Blister Causes & Prevention

Whether you’re cooking Christmas dinner, mingling at the office party or traipsing up and down the high street looking for last-minute gifts, the festive season has plenty of ways of keeping you on your toes - while taking a toll on your feet. 

Every seasoned runner recognises - and chases - that euphoric feeling that comes with finishing a big run. This is called a ‘runner’s high’, and for many it’s precisely the thing that makes going for a long, tiring run appealing in the first place. But what exactly is this feeling, and how does it come about?

Regular running is a great way to stay fit and healthy in body and mind, but the regularity and repetition involved does mean it can sometimes risk becoming a grind rather than a pleasure. And once running starts to feel like a chore, it becomes all the easier to fall behind - or even give up on - your routine.

Your shoes provide your feet with invaluable protection, support and comfort – assuming they fit correctly and you are wearing appropriate footwear for the occasion. Unsuitable or ill-fitting footwear, however, can actually increase your chances of blisters, discomfort and even injury.

Running is a great way to get your heart pumping, boost your mood and stay in shape – but it’s just as important you cool down after your run as it is for you to warm up beforehand.

We’re all well-aware that the aerobic exercise provided by running is a great boon for your physical health, but it’s perhaps less widely known that running has been proven to have tremendous benefits for your mental health as well. It’s always good to get out of the house and into the open air – but the positive effects of running actually go much deeper.

Modern life can often feel very sedentary; we spend a lot of time sitting looking at screens, sitting on public transport, or maybe even sitting in cars during journeys that – if we’re totally honest – may not actually have required a car.

The seasons are changing, the days are warming up and embarking on a running routine is looking more appealing than it has done for months. But whether you’re looking at getting involved with parkrun, starting Couch to 5K or following your own training plan, there can often be one thing stopping you from getting things moving: your own state of mind.

The arrival of a new year often marks a fresh beginning, a time when people around the world make resolutions and set goals to improve their lives. Among the most common New Year’s resolutions is a commitment to achieving better health.

Running has long been considered a largely solo activity, but it is increasingly coming to be seen as a sociable group activity, partly as a result of organised group events like parkrun. Today, there are more than 8 million people signed up to parkrun all over the world – and many more who will run in other organised events, or their own informal groups of friends.

As the New Year begins, many of us feel inspired to improve our health. One of the best ways to achieve this is by embracing movement in all its forms. Staying active benefits both physical and mental well-being, making it essential for a healthier, happier you.

As the crisp winter air descends upon us, runners prepare for a different kind of challenge. The cold season brings its own unique set of obstacles, but with the right approach, it can be an invigorating and thrilling experience.