See Stefan's post in the other thread about shoes and socks. I agree with him. Most training plans have a build-up and start to taper over the last couple of weeks to allow your legs to rest a bit. Hal Higdon's website has a solid plan with specifics, check out his website halhigdon.com. You should use your next couple of long runs as models for race day. Do everything up to and during those training runs as if you were running the marathon that day...same clothes...same foods...etc. Better to find out if something is not going to work for you before race day. I eat mostly fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, nuts, brown rice, whole grain breads, and pastas. We mostly cook with olive oil since nutritionists have told me that it is a healthy source of fat. Somethings that I am working on are eating the right quantities and getting the right amount of iron and sodium. Good luck and keep positive. I am a runner for life now after my first year of running. I hope that you will be too.

Don

As far as shoes go, some people might say not to switch, that you should have run something like 50 miles in a pair before a race but I say if you are already having problems you should switch. Try a new pair that is fitted better for you. It might help and if not you can always wear the ones you've been running in and prepare for the blisters you are already accustomed to. My shoes were really starting to hurt me before my last half marathon and I had to get new shoes. All of my running friends said I was crazy for racing in brand new shoes. (I agree, it is risky.) but you at least have time to do a few runs in them. I bought mine the day before and walked around in them in the house all day and though I know there's no logic whatsoever to this, I dubbed them "my magic shoes" in hopes that I could ignore any annoyances that came from racing in new shoes. They actually felt great and I only got one tiny blister from running the down hill and I didn't even know I had it until I took my shoes off after the race.

Give it a try. Also, I read recently about how it might be good idea to cycle your shoes. Trade off a couple different pairs. I've even seen some ads for buy one get one half off or something like it for running shoes. My guess is, if you are getting blisters that much your shoes aren't fitted properly for your feet and you should try to remedy that.

Good Luck!