Training for the L.A. Marathon XVII

Happy Feet

Jacqueline Hansen
Special to the Mirror

   With just about a month until marathon day, take a moment to assess your racing shoes. They should be the most comfortable shoes you use for running — worn in, but not worn out. If you must change now, try to get the same shoe model and start breaking it in right away.
   What about your socks? Have you considered running in nice, lightweight racing socks? You want to use breathable materials that wick the moisture away. This is not the time for otherwise comfortable and ecologically correct cotton. Cotton has a tendency to stretch out and bunch up into wrinkles inside your shoe, which become a major source of blisters.
   In my career, I have rarely suffered any serious blisters. I attribute this to preparing the feet with simple lubrication. There are a variety of creams and ointments you may use, but I’ve avoided blisters by lathering my feet before races with Lanacaine. It’s inexpensive and easily found in any drug store. Coat your entire foot, being sure to get it between the toes, and apply a little extra to any spot you know is bound to get irritated. Carefully roll your sock on, so as not to wipe off the cream in the process. If you’re already dealing with blisters, you can protect those spots with moleskin or other blister cushioning materials. (Try Dr. Scholl’s or Band-Aid brands.) Lastly, don’t forget to check your feet for calluses that may need to be filed down or toenails that need to be clipped. Your feet take about 40,000 steps in the marathon, so treat them well.
   Jacqueline Hansen is a former two-time world record holder in the marathon, and the first woman to run a sub-2:40 marathon. She is the director of coaching education at the Amateur Athletic Foundation. If you have questions about marathon training, email Jacqueline at coachjqhansen@aol.com, or write to her in care of the Mirror.