by Shawn Lemaster
July 12, 2018
These tiny little things can bring the fastest of racers to a hobble. At the very least, they can greatly hamper an otherwise enjoyable race. On the other extreme, they’ve forced many teams off the course completely.
By necessity, I have become my team’s blister guy. I have incredibly soft feet, like those of an infant. It’s embarrassing. I have learned however, through many years of trail & error, how to significantly prevent and treat these suckers.
Unfortunately, there’s no quick fix 3 paragraph blog post that’s going to get you there. It starts with selecting the perfect socks & shoes, building up your feet through training, addressing hotspots early on, and eventually popping and taping blisters that actually form during a race. That’s what this post/video is about – taping blisters on course.
I’ve done it several different ways, and I’ve seen it done a host of different ways during long races by the medical staff treating foot after foot at the TAs. The way I demonstrate in this video is pretty much the “accepted” way to tape by the experts. It includes a few frills that you may not take (due to time or materials), but I’ve found it is the most effective.
If you’re prone to blisters, have an untested distance coming up, or really like touching other people’s feet, then learn how! On the other hand, to prevent blisters in the first place and learn about all things feet, consider reading Fixing Your Feet. It’s the bible of foot care.
