(Running) Avoiding Blisters

The runners enemy
Blisters! They burn, they hurt and they cause runners to lose their focus. 1 out of 3 New York City marathoners finish with blisters.

There are ways to avoid blisters.

Foot Blister Causes

• Wrong size shoe
• Wrong size socks (especially loose-fitting socks that shift around)
• Not wearing socks at all

John Wooden’s Socks and Shoes Lesson

Legendary college basketball coach John Wooden has a famous lesson called the socks-and-shoes-lesson. The first thing he teaches is how to properly put on socks and shoes. Quite literally, he when it came to the game of basketball, Coach Wooden’s philosophy began from the ground-up.

He noticed his young athletes who were dealing with blisters on their feet. And he decided to teach them how to properly put on their socks and shoes. If you don’t get all the wrinkles of your socks, and if you don’t properly tie your shoes, you’re going to get blisters.

While this article is about running and not basketball, you do A LOT of running on a basketball court.

Buying the right socks

You can purchase socks that are specifically made for running. The right socks can go along way. Avoid cotton, and instead go for synthetic fabrics such as Teflon that help draw the moisture away from your feet. These socks do not bunch up as easily as regular socks and therefore decrease the chances that you will get a blister.

Right type of Shoe

To prevent blisters you need to make sure your shoes fit properly. This should be half a size bigger than your regular street shoes. You want the extra space for your feet, because your feet swell when you run.

Alternative Practices

You can use Vaseline to moisturize and essentially lubricate problem areas (areas prone to blisters) on your feet. Careful not to use too much though, or else your feet will shift all over the place inside your shoes.

Keep the calluses! When you go in for a pedicure, tell them not to remove calluses. Calluses are almost like the body’s natural defense against blisters. Without them you will lose the protection they offer. This is only a suggestion; if the calluses hurt and cause more pain than benefit, then of course you want to remove them in that case.