The Sock Lesson

Up until recently, one thing I haven't had too much of an opinion on in regards to running is socks. Are running socks really necessary? Or will my funny-stripes Costco socks hack it? The answer, readers, is yes, running socks ARE really necessary, and NO your Costco socks won't suffice.

About three weeks ago, on the would-be 3-mile run that Lisa and I managed to turn into an almost 4-mile run (thanks to some less than stellar directions), I started to feel some rubbing on the arch of my left foot. Stupidly, I didn't stop to fix the problem. I ended up with a blister on the arch of my foot, presumably from socks that were too thin and/or wrinkled.

Last week, I ran my 4-mile run in Billings wearing thick FitSox brand Runner's Edge socks. I didn't even feel the existing blister, and no new ones appeared.

This week, on a similar 4-mile run, I wore thin socks again. I thought they would be fine, because they were supposedly "performance socks." Not so. I now have a blister on the arch of my right foot, and a new blister underneath the old, almost healed blister on my left foot.

Lesson learned. Thick socks = happy feet.