Running Shoes without Socks
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2880 days
Joe_H posted 40 weeks ago.
how long of a race are talking about here? wouldn't recommend this for a half or full IM but for sprint or oly it should be ok if you do in practice and toughen your toes up. but some shoes just aren't made for barefoot running as the blood stains on mizuno's can verify. think zoot running shoes (possibly available at your local Marshall's) are supposedly tri running shoes and might be worth looking at.
heard some folks put talcum (baby) powder in their bike shoes to help their feet dry guess that could helps but besides that maybe bodyglide/vaseline for lube up your toes
what I'm up to:
http://www.athletefocus.com/forum/sport/triathlon
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PJT posted 40 weeks ago.
Funny you should mention Mizuno's. I got a pair of Wave Elixer's this year for 5ks and such. Great fitting shoe, but the first time I tried running in them sockless I had 3 pretty painful blisters within about 2 miles. The hot spots turned out to be where the Mizuno logo is stiched onto the instep. I covered the inside seams of that logo with smooth duct tape, added vaseline over the top of the tape, and have done about 4 runs in them blister-free. However, this seems far from optimal (tape can come loose, etc.). Next time, I'm planning to take a look at Zoot's.
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786 days
CadenceGuy posted 40 weeks ago.
Ive tried the Mizuno 'Blood Run' also. Not to knock Mizunos but for my foot they are torture without socks. Ive had Zoot shoes and those are designed to be worn without socks, although Ive never ran more then 9 miles in them so I cant speak for 1/2 and full marathon distance running. Im in Newtons now and can handle 10k's in those just fine but feel that anything longer without socks is going to cause a blister.
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1878 days
brittda posted 40 weeks ago.
Can I just be stupid here and ask why the heck you wouldnt take 2 seconds to put socks on for a 1/2 or full? I can see it in a sprint--5k isn't going to be a big deal. But, why not make yourself comfortable?
Yes I always wear socks :) even in my limited (3) sprint races.
1341
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1675 days
PJT posted 40 weeks ago.
Britt,
Agreed. For me, sockless is probably only going to be a Sprint/Oly thing. The risk of blistering on the run just seems too high after a certain number of miles, and blisters slow me down way more than the time it would take to throw on some socks in transition.
412
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709 days
SueR posted 40 weeks ago.
I start doing one run a week barefoot once it warms up and only do my oly and sprint races barefoot. That being said if my feet get dirty in transition, I throw on socks. I always keep them in transition just in case my feet need them.
12
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385 days
mklein posted 40 weeks ago.
Thanks for the feedback thus far. Yes, for all who asked, I am speaking specifically for sprints & olympics. 70.3 and longer I would certainly take the time to put on socks.
brittda -- the reason I wouldn't take "2 seconds" to put on socks is because it's realistically more like 45 seconds when your feet are wet from the swim, and could mean several overall places as well as placing at the top of your age group, which is what happened to me on Sunday in the sprint. Had a not thrown on socks I would've cut enough time out to have won my AG. (and I really wanted that free gallon of Heed formula!).
2394
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1878 days
brittda posted 40 weeks ago.
mklein wrote:
Thanks for the feedback thus far. Yes, for all who asked, I am speaking specifically for sprints & olympics. 70.3 and longer I would certainly take the time to put on socks.brittda -- the reason I wouldn't take "2 seconds" to put on socks is because it's realistically more like 45 seconds when your feet are wet from the swim, and could mean several overall places as well as placing at the top of your age group, which is what happened to me on Sunday in the sprint. Had a not thrown on socks I would've cut enough time out to have won my AG. (and I really wanted that free gallon of Heed formula!).
I think you misunderstood---I said for a 1/2 or full. And, I also said I could understand for a sprint since you originally didn't indicate a length :)
I am also not placing, especially in a sprint so would opt for socks regardless since the run is where I get killed in a sprint. I am all for comfort, I guess I am getting old.
That said, I only take about 10 for socks --if you roll the top down and just slide your toes into the peds they really do only take a couple of seconds. So I did exagerate a little, but only about 3 seconds per foot. :)
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401 days
j.qualle posted 40 weeks ago.
Zoot ultra race 2.0, I have gone sockless with no problems. Even did a 1/2 marathon a few weeks ago no socks and no problem. Wife does make me leave them in the garage.
jq
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927 days
cjhoffmn posted 40 weeks ago.
I haven't found ones that work for me yet, but i can say that ASICS KAYANOS blistered my feet up nicely on 6 miler without socks recently. Was from the stripes running up the arch of both my feet. I like them overall, but not for sockless running.
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2116 days
kylie posted 40 weeks ago.
The zoots just don't work for me (at least in the runs I've tried them for I ended up blistered). But I can run forever in my Brooks Axiom without socks!
Miles of Life --- Powered by MarkyV
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KitKat posted 40 weeks ago.
I think the answer here is "different strokes for different folks".
**Pain is weakness leaving the body**
*Smile, it does a body good*
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brian669 posted 40 weeks ago.
i used brooks beasts exclusively until recently and i would run 10+ miles with no issues, but i also used to run 10+ miles in bates combat boots so....
and i also keep mine in the garage! sometimes in the shed! man do my feet STINK when i don't wear socks!!!!!
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385 days
mklein posted 39 weeks ago.
Thanks all... I know KitKat is right... different strokes for different folks. Just wanted to hear a bit about what those different strokes are from some other, more experienced triathletes.
If you're curious, I tried the Zoots and didnt like them at all. I come from a running background and the zoots felt like I had no shoe on at all. Very little padding and zero stability. I finally decided on the Asics Gel-Speedstar 3. a light weight racer with not too much internal stitching (to cause blistering without socks). So far so good, though my first real test will be the Philly Olympic in 11 days.
Thanks again for all your comments.
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795 days
TonisTri posted 39 weeks ago.
Mklein, I will be there too! I'll post my race number here after I pick up my packet, so if you see me, say "hello" to a fellow trifueler. And have an awesome race!
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." -T. Roosevelt
I'm trying to knock time off of my transitions. Starting to shop for running shoes that are good to use without socks. Any suggestions about brands/models as well as techniques for avoiding blisters in both my bike and running shoes? Any help is appreciated!