Great big throbbing blister just before half marathon

[seabream]

I'm an experienced runner, but I've never had this before. Help! After my long run on Sunday I got a blister on my big toe, not too bad but a bit sore. I did what any normal runner would do, ignored it and did my hard track session yesterday. Now the blister is HUGE, PAINFUL and I can hardly walk, let alone run. I've got a half coming up on Sunday as a prep race for VLM.
How do I get rid of the bastard blister? I haven't changed shoes, socks, anything. At the moment I've got a padded plaster on it but it really hurts!

Ok. This is not conventional wisdom but it will work ( tried and tested on marathon de sables). Pop and drain blister but do not remove dead skin from on top. Pour rubbing alcohol/ surgical spirit on it to dry it out and kill germs. If you can bear to, inject the alcohol into the now empty blister sack. Now tape it tight with zinc oxide tape and no dressing. After the race you'll have to take the tape off and it'll hurt like a mofo but it'll get you through the race with little discomfort.

Would compeed work?

Wow AggressiveBunting you've done MDS - HUGE RESPECT!!!

Thanks for the blister advice. I've drained it like you said and managed to run on it today, it feels fine to run, hurts to walk but I'll take that!

I got one a week before a race and pharmacist advised the burn-sealing stuff. I wouldn't contradict someone with AgressiveBunting's awesome credentials, but it might be worth talking to your pharmacist after the race.

Good luck for Sunday.

Surgical spirit dries them up nicely