26 replies to this topic

[Aching Hammie's]

Hello,

Training for my first marathon and the longer runs are starting now. I have a pair of Brooks Adrenalin which are about 2 months old, and I can't go more than half an hour without getting blisters on the arch of both feet. I have added an extra innersole (the advice of a running shop salesman) and also got better socks. Still getting blisters though.

Any advice? I am on the verge of buying new shoes, but am scared I will just have the same problems (I need supportive shoes, but these are the ones that seem to rub the most).

Was reading something about Vaseline or Bodyglide? Would this be enough for me? Where do I get Body Glide from?

Thanks! AH

Edited by Aching Hammie's, 16 June 2006 - 07:19 AM.

[Steve 'The Footman']

I doubt bodyglide would make much difference. It is most likely that the shape of the arch in the shoe does not suit the shape of the arch on your foot.

I suggest you try on a straighter lasted shoe like the Brooks Addiction.

Try a lot of shoes on before buying so you can make sure that the fit is right.

[Runner In The Hills]

Hi Mate,
My experience is that most, not all, problems with blisters are caused by sock wear. I note you said you have better socks, but shop around. Socks that bind to your foot and move very little are the best in my opinion. 2 things cause blisters....friction and pressure. Eliminate the friction and Robert is one of your parent's siblings!
On the other hand, The Footman is a person of great experience. I'd prefer his advice over mine.
RITH

[Runner In The Hills]

Hi Mate,
My experience is that most, not all, problems with blisters are caused by sock wear. I note you said you have better socks, but shop around. Socks that bind to your foot and move very little are the best in my opinion. 2 things cause blisters....friction and pressure. Eliminate the friction and Robert is one of your parent's siblings!
On the other hand, The Footman is a person of great experience. I'd prefer his advice over mine.
RITH

[Steve 'The Footman']

RITH beware the fallacy of Authority (my personal favorite). Any argument should stand or fall on it's logic. Many myths are perpetrated because of the giants that support it rather than the minnows who end up being right.

But you did not have to post twice just to reinforce your point. WHY NOT POST EVERYTHING IN CAPITAL LETTERS or
post it all in bold. ;)

Because I have to agree with you that most blisters are caused by poor socks rather than the shoes. However in Aching Hammies case I felt he/she had gone the friction route so the pressure theory was probably more likely. Perhaps AH could let us know what socks he has tried?

[Aching Hammie's]

I tried a pair of new Addidas socks - looked at Thorlo's but they were so thick my shoes would not possibly fit, what with the new innersoles and all.

With the new socks there is certainly no further friction - my feet do not move at all! Yet still the ongoing blisters!

[slowjo]

I get blisters on the arch on the outside of my left foot when I run too hard on the treadmill, or do more than about 15kms in a particular pair of shoes. The podiatrist said it was because I was wearing the wrong shoes. I've been taping my foot which has really helped but I'm off to buy new shoes on Saturday :D

Slowjo

[alchemy]

Hi AH,

My brother-in-laws fiancee had the same sort of problem, she bought a pare of thorlos and has never had a problem since.

Personally I cant stand running in such a thick sock, I use the Target coolmax socks, the style I have aren't sold anymore, but the new version seems to be well regarded by CR's also ($6.99 a pair, less on sale). The key is to get a quick drying synthetic sock that is well fitted (possibly elastic around the centre of the foot), and take out the extra innersole when you try them.

New shoes are a pretty big expense, so I'd exhaust the sock option first. Although Thorlos aren't cheap either!

[Steve 'The Footman']

AH your reply seems to support the pressure rather than friction theory even if the chances of that are considerably less.

I suggest you go with slowjo and get some new shoes.

[tank girl]

When I first got my orthotics, I had similar blistering. It was because the arch support was slightly too pronounced - effectively the arch of the shoe extended beyond the arch of my foot, and so I was getting blisters brought on by the additional pressure (combined with the light friction that was already there). When we cut the extra blocks back a bit, to effectively shorten the arch, the blistering went away, and I never saw it again.

So like Steve said - try a differently shaped shoe. Let us know how you go.

[Will]

I used to always get huge blisters on the arch of my feet.

A friend who runs a lot of ultras told me to tighten my laces very very loose (I can nearly remove my shoes without undoing the laces). I was a bit sceptical at first, but it actually works. Never had any more blisters.

