Blister Help

[IamTrike]

I've been running since about 2011 and never really had any issues with blisters. Over the past 2 months I am getting them on the outside of my big toes almost any time I run more than 10 miles. I've tried changing shoes and socks and I'm still getting them. The blisters seem to be filled with blood as they are usually dark. Has anyone else ever run into this? I have been putting body glide toes to see if it alleviates the problem and it hasn't. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I have had this problem with long hill runs - I have wide feet and some shoes are simply not wide enough in the toe box area. My solution has always been different shoes. The reason that you only have problems on longer runs may be that you foot begins slipping more and more toward the front of the shoe as your run progresses. Are there hills on your route? This makes the problem worse for me as my feet slide more when running down hills after I begin to tire. I "brake" more because I don't keep up my cadence. Have also lost a few toe nails because of this.

 

[lwake]

Hi: We are a family of runners. My DD gets terrible blisters on her feet all of the time. She even gets blisters under callouses. She uses Dr Scholl blister pads. They seem to work the best for her. Good luck and keep running! Try turning your socks inside out too. There is less area for friction with them. You can also coat your blister prone area with something like chapstick or Vaseline.

 

[IamTrike]

I have had this problem with long hill runs - I have wide feet and some shoes are simply not wide enough in the toe box area. My solution has always been different shoes. The reason that you only have problems on longer runs may be that you foot begins slipping more and more toward the front of the shoe as your run progresses. Are there hills on your route? This makes the problem worse for me as my feet slide more when running down hills after I begin to tire. I "break" more because I don't keep up my cadence. Have also lost a few toe nails because of this.

There aren't really many hills on the routes I've been running, but I think your probably on to something with my form breaking down when I get tired. I have done longer runs in both sets of shoes without blisters earlier this year. I'm just starting to build mileage again and I think I'm probably shuffling my feet when I get tired.

 

[cewait]

You may be on to something with the form breakdown thought. Though, look at your socks and at the shoes for seams that could also be the culprit. Think about your toes a few times on your next long run and see if they are clinching more than normal as the run goes long.

In addition to the Blister pad mentioned, duct tape will also work well to protect the surface of the toe that blisters.

 

[jmasgat]

I have similar issues--blisters/irritation on the big toes and also where the ball of the foot meets the side of the foot. And it happens once I approach 8+ miles. My shoes are plenty wide, I don't overpronate, etc, etc. I have tried taping with mixed results. Calluses don't help or hurt--I try to minimize them, but they don't offer any protection and I have also suffered the "blister under a callus" issue.

So what do I do? Well, for the big toes--I use toe caps for my long runs. They are silicone and just slip on over your toe. They work reasonably well. The downside--when your feet start to get sweaty they can start to slip. They are re-usable, but after a while they lose their effectiveness. Here's a link to one:

http://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpage-TOECAPS.html

Now if I cold only find something that works for my ball/side issue!


Maura

 

[magicLAL12]

I use Body Glide on the edges of my feet and around other blister prone areas, especially before rainy runs!, and this has helped substantially. I've also used band-aids occasionally if a persistent blister just won't go away- but these usually just cause other irritations.
Good luck!!

 

[IamTrike]

Hi: We are a family of runners. My DD gets terrible blisters on her feet all of the time. She even gets blisters under callouses. She uses Dr Scholl blister pads. They seem to work the best for her. Good luck and keep running! Try turning your socks inside out too. There is less area for friction with them. You can also coat your blister prone area with something like chapstick or Vaseline.

I've never heard of coating them with Chapstick or Vaseline. Thanks for the tip. I'll have to try that.

You may be on to something with the form breakdown thought. Though, look at your socks and at the shoes for seams that could also be the culprit. Think about your toes a few times on your next long run and see if they are clinching more than normal as the run goes long

In addition to the Blister pad mentioned, duct tape will also work well to protect the surface of the toe that blisters.

Thanks Coach. I've been trying to think about it when I run, but I don't seem to be clenching my toes. I've got a 12 miler this weekend so it will be interesting to see.

I have similar issues--blisters/irritation on the big toes and also where the ball of the foot meets the side of the foot. And it happens once I approach 8+ miles. My shoes are plenty wide, I don't overpronate, etc, etc. I have tried taping with mixed results. Calluses don't help or hurt--I try to minimize them, but they don't offer any protection and I have also suffered the "blister under a callus" issue.

So what do I do? Well, for the big toes--I use toe caps for my long runs. They are silicone and just slip on over your toe. They work reasonably well. The downside--when your feet start to get sweaty they can start to slip. They are re-usable, but after a while they lose their effectiveness. Here's a link to one:

http://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpage-TOECAPS.html

Now if I cold only find something that works for my ball/side issue!


Maura

Thanks for the tip on the toe caps. Have you ever tried Wrightsocks? They are the dual layer socks that are supposed to reduce or eliminate the friction on the skin that causes blisters.

I use Body Glide on the edges of my feet and around other blister prone areas, especially before rainy runs!, and this has helped substantially. I've also used band-aids occasionally if a persistent blister just won't go away- but these usually just cause other irritations.
Good luck!!

I've been using Body Glide on my toes, I am not sure if it's just getting rubbed off on my longer runs.

Thanks for all the tips everyone. I'm gonna keep trying things until I can get them to go away.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Have you ever tried Wrightsocks? They are the dual layer socks that are supposed to reduce or eliminate the friction on the skin that causes blisters.

I have used Wrightsocks - have 3 pair left (ran in a pair this morning). I bought a whole bunch about 10 years ago when I was having blister problems. They absolutely helped. But once I figured out my other problems (sloppy foot landing form and shoe fit issues), they were no longer necessary. They are now just mixed in with my other running socks.

ETA - I was not having blister problems on my toes when I switched to Wrightsocks, so I do not know if they would help there. I have only been able to correct blisters on my toes by changing shoes that were too worn or correcting my lazy foot landings late in runs.

 

[IamTrike]

I have used Wrightsocks - have 3 pair left (ran in a pair this morning). I bought a whole bunch about 10 years ago when I was having blister problems. They absolutely helped. But once I figured out my other problems (sloppy foot landing form and shoe fit issues), they were no longer necessary. They are now just mixed in with my other running socks.

ETA - I was not having blister problems on my toes when I switched to Wrightsocks, so I do not know if they would help there. I have only been able to correct blisters on my toes by changing shoes that were too worn or correcting my lazy foot landings late in runs.

I bought a pair in 2011 when I started running, but at that point when I was sized for running shoes I was a size 11.5. I just got sized again and now I'm a size 13 so those socks would be a little tight.