Running without socks

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2005-02-09 12:23 PM

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Expert
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Subject: Running without socks
Today I did about 3.5 miles without socks and started to get a blister. I had previously done about 2.5 with no problems. Do I need to just tough it out or are there other tricks to getting used to no socks? Is it really worth the few seconds saved by not putting them on during T1?

2005-02-09 12:31 PM
in reply to: #114908

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Subject: RE: Running without socks
Granted I've never tried this and it sounds kind of disgusting to me, but I have a friend who puts vaseline on his feet (or maybe its in his shoes) so as to not get blisters and for quicker transition. I can't tell you how he cleans it out, but I do know he has more pairs of shoes than anyone I've ever met.

Or you could take your time and build up calluses to it. Make sure they don't get to thick because then you could get a blister underneath the callus and when they rip off there isn't much worse. In rowing we used second skin and tape on our hands when our calluses rip off, but that doesn't help with your transition, but it might help as you build up your calluses. I find tape is better than band aids because bandaids don't stay on very well, or we'd put the bandaids over second skin under the tape.

Some times I run with no socks when I forget them, and I just make sure my shoes are tight enough that they don't slip. Never thought much about it for a race though.

Probably more info than you wanted to know, but its my .02.

Peace.
2005-02-09 12:36 PM
in reply to: #114908

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Subject: RE: Running without socks
Others use powder or body glide. I spend the 3 seconds per foot that it takes me to get socks on, couldn't imagine biking/running w/o socks.
2005-02-09 12:38 PM
in reply to: #114908

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Subject: RE: Running without socks
Bodyglide will do the job.
2005-02-09 12:38 PM
in reply to: #114908

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Subject: RE: Running without socks
You could try a little superglue. It used to work on my thumb when I was bowling alot (I mean alot). I never tried it on foot blisters but being as it is waterproof it might do the trick for you.
2005-02-09 12:40 PM
in reply to: #114908

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Expert
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Subject: RE: Running without socks
Where did you blister? I don't use socks in sprints. I blistered across the back of the heel on one foot in my first race, and from then on I slather that area of both shoes with a glob of Vaseline and have never had a problem since. Works great.

2005-02-09 12:46 PM
in reply to: #114916

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Running without socks
bear:
Others use powder or body glide. I spend the 3 seconds per foot that it takes me to get socks on, couldn't imagine biking/running w/o socks.

right on Bear. w/ ankle socks i don't even think it takes long (i partial to the one's w/ the little pink pom pom on them!)

Mark
2005-02-09 12:51 PM
in reply to: #114916

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Subject: RE: Running without socks
the bear - 2005-02-09 12:36 PMOthers use powder or body glide. I spend the 3 seconds per foot that it takes me to get socks on, couldn't imagine biking/running w/o socks.
I'm with Bear on this one. I would never take a chance of developing a blister, especially when the time saved is so minimal, and the consequences could be enormous.Chris
2005-02-09 12:55 PM
in reply to: #114913

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Subject: RE: Running without socks

kanoelani - 2005-02-09 12:31 PM Granted I've never tried this and it sounds kind of disgusting to me, but I have a friend who puts vaseline on his feet (or maybe its in his shoes) so as to not get blisters and for quicker transition.

This is an old military boot camp thing that they don't do anymore.  Dip the recruits feet in vaseline to prevent blisters while getting used to running around in boots.  Made a hell of a mess.  However...

After a week or so of running around in boots, the feet toughened up and the blisters went away.  I would assume the same would happen if you continued to run without socks.  Personally, I don't like to run or bike without them...

2005-02-09 1:11 PM
in reply to: #114908

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Running without socks

I don't use socks in a sprint or Oly race...but that's because I've run sockless during trng and gone through blisters (which are nice and hard now) and my feet can handle it.

In anything longer, I wear socks.

If you get a blister, it's a good thing because it toughens up that part of your foot once the blister heels.  Pretty soon all your hot spots will have already blistered during trng and you'll be ready to rock and roll come race day.

I knew a coupld adventure racing buddies of mine who used sandpaper on their feet to help toughen up their feet to avoid blisters

2005-02-09 1:26 PM
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Subject: RE: Running without socks

Steve- "If you get a blister, it's a good thing because it toughens up that part of your foot once the blister heels.  Pretty soon all your hot spots will have already blistered during trng and you'll be ready to rock and roll come race day."

That's right, if you get a blister in one spot, you, probably, will never get a blister in that spot again, that's what training is for...

I personally hate socks, I dont't use them on the bike or the run.



2005-02-09 1:32 PM
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Subject: RE: Running without socks
I tried training without socks to get ready for a sprint.  It proved to be unsucessful as I got a blister in the arch of my left foot.  Even with sock on I have to ensure that the shoe is on firmly or I will develop a blister.  It is best, in my case, to take the extra few seconds to put on my socks.  In the long run, I make up for the lost time by not limping in the run leg.
2005-02-09 2:22 PM
in reply to: #114961

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Subject: RE: Running without socks
charlie - 2005-02-09 12:26 PM

Steve- "If you get a blister, it's a good thing because it toughens up that part of your foot once the blister heels.  Pretty soon all your hot spots will have already blistered during trng and you'll be ready to rock and roll come race day."

That's right, if you get a blister in one spot, you, probably, will never get a blister in that spot again, that's what training is for...

I personally hate socks, I dont't use them on the bike or the run.