Don't know if it will work for you, but I reckon it is worth giving it a try.

[Rosabell]

The Adrenaline is available in 2 widths, The width you have may be incorrect for you.

Try on heaps of shoes, If your sure you need all this support try on the equivalent models in all major brands.

You could try taping your feet and or the inside of the shoe with leuko-tape.(This worked for me)

Best of Luck :)

[Aching Hammie's]

Heading to the running shops this afternoon to see how I go with a new pair of shoes (Roseabell tried to taping with so many bandaids to no effect!)

Wish me luck!

(Thanks for your feedback everyone too!)

[diablo]

As one who gets the occasional arch blister on long runs it was worthwhile reading some of the causes. It'll be particularly useful for when i go shopping for my next pair of shoes. As far as temporary solutions go I can vouch for applying a wide adhesive bandage to your arch.

[Morley]

I usually wear Asics 1100 but when changed to Asics 2100 and got blisters under my arch when doing long runs over avout 15K. Back to 1100 and no problems. No problems with new model 1110.

[Aki]

Interesting about the shoes - the thing is no matter what shoes I've had, I've always had arch blisters. That goes for the K-Mart ones I've begun with, Asics, Adidas etc. I've been fitted with shoes for pronation, although those K-Mart ones weren't for that.

I go through a pair of thorlos in a month, and have just bought some new coolmax socks. Generally I run wearing coolmax socks with talcum powder inside, and thorlos over the top. The last few weeks have been disheartening as my feet were in a pretty bad state, with my last race having me actually holding back on screaming at the end.

The new coolmax socks combined with talcum powder and thorlos seems to be working at the moment. I got them from the guys section at target (why have good sports socks for women?) and they have a reinforced area around the arch. Not the 'arch support' ones, though, don't trust that label, if it's not sort of padded around the arch then it's not going to work.

As soon as I can get to it, I'm buying some body glide (maybe tomorrow) and I'll let you know how it goes.

Otherwise, you have my sympathy! <_<

[emma runs]

I started getting blisters in the arches of my feet when I went from Adrenaline 5's to Adrenaline 6's.

This culminated in a 50c blister on my left arch and a matching 20c blister on the right arch about two weeks ago when I ran in a pair of cotton socks. I couldn't walk in shoes afterwards!

I've solved the problem by trimming down the arch in the shoe's innersole - this has stopped the rubbing. Wearing the right socks also helps.

[Kato]

Aching Hammies

I import BlisterShield which is a lubricating foot powder. It is made of teflon and powdered wax, and it works by stopping the socks from pulling on the skin of your feet. Pulling + pressure = blisters. No pulling = No blisters.

See Me Run (www.seemerun.com.au) has a bit more detail about the product, but I'd like to send you some to evaluate if you promise to put a review up on the CoolRunning blistered foot arch thread.

Send me your postal address and I'll send you some samples!

Francis Harvey / Kato

[Aching Hammie's]

I purchased a pair of Brooks Addictions yesterday, so hopefully this will help the problem.

Interesting also that someone said they went from Adrenalin 5 to 6 and had the same problem. The sales man from The Running Shop Clovelly told me that they may have changed the shoe slightly in the arch section. Totally recommend The Running Shop at Clovelly also as he was super healpful!

Kato - That sounds unreal - would be more than happy to give your product a go, and give everyone some feedback (on this post) as to how I went! Thanks so much. I will continue to alternate between old and new shoes, so hoefully your product will ensure I get my wear out of the problem shoes!

Will keep you all posted!

AH

[coolbananas]

I get exactly the same problem and reading through these posts wonder if its a Brooks design problem? I run in the trance shoes and even with good socks still get problems sometimes, seems to be when running on trails though, mabye its all the changing direction as opposed to running on the road?

[Steve 'The Footman']

Daph I do not think it is a problem just with one Brand. I have seen this same problem with shoes from every manufacturer. It is a design issue that has to do with the flange or wrap up of the edges of the midsole to cradle the foot. Adidas were the first to do it specifically with the feet you wear idea in the early 90's. The problem is that we do not all have the same shape foot or height arch. Some arches are longer than others and some are not as wide reaching across the foot. When there is a poor match between the foot shape and the arch shape in the shoe then these types of blisters can occur. But almost every model in every brand does this wrap to some extent. In some people it requires a little modification to the midsole to relieve it as there is no insole that will do the trick. I have done this modification over 100 times with a near 100% success rate. (two failures)

[thefalconz.com]

I have a similar problem but they're not quite blisters yet, more like callouses at the moment. I have been running in Nike cool fit socks which are quite thin.

