| ON BLISTERS |
| First of all it is important to kinow what causes blisters: FRICTION, the rubbing of damp skin against a surface. |
| SOME WAYS TO PREVENT BLISTERS (or friction): Get some good calluses. Your skin can adapt to your running as does your heart, lungs, muscles, etc. Keep calluses soft with lotion. Make sure your shoes fit properly. When buying shoes, make sure there is at least a thumb's width between the tip of the shoe and your longest toe (ususally the big toe). Do this test when you are standing up in your shoes. Wear socks with the ability to move sweat away from your body. Synthetic materials do this well. Don't use powders. They will only increase the friction. For long distances, don't use lubricants. While they might be good in the short haul, friction will increase dramatically after about an hour or so into your run. Try inserts in your running shoes. They come in different sizes: full (for the entire shoe), mid (arch to heel) and just for the heel. Different ways to lace your shoes might help reduce friction. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid running low on sodium. This will help reduce swelling therefore reducing friction. Use a heavy duty tape like duct tape and tape the area prone to irritation. This will help create a barrier to reduce friction. |
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