OK, anyone else race in socks?
I know it’s, like, not cool. But my running shoes rub the top of my toes, and without socks, they’re bleeding within two miles. And my bike shoes just aren’t real comfortable without socks- the tongue digs into my foot. (I could live with that, but why bother?)
I figure putting on the socks only costs me a few seconds in T1. But how many cools points do they cost?
Well… they cost you a lot in “cool world”…
Since you are already doomed, you could try and NOT to doom you more:
NEVER use those cheap socks that you bought in the local shop, usually they are white and have a raquet ball on it… if you use them, you would loose like 150 points.
If you use yellow socks, be sure that they have “nike” on it. That’s cool. 40 extra points 
DON’T EVER pull them up your knees (as Leder did in Roth)… that’s GAY! If you do… you loose 200 points.
Cut your socks so people wouldn’t see them. You will keep your feet, people would never notice and you also get 50 points of bonus for the hard work of cutting them.
Just kiddin’…
It will cost you like 30 seconds in T1 and that could really suck but… if you are a MOP’er… what a heck… use them! 
I used to wear sock on both the bike and the run, but over the winter I worked on sockless biking on the trainer. I now have callouses on the tops of my toes and have gone 116 mile rides without socks.
Shoes, on the other hand, I still have to wear socks - still can’t avoid the blisters because I sweat alot. I have changed to the real short socks (per a recommendation of one of the ladies on slowtwitch) and that has reduced my T2 times. Maybe next year I can work on sockless : )
It will cost you like 30 seconds in T1 30 seconds?! I don’t have arthritis, man. Maybe 5-8 seconds.
**if you are a MOP’er… what a heck… use them! **Danged elitist! 
I wore socks in my first ever triathlon. They had about the same degree of coolness in that race as my riding my old steel 12 sp with clipped pedals, no aero bars and my swimming in a 7mm scuba wet suit.
I’ve never done any of these cool things since!
But, with the socks, comfort is more important than coolness. If they prevent blisters then wear them.
I always bike sockless and then by T2 my feet are relatively dry and I put on socks for the run. I routinely come out of T2 about 5-7 seconds faster than my training partner who goes sockless on the run. I found that I lost a lot more time on the run if I went sockless and got blisters than if I was comfortable.
I usually wear socks for the run if it is a half or full IM and not for anything shorter and never wear them on the bike. The only exception that I make is when I’m doing a race (like in Kingston this weekend) as a speed workout and will probably “waste” 10 seconds or so to make sure that I have socks and no blisters for the 15k which might impact my training next week. I used to be a track runner in school and never put socks on inside my spikes so I’ve never worn them in my cycling shoes and rarely need to in my running shoes.
I don’t normally wear socks for an Oly, but when I did my first 1/2 I put 'em on (just for the run).
Once I get the whole shoe issue sorted and some more miles in my legs I might forgo them for longer runs again.
If there’s a chance of blistering however, take the 7-12s hit and put 'em on. Blisters can cause you tens of minutes, if not more.
I always wear socks. But then again I’m only doing duathlons right now.
If you race du’s sockless you gain 50 dork points. 100 if you get blisters
I’ve worn socks in every race since 1988 (run/bike/swim – bring back memories?), sprints to full IM. Cool factor? Not a factor for me. Time? I’m a BOP/MOP competing against myself. Since I always put on socks, it’s no big deal. Do what is most comfortable for you.
David / FEY2K
Bloody shoes are the most uncool thing in all of T3 (OK, maybe next to bloody nipples…). Think about that as you slide your socks on.
Personally, I don’t bother on sprints, but will without question on 1/2’s or greater. I also lube the hell out of my feet before any race.
The problem could be your shoes not the feet. A good pair of running shoes should let you race everything to olimpic distance without socks with no big problems. This should be more or less trial and error, there are lot different shoes that works for me but not for you, socks will only hide a poor shoe for your feet.
Anyway i use socks only for long course tris…oh and any distance duathlon of course
I always wear socks. I have never thought about it in terms of cool. I guess it is not cool. But blisters are not cool either. Limping because of a huge blister is not cool. Stniking shoes is not cool,
The new asics kayano socks are very cool.
Putting the socks on takes me excatly 2 seconds per foot.
My PB or target time has a built in four seconds for blister avoidance strategy.
I used to do all the sprints sockless. But, now, I live in an area where the races tend to have sandy soils and usually have at least some trails/dirt roads. The trash always cuts/rubs my foot around the shoe collar, so, I wear socks on the run portion of the race. I found it’s much better to lose a couple of seconds during the race, than to lose the ability to train for a few days after a race due to raw spots on my feet that need to heal.
There’s a better solution. But try it in training a few times first to make sure it works for you. Buy liquid bandage in the little green spray bottle and spray several layers on your toes. (let each layer dry first) Works like a charm for me.
-Robert
For me, 1/2 IM and IM yes - anything less no. I’d say if you are looking to get to the podium, I’d forget about socks, otherwise who cares if you lose 30 seconds to a minute.
vitus, if I ever see you at a race I promise to tell you that you’re cool, and that I too will be wearing socks on the run.
The problem could be your shoes not the feet. A good pair of running shoes should let you race everything to olimpic distance without socks with no big problems.
Well, yeah. It isn’t really a shoe “problem,” though. They fit right and all, I’m not talking about getting blisters in the usual sense. But they have a seam on the upper that rubs the top of my toe. Other than that, they’re fine. When they wear out I’ll probably try a different shoe.
vitus, if I ever see you at a race I promise to tell you that you’re cool
kittycat, that’s very kind of you. But you really shouldn’t make promises that you can’t, in good conscience, keep. ; )