I did not pop, but I padded and gritted and it worked (up until I de-padded after the race which was disgusting, hurt like Hell and caused me to limp around for about 5 days). It basically popped on its own during the race but I had padded so well that it never actually moved around and hurt so much that I couldn’t run.
Ultramarathon runner here. I voted “other” - as most people suggested, you don’t want to pop a blister but rather drain it.
This is assuming that it’s a clear blister, not something nastier like a blood-filled blister.
John Vonhof’s book “Fixing Your Feet” is all about foot care for endurance athletes and he has tons of advice on this topic. He recommends using a nail clipper to make a small triangular notch in the edge of the blister; the hole won’t close up as quickly as a pinhole so it can drain better. Locate it so that walking/running continues to drain it. Obviously clean and sterilize the area and everything that will touch it first…
What I generally do is clean my foot carefully, wipe down the blister area with rubbing alcohol and soak the clipper in some alcohol as well.
Small notch in the edge of the blister, gently drain it until all fluid is gone and clean & dry it again. Apply a gel blister cushion (Bandaid, Dr. Scholl’s, Second Skin all make these, you can find them at the drugstore). If I’m going to be running on it I’ll apply some Leukotape or similar over the cushion (the stuff holds incredibly well, even on my sweaty feet).
And after your run you need to keep an eye on things and treat your foot nicely, avoid infection.
If it’s a big ole’ blood blister or you don’t really need to do the run, clean it, pad it, stay off it and let it heal. You can always run next week.
Oh, one other great bit of advice from that book - get rid of your calluses! A blister under one is maddening. I use a Ped Egg (one of those inexpensive foot rasps, works great), I met Vonhof and he recommended a little rotary tool that is sold for the same purpose. I always thought a callus was “foot armor” but I’m so much more comfortable now that I keep them smoothed off.
ETA - if you run on trails get a lightweight set of trail running gaiters. They’ll keep all kinds of debris from getting into your shoes.
It may be a little late for this one, but I swear by NuSkin (liquid band-aid); I put it on my feet before I go out & it will wear off after X miles (usually 4-6) giving my feet that much longer until they start to rub. It’s thin so you won’t feel it & it can’t slip either. I’ve had blister pads slip & actually cause a blister somewhere else on my foot.
I would put a donut bandage around the blister and leave it intact. If the blister is too big for that to work, call off the run, because it’s going to be bad no matter what you do.
I would drain it and run. Especially if this is actual race weekend. If it hurts afterwards so what? The race is done and you can pamper it all you want after. I’ll push through just about any minor pain if it’s only a few hours of my life. I’ve always drained blisters using dirty nail clippers and haven’t died
No way I bail on a race due to blistering. Tape it up and run.
I don’t believe in sterilizing with a match, unless it’s the only option. You’ll get some carbon deposits on the item you’re sterilizing. I’ve got plenty of rubbing alcohol. Soak whatever you’re sterilizing in the alcohol for 10-15 minutes. Wipe with a sterile gauze pad.
The one thing that might save me is that it’s on the side of my foot, not the bottom. The race is important enough to me that I’m going to give it a go either way. Hopefully I don’t end up limping across the finish line. Thanks for the great advice. 70% of Dopers can’t be wrong!