It had been a great streak. Sure blisters had formed on my feet from running and training. But nothing that had incapacitated me.

Until this week.

Today’s brick was brought to a screeching halt by a blister.

The 40 minute bike ride was no problem. The run, also supposed to be 40 minutes, ended at 21 minutes and change. And in the spirit of true honesty, I walked home the final two blocks.

It wasn’t just discomfort. It was pain.

The blister appeared yesterday during my 6-mile easy run. It seems to have both formed and popped during the same run. Located on my instep it is the size of a half dollar (for those who might remember what a half dollar looks like). The skin of the blister has peeled back but is still attached and the entire area of skin around it feels tight and slightly pulling.

I tried but running on it was just not going to happen today.

Part of me felt like a big old wimp. A blister? Really? You’re going to cut your run short because of a blister?

Yes I was. Because it hurt and there no was reason to prolong pain as I return to regular training. More importantly, the pain from my instep was causing me to compensate with awkward form. While the blister may in itself be a benign injury, by trying to avoid striking the ground with that part of my foot, I risk injury to another part of my body. Injuries will happen but there’s no need to give them a helping hand.

Why this blister now?

It could be from wearing a different pair of socks on my 6-miler. Or going back to running in my Asics after spending two months training and racing in my K-Swiss. Or it could be like asking how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop — the world may never know.

In the meantime, it’s off to the store for Neosporin and New-Skin. And searching the Internet for how to run with blisters.