So my feet are not the prettiest thing out there, thanks to bunions and putting the miles on, in preparation for my upcoming race and a really hot summer. I wore through my favourite running socks this year and wanted to find a pair that are 1/4 length instead of anklet to help keep the debris out of the inside of my socks during my trail runs. A few weeks ago, I purchased 2 different types, a Lycra pair and a dynamax polyester blend pair; both claiming to prevent blisters. Blisters haven't been a huge issue, but I have corns that have developed on the inside of my big toe due to overlapping toes and the outside of my big toe. I have taken to using Vaseline on my toes before any longer run to help with painful spots that occur sometimes. I haven't been able to run a pile of trails in them because of life getting in my way, but did get out to run a mountain bike course in the coulee in front of my house last week and the course of my trail run today. I trialed the Lycra pair on my coulee run but I found after 7 k, there were hotspots over the corns the have developed on the side of my bunions. They were quite painful so I soaked them and loofahed them down and have been lotioning my feet a bunch . Today I tried the lightweight dynamax pair and although my bunions felt good, I had a hot spot under my big toe on one foot. When I looked at it when I got home, there was dried peeling skin underneath that looked like maybe I had a blister from last week's run?. I found on my coulee run, my feet were constantly at a sideways angle and with the Lycra socks being quite slippery in my large toe box trail shoes to accommodate my bunions, there was too much friction. So, race day is one week away. My dilemma is what to do. I think I will use the socks I ran in today (the seem less slippery, but regardless, my foot isn't often angled side to side like what I found on my coulee run so maybe the Lycra socks would be fine) but am thinking about maybe trying moleskin under my big toe. I had applied Vaseline to my toes prior to my run today as I had started doing this summer to help with hotspots, but maybe more cushioning would be better? Or should I just use more Vaseline (perhaps I didn't put enough under my toe)? Any advice would be appreciated. My race is a week away, but am planning on only doing one or 2 shorter runs this week so won't really be able to test it out pre event.
Last minute dilemma - how to prevent ... - Fun Beyond 10K & ...
Last minute dilemma - how to prevent hotspots on my toes?
Vaseline
I have not tried any of the suggestions in this article yet, but it's interesting, and I keep meaning to follow it up 😁 The trouble with it is getting hold (in the UK) of some of the stuff she mentions!
irunfar.com/2018/06/trail-f...
With respect, I don't think Vaseline is much cop as it tends to go runny in hot, sweaty conditions. You could try something more robust like Bodyglide, but I'm also not sure that lubrication is desirable - the ideal is to keep the feet as dry as possible. I'd try your moleskin, but make sure you put it on dry feet, and well in advance of your run to give it time to adhere strongly.
Thanks for the link. I'll try to build my amulet for next years 20k race. I have bodyglide that I use on my inner thighs. I haven't tried it on my toes because Vaseline was easier to apply. I might have to try it. The biggest issue is the crooked toe riding under my second toe creating a tough ridge of skin. Maybe I'll stick some moleskin on it this weekend and see how it holds and sticks in everyday life to get an idea if it'll stick on race day. And then I can decide - moleskin or bodyglide for race day.
I seem to get a blister on the arch of my right foot almost without fail if I go further than 15k, regardless of shoe or sock, so I preemptively tape the area with some stuff I found in Mr Sqkr's judo bag and it seems to do the trick. It's just wide plaster tape, but ludicrously sticky so it doesn't come off or ripple and cause additional problems. You have to soak it off in the bath, so have to be very careful not to put it on already broken skin! I can't remember the brand offhand, but looking at amazon it may be Tiger Club (will amend with correct brand when I'm home if not). Something like this might be worth a try if you are able to predict where you might get the hotpots? It's much cheaper than moleskine too 😁
oo just saw that you'll not have a chance to test it out, that's a tough one. I know Compeed do a lubricating stick you could try, but I I don't know how practical it is in reality. I guess it couldn't hurt though...
That sounds promising. There were several Tiger club tapes I saw when I googled it. Was it the k tape or the EAB that you've used? The EAB looks like the Elastoplast tape we use at work. I'm going to be building my arsenal of blister prevention kit for next year when I tackle the 20k but will experiment much earlier than the week before race day 🙄
Sorry, that was possibly a bad steer—just had a quick check (forgot to do so earlier 😞) and it's actually Leukotape. I think it is this one:
amazon.co.uk/BSN-Medical-BE...
It's very sticky so much better than regular plaster tape, as once it's on it doesn't really come off till you want it to, and the edges stay firmly stuck too so no rubbing there. It just acts like a bit of extra protective skin. It works for me anyway, though my blisters are in a nice flat area of my foot so I'm afraid I can't comment on how well it copes with corners!
Thanks. I'll see if I can find an equivalent in Canada.
I use Leukotape when I do long distance hikes/walks. I have weird little toes that want to tuck under the next toe so I tape them up as a precautionary measure. I get blisters hiking but never when running maybe because my runs are on level ground. I think it has to do with slippage forwards and sideways on trails/slopes/rocks when hiking. One trick with hiking is to lace more tightly when there is a long downhill like coming off a mountain.
Leukotape acts like a second skin like Sqkr says.
May be worth seeing a podiatrist. I have mega toe problems. I had a toe straightened when I was 12 and the one next to it is also curly and I get a lot of pain from it and I’ve tried everything!! What I do is file down the nail and giant lump of hard skin that develops and Vaseline at night heavily wearing socks over to keep the skin soft. Big enough shoes and comfy socks make a big difference, I find the cheapest socks the best bizarrely!! I hope you get some solutions, I feel your pain!!
Thanks ju. We now have a podiatrist here so I should probably book an appointment to see her. I can't sleep with socks on (too hot, too hot 😆) but have been trying to be more vigilante in lotioning and pumicing off the ridges. I'll never be a foot model 😂
That makes 2 of us!!! And good call, let us know how it goes....
I actually did do hand and foot modelling when I was at school 😂 and yet look at my poor old feet now...bumps and blisters and hard bits and sad nails all over the place. Running is not good for aesthetics!
Isn't that the truth 😂. I'm afraid mine were not pretty pre-running but there are definitely more hard bumpy bits now.
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