Next run I will go back to a thicker 'normal' sock to see if it makes a difference. I do wear orthotics as well.

Closest it got to blisters was on the R4TK, my left foot was quite sore each time my foot hit the ground. It could be my shoes though, I have been using the same shoes since last year's C2S.

Chris

[Grandpa]

Said it b4 but will say it again. Apply vaseline or similar b4 running. Eventually calouses will form protecting your skin and you won't need the vaseline.

Don't blame the shoe. It or the orthotics are actually doing an important support job for your feet that save you from other problems.

Don't throw the old shoes away. You may get used to them as I have. But its always good to have options

Grandpa

[Grandpa]

Said it b4 but will say it again. Apply vaseline or similar b4 running. Eventually calouses will form protecting your skin and you won't need the vaseline.

Don't blame the shoe. It or the orthotics are actually doing an important support job for your feet that save you from other problems.

Don't throw the old shoes away. You may get used to them as I have. But its always good to have options

Grandpa

[Aching Hammie's]

Hello again everyone! For those of you following this post, I wanted to give you an update on how things have worked out for me in the world of blisters, and provide some feedback on BlisterShield.

I purcahsed a new pair of Brooks Addictions. Did a long run in them and got a few blisters in a different spot on my arches - nothing major though. Put it down to the fact that they were new shoes. I also purachsed a couple of pairs of CoolMax socks from Target - LOVE them!

Then Kato so kindly posted me a couple of sachet's of BlisterShield - a poweder-like substance that you sprinkle into your socks prior to running. I must admit, I was skeptical, but I sprinkled away and put on my 'bad shoes' (Brooks Adrenalin) without any bandaids and went for a run. Amazingly... NO BLISTERS! This stuff is really clever!

What I had noticed last week after my long run was that my socks are basically drenched after the run, while my husbands are bone dry. When I used BlisterShield my socks were a lot drier after the run - the powder just seemed to absorb the moisture.

So in a nutshell, I now have 2 pairs of running shoes, and my blister problems should be ancient history. Thanks so much everyone - and Kato I will be signing up for some more BlisterShield from your website (www.seemerun.com.au)

Edited by Aching Hammie's, 16 June 2006 - 07:26 AM.

[jasla]

Hi Steve,
I wonder if you could give me an idea of how much of a modification is required (i.e. shape and size to cut out).
I have never had problems with blisters before until I bought a pair of Mi Adidas running shoes - they are otherwise extremely comfortable so I would like to persevere with them but the arch blisters are a real problem. In your experience does the modification normally resolve the problem as I am worried that once I have tampered with them there is no sending them back!

Thanks for any help you can give,
Jason

Steve, on Jun 9 2006, 01:00 PM, said:

Daph I do not think it is a problem just with one Brand. I have seen this same problem with shoes from every manufacturer. It is a design issue that has to do with the flange or wrap up of the edges of the midsole to cradle the foot. Adidas were the first to do it specifically with the feet you wear idea in the early 90's. The problem is that we do not all have the same shape foot or height arch. Some arches are longer than others and some are not as wide reaching across the foot. When there is a poor match between the foot shape and the arch shape in the shoe then these types of blisters can occur. But almost every model in every brand does this wrap to some extent. In some people it requires a little modification to the midsole to relieve it as there is no insole that will do the trick. I have done this modification over 100 times with a near 100% success rate. (two failures)

[Aki]

I never did get around to giving my review for blistershield.

I was given the free packs as well, which was very exciting when they turned up in the mail. I later went for a half marathon run in them with a friend - not a competitive one, but we ran a competitive pace.

Mine was not so much of a miracle story, as I still ended up with blisters, however they would probably 70% less severe than usual, meaning I could tolerate them.

I later got orthotics, that didn't fix the problem, then someone suggested vaseline which I tried out at Fitzroy Falls... I should have listened to Emma Murray's advice with this one as she did warn me. I think I was crying with pain during that run, the blisters were so severe they were bleeding. Then I tried bodyguide on people's advice from this site - an absolute waste of 15 dollars it would seem as it had the same effect as the vaseline.

So Blistershield happens to be the best product I've tried.