Hi everyone, looking for some feedback. I am racing my first full distance at IMTX in April and I am wondering if I should wear socks on the bike and/or run. I have done a half without socks and no issues, I also train without socks. My training volume hasn’t increased exponentially as of yet to try out longer runs/rides without socks. So what do you do and why? Thanks.
It’s a lot of risk for what? 20-30 secs?
I’ve traditionally gone sockless for the bike, but am tempted put socks on before the bike next time, as bottom of feet were starting to get sore by end of bike.
It’s a lot of risk for what? 20-30 secs?
I’ve traditionally gone sockless for the bike, but am tempted put socks on before the bike next time, as bottom of feet were starting to get sore by end of bike.
I’m not thinking no socks for the time savings in T1 or T2, I just prefer to run and ride without socks. I like the feel of not wearing socks a personal preference, but having never done a full distance I am wondering if I am asking for issues/blisters.
Then yes, you are asking for blisters/issues.
What’s the point of asking when you seem to have your mind made up? Do what ever you want.
What’s the point of asking when you seem to have your mind made up? Do what ever you want.
Thanks for the reply, however, I don’t have my mind made up which is why I am asking. Not sure what you read that I have my mind made up.
What’s the point of asking when you seem to have your mind made up? Do what ever you want.
Thanks for the reply, however, I don’t have my mind made up which is why I am asking. Not sure what you read that I have my mind made up.
I don’t wear socks for anything up to 70.3. A full I wear socks. I probably wouldn’t blister and probably would be OK, but it’s not worth the risk. And you train without socks? Your shoes must stink!
Aero socks, bro. Those lycra ribbed style ones that are pretty tall. Even if it takes you 20 sec to put them on they are probably worth that in terms of aero losses during the full distance bike leg. Remember also, unless you plan on running sockless, you’re just swapping sock-put-on time from T2 to T1.
FWIW - 29 time Ironman - I have never worn socks on the bike. I went sockless for the IM run 3 or 4 times 25 years ago or so . . . really never had a problem; However, at some point I decided that socks were just a bit of insurance if a piece of debris, etc, got in my shoe. Hope this helps.
What’s the point of asking when you seem to have your mind made up? Do what ever you want.
Thanks for the reply, however, I don’t have my mind made up which is why I am asking. Not sure what you read that I have my mind made up.
I don’t wear socks for anything up to 70.3. A full I wear socks. I probably wouldn’t blister and probably would be OK, but it’s not worth the risk. And you train without socks? Your shoes must stink!
Thanks for the input! And yes I hear it from my wife all the time about the smell of my shoes lol
As far as the debris getting in your shoes, this was one of my concerns as well. On a training run its no big deal, just stop and remove debris but in a race the last thing I want to do is ruin my momentum.
If you do not wear socks on the bike and do not get any foot irritation, it is unlikely you will on race day.
The run is very different. A blister or many blisters can make 26.2 miles even more miserable. ALWAYS wear socks in a full distance triathlon.
Yes socks for the run. What if it rains, or just from dumping water/ice to stay cool your feet get wet? That is a terrible recipe for blisters. I have switched to Drymax socks the last few years because they are so great at pulling wet away from my feet and preventing blisters. And if you are wearing socks for the run, might as well also for the bike unless they cause issues with your bike shoe fit.
In my case putting socks on in T1 takes three times the time it takes in T2. Wet feet, feeling dizzy after the swim…
As others have said, socks on the run for me. But if you have done all of your training without socks, then you would want to make sure that you start training with them. You could have big problems if you try only wearing socks once or twice before you race. It might also take a few different types to figure out which work for you.
If you have done all of your training including testing things when your shoes get wet you can probably get away going without socks, but there is a risk you could have a bad day. Maybe think of it like not bringing a repair kit on your bike. You would probably save a few seconds, but if you get a flat you are in a bad place.
this will be seen as a joke by some but it is not. One of the advantages of socks on the bike is your socks will absorb the urine and mostly prevent it from running down to your shoes.
But wear socks on the run too. I can just about guarantee that you feet will not be dry for most of the run.
No socks on the bike. Socks on the run.
I appreciate all the feedback! I am thinking it is time to start trying socks, even if its just for my longer rides and runs to make sure I dont have any issues. When I did my half iron race I wore socks and if I remember correctly it was at the direction of my coach for many of the same reasons yall have posted. But I remember my feet being very hot during the ride.
I’ve never regretted putting on socks, takes maybe 10 seconds if you’re slow.
OP, if you were going to run an open marathon, would you wear socks? Whatever your answer is, it should be the same for the IM run.
I’ve never regretted putting on socks, takes maybe 10 seconds if you’re slow.
OP, if you were going to run an open marathon, would you wear socks? Whatever your answer is, it should be the same for the IM run.
Thats a good question and honestly I am not sure, good question to think about.
Answer: Socks.
Justification. It’s your first full race, you will not win. You will not get everything right, so this is a chance to see what you want to do differently in future races where you are going to be trying to perform to 100% of your ability. What you’ll find is that in the latter half of the run, you aren’t going to be running with your normal gait / style. Unless you normally run with a really poor style… So you aren’t 100% sure how your feet will respond to no socks when fatigues for 13 miles, even if you’ve done marathons.
Equally, you may well be fine on your training runs where you presumably aren’t on any sections of gravel. But even if you are 99% sure of the course, you can’t be sure there’s not an area where it won’t cut across grass (transition/ aid station?.). As mentioned, also be ready for the ‘helpful’ spectators with hoses that seem to do little but cause my feet to explode at the mere sight of them on the side of the run course and no amount of asking, begging not to be sprayed seems to get through.
FWIW Cameron Brown posted on Insta a few weeks back about this. He’s 10x IMNZ winner, and yet still made the mistake of going sockless on a half a couple of years back and totally ripped his feet apart on the run. Admittedly that particular course has 2x3km lengths of gravel path around an old volcano, and that’s where he got issues, but does show that it’s not the time that I am spending putting on my socks that is resulting in me not winning the events… Even I can put socks on in less than 3 hours in race conditions…