I haven’t blogged much about running the past couple of weeks, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been running. I had a successful 7-mile long run this weekend, as well as a few shorter 3-mile runs. Everything has been going well, and I’ve been staying pretty close to my training schedule.
Today, I went out for my mid-week 4-mile run. When I finished, I noticed that my foot stung, as though it had a blister. How could I have hurt my foot so early in my training? Last year, I managed to go through 32 weeks of training and an entire marathon without a single blister on my feet, so this was a most unusual feeling.
I got my answer when I went to take off my shoes: I had forgotten to change to my synthetic running socks from the cotton socks I had been wearing earlier in the day. Back before I had been converted to the Way of the Synthetic Sock, I had worn cotton socks for all of my workouts. I would get the occasional blister, but it usually wasn’t much to worry about because I would never run for more than an hour at a time, and rarely for multiple days in a row. I couldn’t imagine getting multiple blisters while having to run 40 miles a week, though!
Anyway, the moral of the story is that friends don’t let friends wear cotton socks while running. Besides being better for your feet by preventing blisters and chafing, they also promote the life of your running shoes by not letting them get disintegrated by your sweaty feet. Synthetic running socks usually cost between $7-$12 a pair, but they’re worth every penny if you want to save your feet from unnecessary agony.
2 Comments
January 17, 2008 at 3:31 pm
[...] About Marathon Training: Friends don’t let friends wear cotton socks [...]
July 7, 2008 at 8:53 pm
oy – i know EXACTLY how you feel – but even more really…
I just changed my shoes and also ran in Nike Dri-Fit socks. I went to Boulder Running Company, where i bought the first pair, and they immediately fit me with better shoes and confirmed your blog statement above about cotton socks.
I ran a couple half marathons early this year and JUST started marathon training recently. No problems during half marathons but, on the FIRST long run of my training plan for my FIRST marathon (NYC) of 14 miles, BAD BLISTERS!!! UGGHH…
Well, i have new shoes, new Brooks brand synthetic socks and I’m cross training this week to make up for missed running…eesh.
Nothing worse than knowing you have the cardio capacity to keep training and also not being able to actually run
Great advice all should heed!