Blisters from running (Photo: J. Breinholt)
It is hard to believe that summer is already half way over, judging from the incredulous weather that New York City has been experiencing. The skies have been very liberal with H2O, this summer. In addition to affecting several running events, rain can make training a lot tougher.
There are several ways to make running wet conditions less miserable. This article deals primarily with mitigating against blisters.
When running in wet conditions, it is almost impossible to keep from getting wet. Even when runners are wearing ponchos, there is no avoiding getting water in the trainers. When feet get wet, they become exceptionally prone to blisters. Even areas with thick callouses break down and become tender when soaked with water. When the skin becomes pruny and soaked with water, is has more surface area for more friction.
For runners who do not have any sort of pre-existing propensity for blisters, the best way to prevent blisters in wet conditions is to use a a lubricating balm like Body Glide, and double up on the socks. Make sure that the socks are made of synthetic material. Preferably the sock will be one that is designed to reduce friction while running. This will allow the socks to slide against each other, and the insole of the trainer, rather than sliding on skin.
Runners who are prone to blisters can take additional precautions. If there is already a blister on the foot, running in wet conditions can exacerbate the blister. In addition to the suggestions above, a blister aid, such as Dr. Scholl’s. Moleskin pads are padded adhesive patches that can be cut to fit around the blister and relieve the friction and pressure. The down side to Moleskin, is that during the wet weather, the adhesive can give way, causing it to ball up.
Another alternative is using a patch that sticks directly into the shoe, rather than on the foot. One such product is a blister patch made by Engo. The patch is placed on the insole (or which ever part is causing the extra friction) of the trainer. The Engo patches are probably a better solution for those who suffer from blisters that form in a predictable location on the foot. Another nice thing about the Engo patches is that they only have to be replaced, when the runner starts using a new pair of trainers, instead of having to replace before each run.
