Very rarely do I finish a long run and not have story to tell. I am out there so freaking long there is ample time for all kinds of shenanigans.
This picture was taken in another life when it was not winter and when it was warm and sunny and the birds sang.
Sometimes it’s some story about an emergency (usually of the bathroom variety – like this time I blew up a nice bathroom at a local cafe). Other times, I have some clothing malfunction or odd encounter (remember that time that guy got out of his car, turned towards me and just started peeing in the middle of the road?)
Sunday I ran 10 miles. It was snowy and slippery. But, that is beside the point and not really a part of this story. Except that I like to put that in there because it makes me feel like more more a BAMF.
I got to about mile 3 and I had this hot spot on the bottom of my foot. It felt like a a blister forming, which is stupid because I never get blisters on the bottom of my feet. The pain got really bad and I could relate to people who drop out of races and cry due to stinking blisters. All for a small bubble on the skin filled with serum and caused by friction.
I had to get to the bottom of things.
I stopped, took off my shoe and sock (in the snow, mind you - BAMF) and saw a huge blister (or small bubble filled with serum) on the middle of my foot (look away if you’re squeamish. Don’t email me and bitch me out because this picture made you gag/throw up or ruined your day):
Yes, it’s true that thing has its own zip code. Just like your mama.
Anyway, WTF? I never get blisters except the Herpes kind – up top, not down below. (You know you get those cold sores too. You might not know it but they are Herpes Simplex 1. It’s okay if you don’t want to admit you have Herpes, but I believe in full disclosure).
I looked at my removed-sock. Culprit. I had this hole the size of a quarter on the bottom of my sock. My naked foot was rubbing my shoe. This further confirmed my belief that socks are there for a purpose (remember that time I didn’t wear socks at the half Ironman and had to borrow some teenager boy’s socks at the aid station? Socks are important).
Side note: Man, I have a lot of stories. One of these days I’ll tell you about teaching a class the other night and farting in front of everyone by mistake. But, that is for another day.
Anyway, so here I have this hole in my sock and this painful angry blister on my foot. It is a good thing that we runners are problem solvers and improvisers. I took off my other shoe and sock (yes, now I am barefoot in the snow – BAMF) and traded socks. This meant that the hole was on my other foot and was in a better, tougher spot. I finished the run in 1:33. BAM!!
There are many morals to this story:
- Never run in holy socks (unless they are the kind that have been blessed by the Pope)
- Socks are important, but you need to know when to throw them away
- A blister can ruin your day
- Always lather your feet in some kind of lube - JIC (Just In Case)
- You can take off your shoes and socks in the snow and not die
- Most of us have Herpes
- Teenage boys can be charitable sometimes
- Socks wear out and need to be replaced
- You can write a 500 word blog post about anything
Do you get bad blisters? Ever have to quit a run or race because of them?
What’s the craziest/worst thing that ever happened to you on a long run?
SUAR
