Back to the point of THIS post. Yesterday, I did my longest run to date for IMAZ training, 2 hours. Woohoo!! Last week, when I did my long run, I started getting some pressure pain on the balls of my feet, so I thought that I would try a more cushioned sock, that is known to be a good running sock, this time around. BIG MISTAKE!!! At the 30min. mark, I could already feel a blister forming on the side of my big toe. I thought about going into a school and asking for a Band aid, but I figured they would think I was a freak, so I just dealt with it and hoped for the best.
Well, by the end of my run it hurt really bad. When I got home, I immediately took off my shoes and socks and this is what I found:
OUCH! No wonder my toes hurt so bad! AND, yes, I know my feet/toes are ugly....I'm training for an Ironman...what do you expect??! Ha ha! :)
So, here's a question for you: Do I pop it? Or, do I just let it be?
I'm thinking about popping it just because I know the next time I run, which is tomorrow, it will probably pop on the run?! RIGHT? But, I've also heard that if you pop it, it can get infected leading to a bigger, more painful problem. What would you do???
On another note, I had an awesome run! I did a 90M bike/6M run brick on Saturday and felt great. But, I didn't know how my legs would do on my long run. Well, I was actually surprised at how good I felt. Maybe all this training is actually starting to pay off?! Woohoo! :)
25 comments:
Pop it and put on some "second skin" and a bandaid..
More importantly, figure out why it happened.
You might try Sportslick as lubricant and also get some wicking socks...
oohhh i would pop it b/c i can't help myself. i would put little prick in it but not pick it, then aquaphor and bandaid. good luck. i too get pains ont he ball of my feet with long runs. last half i did the last 3 miles my balls of my feet werer burnning and my toes were numb....
Ditto what everyone else has said!
Speaking from the exact same experience a few years ago (never have had any more issues thankfully), I popped it, drained it, a little neosporin and mole skin(key piece of covering). In order to keep the mole skin on, wrap some of that white first aid tape around your foot to secure it. You won't even notice it is there next time you run and it will heal even as you run.
Keep up the good work on your IM training ...almost there and totally worth all the time contraints.
Generally, the rule is you shouldn't pop blisters - IF you can keep them intact. If it's going to pop on it's own, you're better off popping it in a sanitary, less damaging manner.
I agree with KC. DOn't just pop it. You have to put a covering over it afterwards!! Holy Cow! You are almost there! Great training!
What most people forget to tell you about the infection is that they used a dirty needle and didnt pre clean their foot. I would sterile the needle with perixode and the clean your foot with perixode, then poke it, add neosporin right away and put something on it.
Pop it and put a little antibiotic on it, you'll be more thankful you did than if you left it alone (the nurse at school would never let the kids pop it...she obviously isn't a runner!!!).
Ouch! For blisters like that, especially if it is soft skin that will rip on its own, I take peroxide, a lighter and a needle and steralize the needle and stick it in just enough to drain the liquid.
Then for EVERY run going forwards until it is fully healed, I slap a square of mole skin right on top of the blister, and then tape it up with cotten/sticky athletic tape. Usually I don't even notice the blister with this dressing.
Good luck!
I leave them alone and they tend to heal up pretty fast.
So glad training is going well!!!
I've jsut had a HUGE one..
Pop it but do not remove the skin. You want the skin to fall on its own. Just cover with bandaid/moleskin for a bit. And yes, use a clean needle.
I've had my share of blood blisters from marathons. Don't pop it..infection likelihood goes way up!
And I don't know how you do it all anyhow--when I did an IM I had no kids, worked from home and no blog! So I'm impressed anytime you find the time for blogging!
Glad to see you posting & that training is going well.
I'd pop it & keep it covered with neosporin & a band aid.
yes, pop that sucker! And take Bob's advice about the 2nd skin -- it is good stuff!
I don’t know about popping or not but I can sympathies with the blister and gross feet, and I am not training for an ironman (yet!). Congrats on your 90/6 brick that awesome, nice the it is cooling down now that your workouts are really amping up!
Any suggestions for someone that will start IM training in less than a month now that you are in the thick of it?
Hi Girrrrl!
dear Lord!~ You had me 'pop' over w/your post title (sorry...couldn' help the punn'
I say...naw...don't pop it.
Good luck!!
Leave it alone, cover it on your next run. Thanks for proving that I'm not the only one with ugly calloused feet!
Woot for IMAZ! Very exciting! I say pop and keep clean. It'll heal up in no time.
cant give you any advice on the blisters...I'm a popper though, so that's probably what i'd do. :) I'm impressed how you fit everything in. I don't have a family and find it hard to fit it all in!
I say POP IT! I would. I can't resist popping blisters.
Your feet look way better than mine :)
a month b4 IM i did the incorrect move of tearing out the entire blister - resulting in raw skin for a month
Not good
the correct move is
tiniest pin hole to pop and drain
and leave the skin
I would pop that sucker. Let it breathe to heal and you'll be good to go.
Pop it! And then blog about it.
My son saw the picture and said "Oh no, the feet got hurt!" I always pop, but that doesn't make it right!
I almost always pop my blisters and then douce them with bactine. Also, once blisters are popped and you go swimming, the pool chemicals will actually dry out the blister for you. At least it does for me. Gross but true.
I can't wait to hear all about IM training when you have time to post more about. It's so great to hear that your knee/leg pain hasn't resurfaced and that you're rocking 90 mile bike rides with 6 miles of running---that is soooooo awesome.
Post a Comment