Chris,
I use small dot bandaids. They came in a box of 50+/- for $2 @ target. I have looked into the nip guards, but they are expensive. I have not tried the body glide but have heard that long term it can stain your running shirts. Lastly, some have said that when wearing tight compression type (Under Armor) they don't have problems. But for my money the dots were the simplist and cheapest method. You might have to do some trimming, but the dots have stayed on for my races and long runs.
Been sick the last week and a half and fallen behind on my training. Missed my 16 miler this weekend. Looks like I'll drop out either my 18 or 20 miler in December and pickup with the 16 on my long next run.
Coach Charles - I've noticed that you have recommended that those planning on walking the half do some walking training for the smaller muscles. Would that recommendation hold true for some training with intervals? I currently plan on running for about a half hour the day of the half and then walk the rest. The day of the full I plan on intervaling the whole race.
Thanks,
Cam
I an a bandaid with a swipe of lube over the top for longer runs. Guys, you may want to remove the hair in the area first. While chafed nips hurt, so doe ripping hair from the same area.
Cam,
Have you thought of flipping the interval around? I think your body will appreciate not being subject to a long walk. If you are running 4:1 and settle in on a 2:2 or 1:3 at some point on the half, I would think is better. Obviously, the best way to test this is to try it. Why not do a back to back where you back into the back half of your half (e.g. If you think you are walking an hour, run for an hour followed up with an hour walk ... then do your regular long run the following day).
Since we're on the topic of things rubbing, I have a question about my feet.
First half marathon two years ago I developed deep blisters on the balls of both feet - somewhere between nickel and quarter sized. When I say deep there was nothing to see on the surface, but they hurt like the dickens and you could feel the void if you pressed where it hurt. The pain faded quickly but was intense during the race. After a couple months they finally surfaced.
I've done three other halfs and it's happened once, though not as early and not as badly as the first time. I put body glide or deodorant on my feet. I wear double layer (Wright) socks. Now I'm training for a full with a goal of finishing. As my runs are getting longer I'm feeling the heat on my soles.
When I googled blisters it was always the edges and corners that people cursed. For me it's the flat spot ; ) I found something yesterday that suggests it's my stride. Instead of already having my foot moving backwards when it strikes the ground, it's hitting flat. The forward motion is putting the shear force on the landing spot. Yeah, that sounds probable. I tend to stomp and it gets worse when I tire.
So I'm, what, seven weeks out from my first marathon and I probably run all wrong. If these things start at mile 15 I don't know if I can finish. I use a run/walk of 3/1 and my training runs are 11:15-11:45 pace. I hope to hold 13:00 for the marathon. Having only two really longs runs left (MfM), testing opportunities are limited.
Should I try to change my strike? Keep things the same and hope for the best? I've gone as far as putting duct tape across the balls of my feet and it does seem to help the foot slide on the sock.
Thanks for any insight,
Ronda
My very first marathon I wore Wright double socks and had extremely nasty blisters on the balls of both feet. I still have a few pair of them in a drawer as I quit wearing them after that event. I attributed mie to the socks, getting my feet wet when a water stop collapsed at mile 2 and when I got home, the toe box lacing was just too loose. Since then I have gone with a single layer form fitting sock like the Ascis Keyano sock or now the Injini due to a toe blistering issue. I am also running in shoes that come from the tri world. These shoes are designed to be put oto overly wet feet and drain well.
Look at a couple things...
- Are your getting lateral movement in the ball area of the shoe? I find that shoes tend to pull and loosen at the point where it is forced to bend in action --- the point where the ball of the foot is located.
- Do the shoes drain well? If you come home from a run and your socks are dripping, your shoes are holding water
- Try not lubing the ball of your foot. That may create just enough slippage against the sock that you are creating a hot spot.
- Try a single layer sock... I cannot say if one is better, but in my world, I gfound the double socks creating an issue
- If you feel the need for a protective layer, try Duct Tape of Mole skin. Duct tape actually sticks very well. Put it on dry and then lightly lube the edges to prevent the sock from rubbing at the edges.
Not sure if this helps for all cases, I just know that I moved away from my loved NB shoes and Wright socks and now only blister in areas where you would expect.
. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad.
Seriously though you will see plenty of people on Sunday and Monday with them on. Some people stay the next week and continue to wear them.
