Runners and Blisters

DawnVanSlim
DawnVanSlim Posts: 10,468 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I just started running this year. I usually run 3-4 miles at a time. I was fitted with good running shoes (saucony cortana's) and also have expensive running socks. I wear these items everytime I go out running and never had any problems. Today I ran my longest run yet completing 5 miles.

Everything felt great the entire run, but I did start to notice the blister forming around 4.5 miles. I didn't want to stop just because of that. I was pretty determined to hit 5 miles and I was feeling like a million bucks aside from that.

Anyways, I have a nice size blister now. How should I treat it? I really don't want it to affect my running for the next couple of days. Should I prick it and drain it? or just let it be?

Any advice would be helpful, thanks!

Replies

  • xxjacqueline
    xxjacqueline Posts: 97 Member
    I usually just let them be, even though they are a pain in the butt. You can prevent them by putting vaseline all over your feet before you put them into your socks. That's the ONLY thing I have found that keeps them at bay.
  • letjog
    letjog Posts: 260 Member
    hi, i've run 4 marathons and always get blisters either on my big toe or the arch of my foot. Except i don't get them anymore because i tape over the area before a run with those pink fabric plasters. The fabric ones are strong and don't sweat off. So the shoe rubs on the plaster and you don't get a blister.

    For the one you've already got, tape over it before running but uncover it after to let it dry out and heal :)
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Where in your foot is the blister?

    The usual reason for blisters is shoes that don't fit quite right but you can get them on your heel of you don't lace them tightly enough (but you don't want to over tighten them either) Sometimes the fit problems don't become apparent until you start upping your mileage.

    Sterilize a needle, poke it and drain the liquid, apply some antispetic/antibiotic cream and cover it.
  • DawnVanSlim
    DawnVanSlim Posts: 10,468 Member
    It's on the inside of my left foot. Towards the outside of the ball of my foot, below my big toe...if that makes sense?
  • SomeoneSomeplace
    SomeoneSomeplace Posts: 1,094 Member
    I know doctors say not to but I always just sterilize a small sewing needle with alcohol or a light and poke a tiny hole in the edges and drain it then put neosporian and a bandaid over it. It's way less painful when you drain it and it doesn't hurt to run. Sometimes it fills back up but then I just poke another small hole in it. I haven't had any infections yet. Back when I played field hockey we'd always go to the trainer for blisters and he would do the same thing.

    I get blisters there quite a bit as well, or I used to. Turns out my shoes were a little bit to big! Are you positive your shoes fit correctly? Maybe you want to invest in a better pair of running shoes?
  • mlb929
    mlb929 Posts: 1,974 Member
    I never do anything to my blister, keep moving on them, they turn to callouses, and I simply keep going. Blisters are a sign of weaknesses in your form though, I'd look at the bigger picture. LIke why are you hitting so hard on that part of your foot, is your strike too hard or uneven, do you need to strengthen hips or are you pronating, etc etc.
  • DawnVanSlim
    DawnVanSlim Posts: 10,468 Member
    hi, i've run 4 marathons and always get blisters either on my big toe or the arch of my foot. Except i don't get them anymore because i tape over the area before a run with those pink fabric plasters. The fabric ones are strong and don't sweat off. So the shoe rubs on the plaster and you don't get a blister.

    For the one you've already got, tape over it before running but uncover it after to let it dry out and heal :)

    Where do you buy your tape/pink fabric plasters?
  • strawberrygashes
    strawberrygashes Posts: 210 Member
    I pop and drain, I have one right now on my middle toe from running nearly 8.5 mile earlier. I can't stand the feel of them, they're painful and only ease when popped. I haven't had any infections. Oh and I don't believe form etc will cause blisters, shoe size can, did you go up a size in your shoe? As feet swell and you can get blisters from not enough room in the shoe. But generally I think a lot of runners experience them, particularly when you up your mileage. I just deal with them. Or get some of that tape :)
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    take a cotton ball , wet it and put a little tea tree essential oil on it, or lavendar essential oil.
    place the cotton ball over the blister and secure with tape or a bandaid. you should change the cotton ball 2 or 3 times a day.

    if i do that my blisters and dried out within 24 hours.

    if you get the blisters a lot then odds are something isnt fitting you right.

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