Today’s question is from my sister. I couldn’t answer it because I have never had this problem (knock on wood). So I put the question out to area runners/walkers: How do you deal with blisters?
Double up on socks, I wear 2 moisture wicks pairs of socks on any long runs. I ran in to issues during my first marathon training, and this was advice passed on to me and it works great. — Amy Cronk
I wrap ‘em duct tape. — R. Kulesza
Body Glide and I’d try lacing differently for the heel issues. — Jennifer D.
Duct tape. Seriously. Best 2nd skin ever. — Chris B.
Blisters come from rubbing. Whatever it takes to prevent your top & lower layers of skin from rubbing together. Tighter or different lacing might do it. given that it’s your toe, it might do you some good to look for shoes with a slightly tighter toe box to keep them from moving too much. (Don’t go too tight or you’ll lose toenails). Duct tape (mentioned earlier) might to the trick, but I’d watch out for the glue and the backing. Messy, IMO. Moleskin might be a better bet. It will absorb some of the rubbing and is made for the feet. — Jim Lang
I had multiple blood blisters until I started using the Wright Sock: http://www.wrightsock.com/index.php
and I change to a wider toe box shoe. — Teresa W.I used moleskin with blisters. Cut “donuts” and put over the blister—with the blister in the donut hole area. Put several layers of moleskin, to take any pressure off the blister. I also always turned my socks inside out if they had any seams and used a lot of body glide to prevent the blisters in the first place! — Sarah Rose
I’m not a runner, but I swear I’m a blister expert after 12 years of ballet. If it has popped, make sure you trim off ALL of the dead skin, so that it’s just open. And leave it uncovered as much as you can. The air will heal it faster than if you keep it covered because it will stay damp. But also…don’t let it get infected. I usually only left mine uncovered at night or just around the house, and kept them covered during the day, when I was walking around and bacteria might get into it. And then once it has healed, be sure to cover it when you are exercising, because that new skin is more fragile for a little while, and you just bust it open again if you don’t. I used to cover areas of my feet that frequently blistered with the thin (papery type) medical tape, and they acted as a second skin to take keep the rubbing off of my skin. Hope that helps. — Holly W.
Buy your shoes a half size up. (Trail runners go at least a whole size up.) Works for us. — Linda Young
Editor’s note: I’ve always done this (buying shoes a 1/2 size too big)….maybe that’s why I’ve never had a problem, eh?
Here’s a cool comparison chart from Runner’s World about popular blister prevention products.
More blister advice from The Walking Site here.
NEXT QUESTION: (This one is also from a reader) If you train for a race and two weeks before you get injured and there’s no way you can participate, do you still pick up the shirt and wear it with pride?
