For years I have hobbled and tiptoed through countless transitions (water to bike). So looking for solutions.
Current one ( just tried) is I tape a little hockey tape (hey I am Canadian) across the soles of my feet.
It seems to survive the water.
Years ago there was a well known AG guy, here in Ontario, who used to swim in his shoes…
(can’t imagine getting a wetsuit over those)
Who else has dealt with it and how.
When the ground is really rough, such as Lake Mead by Las Vegas, Nevada, I have placed dollar store flip flops as close as possible to swim exit. I also use them when the ground is cold or rough before a race begins. My Morton’s neuromas have rendered barefoot walking to be extremely uncomfortable.
Sometimes, I get them back, sometimes not. In the case of IM Cozumel, they were donated to Mexican charities, where shoes can be a luxury to some.
I recently did an event where the run to T1 was a pretty rough hiking path. I left a pair of old running shoes right at the exit of the swim, put those on, and then ran to T1. Pretty anyone who had done the event before the did the same. Otherwise you had to walk slowly and carefully.
Toughen up your feet? I walk barefoot outside a lot, and try to get in a half mile or so a week jogging barefoot. Might seem silly, but running barefoot doesn’t bother that much anymore.
I recently did an event where the run to T1 was a pretty rough hiking path. I left a pair of old running shoes right at the exit of the swim, put those on, and then ran to T1. Pretty anyone who had done the event before the did the same. Otherwise you had to walk slowly and carefully.
Have done similar at several races with rough transition terrain. Also did it at NYC Tri one year as I was worried about running >1/4 mile barefoot from swim exit to T1. Pretty sure doing so would have rendered me crippled
They changed the swim of IMAZ last year and we had to run what seem to have been at least a quarter mile from the swim exit to transition. It was cold that morning and running on wet and cold cement was painful for me. Xterra sells these Lava booties you wear for cold water swims. I don’t see why one could not buy them and use them when the race is wetsuit legal. I seem to think it is just a right of passage, everyone else suffers, so why not me, lol!
Toughen up your feet? I walk barefoot outside a lot, and try to get in a half mile or so a week jogging barefoot. Might seem silly, but running barefoot doesn’t bother that much anymore.
+1 to this.
I don’t run barefoot, but do spend a lot of time walking around the house, inside and outside, barefoot. Especially in the summer time. I think that helps.
I do not think you would survive the first week of the Zombie Apocalypse… 
Neuropathy isn’t something you can fix walking about barefoot, wish it was.
When you have spent a lifetime generally abusing your feet (as we all do) the nerves can become ultra sensitive.
Some more than others, depending on the amount of abuse I assume. (And no I don’t have diabetes.).
:0)
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I do not think you would survive the first week of the Zombie Apocalypse…
Rule #1 is cardio, he’ll be fine, even with painful feet he’ll beat the sedentary folk
At the xterra in Richmond, there was a quarter mile cobble / exposed aggregate concrete run. Plus swimming in the James river had its own hazards… they suggested aqua socks. I never tried, but i imagine the drag was quite high. Most others just put shoes somewhere by the swim out exit.
I just got used to running barefoot, which is different than walking barefoot. I tried doing the flip flop thing on one run to t1 that was quite rocky and eventually kicked them off and finished the run barefoot because running in flip flops was so annoying.