I run sockless for Sprint and Oly’s. I am doing my first HIM this summer and was wondering…
How many of you go sockless and if you do how do you ward off blisters?
If you don’t go sockless what are some of the things that you do in transition to help things move along faster?
Socks for HIM. Roll them up to get them on faster.
No socks for me. I don’t train with them and don’t race with them. The problem with socks in longer races is they get wet and wet will make blisters and slow you down. I race IMs and marathons sockless, I cant say blister free but I’m now at the point where I’m worse off with socks.
No socks for me. I don’t train with them and don’t race with them. The problem with socks in longer races is they get wet and wet will make blisters and slow you down. I race IMs and marathons sockless, I cant say blister free but I’m now at the point where I’m worse off with socks.
x2. But I can say blister free. The right shoes make all the difference. Haven’t run in anything but Zoots since 2010
x3
Never wear socks. Couple of marathons, couple of IM all sockless. No blisters. Also wear Zoots. Have done some longer runs in a pair of Hokas and did get blisters so I think shoe choice is important.
I went sockless for the first time at IMMT last year…it was the worst decision I could have made that day.
They were soaked coming of the bike (in an absolute downpour), so I figured the same thing…wet socks = blisters.
Nope.
I started running. 5k out and my toes/ankles/feet started to rub against bits of sand and damp material. It made the rest of the run an excruciatingly painful and a somewhat bloody experience.
My feet were blistered and mangled for the next 2 weeks thanks to my no-sock choice.
It sounds like it may work for some, but definitely not all. Perhaps if there was no sand/dirt/gravel, but I personally can’t recommend it.
You can’t just go sock less one day race day. You need phase out socks on short training runs. It takes time for your feet to adapt.
Zoot ultra TTs up to HIM distance. I train in them so get my feet used to them. The lack of cushioning is worse than the lack of socks though
No socks, no goggles, no towel in transition, no shirt unless it was required.
Not wearing socks for the run in my first HIM (seasoned sprint and a few olys done prior) was such a terrible terrible decision. Literally almost prevented me from finishing. I thought same…I train a good amount and can do oly without socks, why bother? Answer: bc the bike and run are literally more than twice as long and you never know what can happen with rain, hot spots in the feet, etc.
Unless you’re chasing a pro prize purse, is the 8 seconds or less to put them on in T2 really not worth the effort? Why not put them on? And if it takes more than 8 seconds to put socks on, you’re doing something wrong.
Add me to the Zoot Ultra TT camp. On my third pair with no blisters, but I condition my feet with regular sockless training runs. Shoebacca had them on sale for $35 two weeks ago (with free shipping, too). I bought a pair, but should have snagged several for that price. They are back up to $132 now.
https://www.shoebacca.com/zoot-sports-ultra-tt-70-z140100301.html
Add me to the Zoot Ultra TT camp. On my third pair with no blisters, but I condition my feet with regular sockless training runs. Shoebacca had them on sale for $35 two weeks ago (with free shipping, too). I bought a pair, but should have snagged several for that price. They are back up to $132 now.
https://www.shoebacca.com/...t-70-z140100301.html
I bought three! 
No socks for me at any distance. But then again I train like that and am blister free. Got so used to it that the sock fabric gives me issues.
Did a sockless HIM for the first time about 5 years ago, not long after going completely sockless, and I had lots of blisters that time. So if this is anything to go by it takes a good year maybe longer to completely get your feet trained to run sockless.
I can’t run without sox. Well, I can, but after as little as 3km, I start to blister up under my arch. I wear sox every single run. If I forget to pack sox for my lunch time run, I skip the run. I hate blisters. Actually, I now have a bag of spare stuff at the office so I don’t have to skip runs.
In one IM years ago, I ran the first half of the marathon in Thorlo sox (my favourite at the time), then at half way, switched to thinner sox as my feet swell quite a bit when I run longer distances. Worked a treat. While some may argue I lost 1-2 minutes changing sox, I actually didn’t. I save time, by not limping and hobbling with blisters.
I run sockless for Sprint and Oly’s. I am doing my first HIM this summer and was wondering…
How many of you go sockless and if you do how do you ward off blisters?
If you don’t go sockless what are some of the things that you do in transition to help things move along faster?
I also do mostly OLY…have done two IMs and three HIMs over past 18 months. Always run sockless (Zoots Ultra TT) but for the IM and HIM used different shoes with socks. If you haven’t run sockless for long distances in the past, I’d be hesitant about going sockless for your first HIM.
Just my .02, but I’d go with a brand of shoes that is designed to be sockless. I’ve gone 18 miles on trails in zoots, but 3-4 miles in my regular Sauconys without socks, I’d be limping
If I were you, I’d plan for socks for your HIM. The few seconds to put them on will more than pay off in comfort over the half marathon. I rarely wear socks for anything shorter than an Oly (racing), but I slather my heels/toes in Body Glide before the race starts.
too much of a risk running sockless in a HIM. I go sockless for sprints & OD and occasionally get a blister, but usually only have a few kms to go, wouldn’t fancy running 10km with a heel blister.
Just my .02, but I’d go with a brand of shoes that is designed to be sockless. I’ve gone 18 miles on trails in zoots, but 3-4 miles in my regular Sauconys without socks, I’d be limping
Thats all that I run in. Saucony Fastwitch and Kinvaras. I have only ever had an issue once going sockless in those and that was when I was training for a marathon and went out on a 13+ mile run and didn’t put socks on for some reason. My feet were only use to running 4-5miles sockless at the time. I didn’t have an issue until mile 11 where the skin on my heals started to peel.
No socks for me at any distance. But then again I train like that and am blister free. Got so used to it that the sock fabric gives me issues.
Did a sockless HIM for the first time about 5 years ago, not long after going completely sockless, and I had lots of blisters that time. So if this is anything to go by it takes a good year maybe longer to completely get your feet trained to run sockless.
I run sockless all the time as well in my training, at least with anything 8miles or under. I can’t imagine it taking me to long to get my feet adjusted to the extra 5miles for the HIM. The race isn’t until mid July.
Would I be crazy for thinking I could have my feet ready by then?