Since amping my mileage to train for these half marathons, I’ve noticed it stressing my skin… so I slap on a little sunblock and keep my face clear of sweat (by wiping it down every 3 minutes), but my feet haven’t been so lucky. I keep my toenails painted pink to help out, but my poor feet are covered in blisters and and finally calluses. Thankfully I’ve been saved from the notorious fungus that runners usually complain about.

Since I wanted to run trails, I ended up buying an awesome pair of Salomon XR CrossMax 1, which are incredibly stiff and gave me huuuuge blisters for two months after running in them. I read in my awesome Runners Word magazine that I needed thicker socks, so I proceeded to steal my husbands on a regular basis since I’ve given him about 100 pair of running socks over the last year and a half. He thinks this gives him free reign to tease me about everything of his that I “borrow”. Like his sweatpants that have had their ownership transferred to me. I can’t help it I’m always cold. Or his sweatshirts when we’re on the boardwalk. Or his shirts to sleep in. Now his socks.

In my opinion, he has absolutely no grounds for his teasing.

Anyways, about protecting our skin and feet. Apparently if they get wet (from sweat or mud or rain), the trapped moisture can cause maceration (when the skin looks paler than the surrounding skin) and is prone to fungal infections (Runners World). Ewwww (Just did a foot check to look at my between-the-toe-skin-color. I’m safe.)

The most helpful thing I can pass along is keeping clean, Keeping the running clothes and socks clean. Products like Blister Aid (Mission Athletecare blister Armour Anti-Friction stick) will definitely help with the blisters! Annnnnd lastly, Stuff the shoes with newspaper to dry them out between runs.