Man, I wish that were true for me. I have gigantic (GIGANTIC) calluses on the side of the ball of my left foot and the side of my big toe. And every time I run more than 8 miles, I get blisters underneath them. I do this at least 3 times a week, too! So it's not like the calluses have weeks to go away before I run on them again. It's really painful, and buying different shoes didn't help so I'm now experimenting with different socks. But I know from painful experience that it is definitely possible to blister again (and again, and again, and again, and again......) in the same place. :-(
2005-02-09 2:38 PM
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Subject: RE: Running without socks

I get blisters with socks, couldn't imagine what it would be like without them

james

2005-02-09 2:50 PM
in reply to: #114908

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Expert
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Subject: RE: Running without socks

The hard part about getting your socks on after the swim is that your feet are wet.  I usually bike without socks, but prepowder my bike shoes for T1.  This way, when I get back for T2, my feet are dry and it's easy to put my socks and sneakers on for the run.

Evelyn

2005-02-09 3:53 PM
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Subject: RE: Running without socks
I have all sorts of problems with my feet and have yet to figure out the best solution.

I really struggle with wet feet no matter how well I think I dry them before getting into my socks and bike shoes.

My feet went completely numb on me in one race (I guess my socks scrunched up a little) and I thought I would have to go to the first aid station.

I tried a sprint without socks (Aug, 04) and I still have scars from the blisters (ended up with about 6-8 of them). I think it is unlikely that I will ever go sockless again. If you do decide to do it, make sure you give it a thorough trial first. I did practice once without them and didn't get a single blister. But I didn't run or ride hard at all.

2005-02-09 3:58 PM
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Subject: RE: Running without socks
the backpacking trick is to use a square of duct tape. The shoe/boot still slides over the area of rubbing, but the frictionis against the smooth duct tape, and not your skin. Duct tape is so indestructable, maybe you could put it on before the swim, then just dry off and go.
2005-02-09 6:41 PM
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Subject: RE: Running without socks
wow i, feel lucky. I get a blister if i run more then 10km not in my race flats without socks, btu my blisters are there for about a day not even then they calist over so I never really had to worry about blisters. I have never tried wearing socks in a race just another thing to think about, and another thing to slow me down in transitions.

Colin
2005-02-09 8:39 PM
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Subject: RE: Running without socks
My flats have a strange insole material that prevents blisters, its the Adidas Cubato Plus, I never run with socks in sprint or olympic races, but for a 1/2 Ironman you have to. All you have to do is rub vasaline in the pressure points of the shoe. http://www.roadrunnersports.com/cgi-bin/rrs/rrs/ProductPg.jsp?baseP...

Edited by gocorey 2005-02-09 8:41 PM
2005-02-09 11:40 PM
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Subject: RE: Running without socks
I can do a half marathon w/o socks, but that is about my limit...ran my first marathon without socks, and lost 4 toenails, and had some horrible blistering...since then 13 miles is my cutoff w/o socks, and never on the bike...no hotspots that wayd
2005-02-10 2:56 AM
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Subject: RE: Running without socks
I tried one race last year without socks - it was at the beach and I was concerned about the combination of wet socks & sand. Loaded my shoes up with powder and didn't have any problems (at the time I was weariing running shoes for both the bike & run). Went back to socks at my last race but now using bike shoes/clipless pedals. The strategy of going sockless with my bike shoes and letting my feet dry prior to the run sounds intriguing. May have to try it in practice.
Of course, I run so slowly that blisters usualy aren't a problem... ;-)

Mark

2005-02-10 6:29 AM
in reply to: #115012

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Subject: RE: Running without socks
evrunning - 2005-02-09 2:50 PM

The hard part about getting your socks on after the swim is that your feet are wet.  I usually bike without socks, but prepowder my bike shoes for T1.  This way, when I get back for T2, my feet are dry and it's easy to put my socks and sneakers on for the run.

Evelyn



I like your idea the best. How much powder?
2005-02-10 6:56 AM
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Subject: RE: Running without socks
Not sure why shoes are easier to put on wet than socks, again <3 seconds per foot...
2005-02-10 8:23 AM
in reply to: #115267

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Subject: RE: Running without socks
ropkins - 2005-02-10 6:29 AM
evrunning - 2005-02-09 2:50 PM

The hard part about getting your socks on after the swim is that your feet are wet.  I usually bike without socks, but prepowder my bike shoes for T1.  This way, when I get back for T2, my feet are dry and it's easy to put my socks and sneakers on for the run.

Evelyn

I like your idea the best. How much powder?

I just sprinkle it in until there is a fine coating on the bottom of the shoe, then I put my hand over the opening and flip the shoe over and mix it around the inside.  I then "gently" tip out any excess.

Evelyn

 

2005-02-10 9:08 AM
in reply to: #114918

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Subject: RE: Running without socks
gypsykorea - 2005-02-09 12:38 PM

You could try a little superglue.


DISCLAIMER: DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME KIDS, YOU COULD KILL YOURSELF.

Interesting. I know physicians use Cyanoacrylate (superglue) for wound closure on epidermal cuts. Medical grade cyanoacrylate is almost the same thing as the 99 cent tube of Superglue.

It does form a tough skin on the surface that would probably prevent some types of blisters if appropriately applied... its essentially a waterproof, abrasion-resistant layer over the skin.

Maybe a popsicle stick or a piece of plastic cut off a bleach bottle could be used to smooth a thin layer on.

APPLY THIS STUFF TO THE NAKED FOOT ONLY FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

BEWARE that certain substances like Baking Soda act as a super-accelerator to Cyanoacrylate... Lots of foot powders have multiple ingredients... don't superglue your hand to your foot if that stuff sets up in 0.5 seconds.

also, certain substances act as decelerators to slow the setup process, so don't superglue your shoe to your foot if it takes 10 minutes to setup.

Keep it off your toes, eyeballs, and other precious bits and report back...
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