Need HELP with foot issue

Mariah Bridges

Background: Use to be a runner for two years- turned triathlete past three years- now running first stand alone road race in three years- half marathon in Nov. This is the most Ive run in a long time (due to injury) last race was Raleigh 70.3 in June 2015. Knee surprisingly is holding up well despite torn meniscus. 

Old shoes: Newtons size 10 

Socks: Features Elite size Medium (advertised compression socks "no blisters"...leave it to me...CHALLENGE ACCEPTED)

"New shoes" with about 200 miles on them Hoka Stinson Lite size 9 same socks 

Problem: The past two weeks Ive developed blisters on both my big toes and the toe beside that one (on the sides in-between the toes) 

Theory: would tell me socks or shoes are too tight but Ive put 200 miles on these shoes, is it because Im bringing up my frequency? Is my run gate off? Why am I just now seeing this issue? Shoes feel fine, not tight at all but should I go larger shoe? Go back to Newtons?  Take up knitting or puzzles instead? 

HELP! 

Please and thank you EN rocks stars. 

GAndrew Gordon

Can't weigh in on the shoes or socks being too tight (only you really know that) and they seem worn in, but I find that when it is really humid and evaporation is limited, I tend to get more friction between my toes. Some bodyglide or other lube might help. I've also been finding that for some reason I sometimes bunch my toes or press them into the bottom of my shoes instead of relaxing them. This leads to friction as well. Focusing on relaxing them rectifies this. Not sure if you are having either of those issues, but if so, I hope this helps.

Nate Parady

I've got very tough feet...been a runner for longer than I can remember. for this IM build I have been doing 40 miles a week broken out over 5 sessions. After the last two long runs I have developed new blisters. Go figure.

I think it's partially part of the deal with being a runner. I also think the point on heat/humidity and placing some body glide on the toes is all valid.

You getting a blister on your big toe could also be a sign of some improved running form i.e. pushing off all the way through your stride.

kimmydct

Have your runs been getting longer? That happened to me at IMFL in 2012. Never had a blister running til then. But I had also never run longer than 13 miles so my feet were like "WTF?" Perhaps your feet are saying "WTF"? with increased mileage? And heat/humidity def don't help...

rlh2000

That location of blisters doesn't seem to be a run gate issue to me (if it was the other side of your big toe, yes!). Probably just the product of longer runs + heat. This could be feet swelling and shoes being too tight, or it could just be. For Coeur d'Alene, I slathered my feet with vaseline. My feet were squishy wet the whole time from all the water I was pouring on myself, and I had NO blisters. Made me a believer!

Mike Roberts

Because it's both feet and in-between Toes 1 and 2, sounds to me like you could have a toe box issue.  It could be the socks jamming your toes together, the shoe, or both.  I wouldn't be surprised if the blisters didn't show during low mileage (i.e., your first 175 miles), but have only shown up lately (the last 25 miles or so) as you've increased distance and volume.

If you really feel like your toes do have plenty of freedom in the current set-up, then it may just be the volume (and probably the 93F humid days we've been having the last week).  Just spray some Tri Glide or put on some Body glide, get out there and run, and embrace the blisters as feet-tougheners.

Kane Murphy

Mariah, I have tried 3 or 4 different HOKA models and they have all given me toe blisters at times. I have an earlier version of the Stinsons and they had the narrowest toe box of all the models I tried. I actually took a box cutter to them and cut out part of the shoe that was rubbing my big toes. I can send a picture tonight when I get home, the shoe looked ugly put performed better for me after removing some material. I haven't had any other brand of shoe give me these issues, but I stick with the HOKAs for now due to the heavy cushioning that the rest of my old body seems to like.

Stephanie Hartmann

My running store put me a 1/2 size larger in one brand and a full size larger in another. You run longer, your feet swell more, you sweat more and voila! blisters. I need a fairly wide toe box as it is. You might just need a slightly larger shoe. That's the same irritation area I had.

jendat

This may sound really stupid, but I get blisters in the same place if my toenails get just a touch too long.

Jess Withrow

Weird that it took 200 miles, but I'm going to go with the Stinsons, too. Only because I've worn both Newtons AND Stinsons (and just about every other Hoka model), and yep, the Stinsons are very narrow. Probably makes sense to size back up in your next pair. :-)))

Have you tried Injinji toesocks?

Mariah Bridges

@rachel - I have been using Glide on my toes but maybe not enough. Will try vasoline for sure. Maybe a different shoe (ugh do the purchases never end)

@jess - I have a pair of toe socks that I use to wear when I was "just a runner" but switched to these because we all know I can't put on toe socks in T2 in a triathlon! haha Maybe I can wear those now, thats a good idea- thanks!

@jennifer - not stupid at all good point but I have bad ingrown toe nails from my decades as a professional choreographer so I get a pedicure every two weeks, maybe even shorter? I dunno will try that thank you!

@kane - would love to see that picture, I really do think Im able to run no major knee pain with this torn meniscus bc of the hokas so I really don't want to change them.

@mike - you're right, I do need to embrace it, just hurts my run eventually, maybe Im being a wimp ha!

@Gerry - good idea about focusing on foot form- thank you!

@Stephanie - GREAT! like Hokas aren't big enough as it is haha! Thank you for the suggestion

@kim/Nate - you guys might be right! Thanks



LOVE THIS TEAM! Thank you for helping me talk it out

Kane Murphy

I will send you the picture of my cut up hokas when I get home. All my hokas came with 2 pairs of insoles. Although the flatter insole is less cushiony, it does seem to open up a little more room for my toes.

Dawn Cass

Mariah - seems like you already have a lot of advise however I would be suspicious of the socks. I have had perfectly great shoes and then changed socks and major problems. I would play around with this first. The second, which others have said...is depending on milage, things can flare up. I used to run in Saucony and loved them. The moment I got over 10 miles however, they were no good (didn't matter the sock)....same with Brooks. It's something about the repetitive strike at long distances that just don't fit my foot right.

Hope it helps.

Mariah Bridges

@Dawn - that is good info, thank you for telling me. I'm going to have to come up with a game plan to the best solution, it will include changing socks now, you're awesome thanks!