded?
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Re: Running sockless [jyeager] [ In reply to ]
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spot on.

i'm back (finally) to 6-8 miles daily now and increasing, with Gel-Ohanas and no socks. save for a couple small spots, my feet are, and always have been, soft and smooth as the proverbial babies hiney.

Train hard...race well.
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"Jim, I happen to agree with you" DougStern
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Re: Running sockless [Devlin] [ In reply to ]
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I think your feet do get stronger and blister less over time. While I agree that no spot is impervious to blisters, i believe the more you run sockless, the tougher your feet get and the less they blister. Or at least thats been my experience. I would have to say that the shoe fit is the most important thing to consider. I think it would be safe to say that some shoes are just not good to wear sockless.

One trick that worked for me on heel blisters is just putting some duct tape along the heel of the shoe... Also body glide works wonders on the tops of my toes and arches.
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Re: Running sockless [Devlin] [ In reply to ]
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With my first pair of zoots, I had to work up some calluses and use body glide and vaseline. With the 2nd generation of zoots though, I don't have a single problem with any runs under about 12 miles. The most important thing is the type of shoe and how well it fits. Most of my friends run sockless just fine in several different types of racing flats without any body glide or vaseline. I just use zoots because they fit my feet better than any shoe I've ever tried and I really like the way they feel.

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Re: Running sockless [golfer17] [ In reply to ]
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I get some chaffing on the outside of my ankles on both sides with my Zoots, but I can tolerate that on race day up to 10K. I train in socks and race in socks for distances over 6 miles. Blisters come and go during the season, and I just deal with them.

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Re: Running sockless [natethomas] [ In reply to ]
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Seems like everyone loves the Zoot line. Is the new generation of them really that good?

John



Top notch coaching: Francois and Accelerate3 | Follow on Twitter: LifetimeAthlete |
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Re: Running sockless [Devlin] [ In reply to ]
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 I use the Saucony Type A3 & now the A4, always barefoot. On race day I will put some Gold Bond Talc in my shoes just to dry up any moisture. if I feel a hot spot on a run I will put Body glide on that area before my next run. I also make a point of wearing a new shoe for half a day or so for breaking in.
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Re: Running sockless [jyeager] [ In reply to ]
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Ever gone running barefoot in a new pair of shoes, gotten a blister on your first run, kept at it every day and had it become a nice tough callous?

No, my feet have been conditioned to the types of shoes I run in, and I have been running in the same style and size shoe for years. They aren't zoots or Newtons, but instead the Asics 2100 series (most definitely not a sockless shoe).

The only time I get blisters is at the start of tri season when I have spent most of the winter running with socks for marathon season. I'll get a few blisters in march or april, then they are gone for the rest of the summer.


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