Running without socks?...

I still put socks on in a sprint because I just can't get my feet tough enough, even for 3 miles.  My transition times are pretty speedy and <8 seconds penalty for the socks, if properly rolled right to begin with.  Just takes practice.

I know I didn't answer your original question but socks don't make you a noob.

Hi Jason,

Well, I'm  new at this too, had my first full tri season last summer. I finished off my season with a 70.3 and wanted to try it sockless too, so glad I did too! I had a minor blister on the inside of my foot at the end but totally worth it. I was running in Sucony ride 3 maybe they are less abrasive I don't know. I'm thinking of getting a tri specific shoe my self b/c they are made for sockless and hopefully we don't have to deal with many blisters. I'm not a minimalist tho and not sure how comfy the shoes will be. Maybe there will be some info tagged onto this thread.

I would think you should be able to go sprint distance sockless with no problems but maybe not since you got blisters on a  training run...maybe try wearing your shoes sockless doing everyday chores to toughen up your feet a bit and then they can take the sprint stuff better.

That's all I got, good luck!

Patsy

Two words.... Body Glide

Also, if you have sensitive feet, try finding shoes that are designed to be worn sockless. They will have insides that are seamless. Zoots and K-Swiss come to mind as being more user friendly as sockless. I've run with both and seem to have less issues with the zoots with comfort, but have found that the k-swiss are a bit more durable. Start with lighter mileage to get your feet up to snuff, and once again BODY GLIDE

I run sockless, unless it is below 20 degrees.  I run in Brooks Cascadias, Saucony Peregrines, NB MT10, and some otherrs of the past few years. Really about the only time I wear socks is in my work boots.  I have been like this for years, well before I know what a Tri was.  So my feet are use to it.  In the summer I usally have about 6.5 toenails. 

Like the poster above said, Body glide that will help you get use to it,

Unless you are seconds from AG placing, put on your socks, your feet will thank you for it.   In fact, practice putting on your socks fast.  Roll socks all the way down and sprinkle inside with baby powder. 

IMHO, nothing says newbie like skipping socks to save 5 seconds and then running marathon pace in a sprint.

I run sock-less in sprints and oly distance events.  For anything longer, I'll put the socks on.  I run in my regular Asics Cumulus without much of an issue, although everyone's feet are going to be different and respond differently.

My advice would be to work up to it... i.e. don't go for 5 mile tempo run or do 8x800 intervals your first time.  I took the time over the winter last year to build up my tolerance and to test the waters.  Maybe you work in once a week sock-less on a recovery day so you're not going so hard/long and then work up from there.

Forgot to mention sitting on the bucket!

If I had tough feet I could see buying different tri shoes and working up to no socks. Or I could practice getting socks on fast and save the money (and spend that time training). Unrolling them on my feet takes about 10 seconds. Right now I am not worried about 10 seconds in transition, it's not costing me any prize money

I would think for a 5k I'd be fine. I didn't feel the rubbing on my feet until about that far into the run. They are not a new pair of shoes. What rubbed was the tops of my feet on the mesh. Again, I didn't plan on running sockless, it was necessity.

Off topic, but I was looking at my times for the first sprint I did last year. Totally untrained except for the run. Somehow I spent 4:36 in T1 and 1:33 in T2. That's about 3.5 minutes longer than average for that race. Playing with the numbers in a tri race calculator (using my current SBR times) I come within 2 minutes of AG podium. Maybe I need to rethink all of this.

This^^^^^^  I'm up to running 16 miles in my Zoot Ultra Kanes sockless.  Don't even need Body Glide.  The ZOOT Ultra Kanes are a stability shoe.  The ZOOT Ultra Kalani are the neutral version.

ZOOT has come out with the 2.0 versions and the original versions are on Bonktown almost everyday for $59.99.  The return/exchange policy at Bonktown is awesome!!!

K Swiss, as has been mentioned, also have designed their triathlon shoes to be worn sockless (i.e. no seams).  Maybe there are other brands as well.

So would you recommend the 2.0's as a good way to try running sockless? I wear a pretty neutral shoe. Bonktown already has all of my shipping and billing information stored in my account!

I'm sorry if my explanation was confusing.....The "1.0" versions are on Bonktown.  That is what I use.  The 2.0 versions are probably going to cost you full retail ($130-$140) and are not on Bonktown.

I love the "1.0" that I'm using.  I would recommend them in a heartbeat!!

I tried running a half-ironman without socks...to save in transition time.  The result was an awful blister which was really painful.  I should have put the socks on for that race and now take to extra 2 seconds to do so.  Lesson learned.

Bonktown is the cause of all my financial woes...But with the money I save it's almost like throwing money away if I don't compulsively buy, right?? 

+1.  I wear socks, my feet will blister if I look at them wrong.  I have gotten down from these ultra plush Thorlo things to unpadded running socks (has anyone else tried the Adidas low-cut compression socks?), but going nekkid?  Not going there.

I don't know how they compare to other shoes, but I use Specialized Trivent tri bike shoes and they are very comfortable sockless.  They have a smooth lining designed for going sockless and are well ventilated - dry feet reduces chances of blisters.  You still need to gradually adapt your feet to them - I eventually went as far as 50 miles last year without socks.

I trained for and raced IM Louisville last year in my LG Tri Lite shoes with no socks.  No problems.  This year I'm using the LG Tri Speeds and so far, so good.

I'm gonna have to go along with everyone else here - Body Glide and Zoot Ultra Kane's for me.  I started out slow, about 1 mile on the treadmill, and increased my distance slowly (about .25 miles per week).  Now I'm up to about 4 miles sockless and haven't had any problems.  I do have regular running shoes (Asics) that I wear with socks for all my other runs until my feet are tough enough for all sockless runs.

Good luck!