OK team, not long until race day. Hopefully, training is well underway. You’ve been putting in the Ks, thinking about race day nutrition, got everything on the mandatory gear list and a plan for how to avoid/ deal with blisters on race day.
Wait, what? Yes, blisters. You need a plan. Because you know you’re going to get your feet wet, right?
Most events at Motatapu involve river crossings so there’s no avoiding soggy feet. Even though there are no rivers on the Miner’s Trail, you just never know what the weather might serve up on race day so it’s best to be prepared. Wet feet = more chance of blisters. Add to that chafing from carrying a pack or just being on the move for several hours and you’ll be wishing you’d listened to us when we said you need a plan.
Thankfully, we’ve got some helpful advice to pass on from our friend Jennie Taylor at Sweet Cheeks. Jennie is not only the brains behind Butt Butter, the fabulous, all-natural anti-chafe cream that can save your day if you’re experiencing chafe or hot spots during a race, but she ran the Motatapu Trail Marathon last year so she knows exactly what to do to prevent any blisters or rubbing during the race. Over to you, Jennie.
How the experts avoid blisters and chafing
Hello, I’m Jennie, I have lived in Wānaka for 20 years – originally from Colorado, USA. I love trail running and my husband is a passionate mountain biker. Together we created a small business, Sweet Cheeks.
Last year I ran the Motatapu marathon, it had always been on my bucket list! I knew there were a lot of water crossings during the race and that when my socks/shoes are wet sometimes I get blisters. Here’s what I did to prevent the blisters and what I took with me just in case.
- I made sure to wear merino socks and I also lathered my toes and balls of my feet with Butt Butter, to prevent any blisters or rubbing during the race.
- I also put Butt Butter under the straps on the shoulders of my pack to stop any rubbing as I was expecting the run to take around six hours. Those are the main spots where I experience rubbing on long runs.
- I took a wee 15gm tin of Butt Butter with me in case of any additional chaffing during the race. A lot of people get inner thigh or bra chafe, which you can also use Butt Butter or Anti-Chafe Balm to prevent.
Not having to worry about blisters meant I could really enjoy the run and have fun out there, soaking up the scenery and chatting to other competitors along the way. Instead of thinking about my wet feet, I made the most of the water crossings to help cool down! I would highly recommend this event; it’s so much more than a marathon it’s a real scenic adventure!
Quick tips – how to avoid blisters
- Wear shoes that fit well, and use good socks.
- Coating your feet in Vaseline (or a specialist runners’ lubricant like Sweet Cheeks Butt Butter) will stop your feet from absorbing as much moisture.
- If you feel a hotspot that you think might be a blister, stop and check it out. You might be lucky; it might just be a bit of debris in your sock or some other easily fixed problem.
- If it really is too late, the dermatologist’s best practice is to drain the blister, piercing it with a sterile implement, leaving the surface skin in place, then covering it with a dressing and ideally a donut of moleskin for comfort
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