T2: Sock Preparation Methods

David Leventhal

I've searched in the forums and couldn't find a thread specifically devoted to this topic - if anyone knows of one please feel free to direct me there.

I'm curious what others in the haus have done with respect to "sock preparation" for the run.  I bike without socks so when I roll into T2 I throw the socks and shoes on.  I've experimented with the following techniques:

1. Socks rubbed with body glide all in them
2. Socks with lots Vaseline smeared all in the inside
3. Socks with nothing on them

I've not been totally content with any of these options (though the Vaseline seems to have worked the best of the three).  And since I end up heaving a large amount of water & ice on my head and in my shorts/top - my shoes & feet end up getting soaked.  Recognizing that my feet are going to get soaked what other methods have you used that you like and feel like are affective in helping to reduce the likelihood of blisters.

Thanks!

Dave Tallo

Acknowledging they'll get soaked, as you mention, I go with the thinnest socks possible, nothing on them. Rolled up like sock condoms with the top of the roll marked with a sharpie to know what end of the sock is up. Then unroll'n'go!

Stephanie Hartmann

Oh, that's good! I bike without, but I put them on to run. voila! thanks!

Mary Russo

I sprinkle baby powder inside my socks to capture moisture.
If race conditions call for rain, I place the socks, rolled up in a zip lock bag.
I placed the bag on top of my shoes.
It kept everything dry Sunday and off I went.

Try to keep the ice and water over your head but not your feet as you run.

Al Truscott

Posted By Dave Tallo on 25 Jun 2015 01:48 PM


Acknowledging they'll get soaked, as you mention, I go with the thinnest socks possible, nothing on them. Rolled up like sock condoms with the top of the roll marked with a sharpie to know what end of the sock is up. Then unroll'n'go!

What I do. Without the sharpie marking; I'm not quite so OCD.

I have race-only *very* thin socks. Blisters not a problem, but I always get a toenail hematoma or three in marathons.

Brad Marcus

I've run with these socks in VERY wet conditions over long distances and have not gotten a blister yet - Feetures Elite Ultra Light - Here's a link:

http://www.amazon.com/Feetures-Elite-Ultra-Light-Socks/dp/B00MGYWDWG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435264657&sr=8-1&keywords=feetures+elite+ultra+light

Everyone is different, so obviously try them in training before racing. They are thin and fairly tight fitting, so Dave and Al's rolling strategy is probably a good one that I'll tryout since they can take an extra few seconds to put on otherwise....

vrk3ds

Ive done two IM's using the vaseline method with smart wool socks and swear by it. I am a heavy sweater, and my feet, socks, shoes get soaked. Never had any problems with blisters, just an occasional black toenail.

Mike Roberts

Thin, quality socks - Chamois Butt'r them, roll them, run them. No blisters.

Clark Mitchell

I've always rolled my arm coolers. I don't know why I never thought to roll up my socks the same way. Thanks for the tip.

Has anyone had good luck with "tri specific" running shoes designed to be worn without socks? I know zoot made some slip-on running shoes that seemed like they might be socks optional.

I don't wear socks for sprint / oly distances but I always get blisters, so that's really not an option for me for HIM plus distances.

Marvin Karlow

Dave - good luck at BSLT

I have the same issues as you (thought I was alone) - water on head + ice in hat = wet soggy shoes/socks = blisters

At Honu, I tried bending over when pouring water on head/shoulders ... that helped a lot ... i discovered it was drainage from the initial pour that was mostly ending up in my shoes.

I have not tried (but seems obvious it would help) the 'ziplock bag' hack ... put the ice in the run transition ziplock rather than directly in hat ... also, can move ice around if you get a 'brain freeze' as I do frequently.

I'm also thin socks only ... no lubricants ... but I've gotten blisters in the past ... so if keeping shoes dry doesn't help, lube will be next experiment.

Anu Rao

Body glide roll on  on your feet, works great. Not sure rubbing it on to the socks is the same. I ran a marathon where it rained for 23 miles. Not one blister.

or this one that is powder you sprinkle into your socks

.http://www.2toms.com/blistershield/

John Withrow

I always wear my socks for at least 10-15 mins before putting them in T2 (loosens them up just a bit so they're easier to put on).

I also run/race in Injinjis (toe socks). Takes an extra 20-30 seconds to put them on, but worth it if you are worried about blisters.

Clark Mitchell

@JW - you must be an Injini ninja, I have one pair of those and it takes me like 5 minutes to put them on.

Scott Alexander

I use the anatomically-specific left/right socks, with a spoonful of Two Toms powder in each of them. I try to avoid getting water on/in my shoes, but that seldom works as well as I want it to.

rlh2000

For IM Surface of the Sun (aka CDA) yesterday I slathered my feet with Vaseline in T2 before putting on my socks. Vaseline had gotten warm so went on real easy and fast, 10 sec maybe. I spent the run soaking myself win water, and no blisters, so worked for me!