DOWNHILL SHEAR4,350 FT OF LOSS
Fruita, Colorado · April · 100 km
Foot care for Desert RATS
Desert RATS cooks feet. Heat, sweat, and soft skin.
Threat matrix
What Desert RATS does to feet.
Every line below is computed from published course data or written by PR Run and labeled as such.
- Heat and sweatApril highs reach 85 degrees F. Sweat saturates socks, skin softens, friction climbs.Course data
- Hours on feet62.1 miles inside a 18 hour limit. Every hour adds shear, swelling, and sock saturation.Course data
- Downhill shearMile 3 to 8 drops 850 ft at 3.2 percent average grade. Toes hit the front of the shoe, heels lift.Course data
- Cold and numb toesLows near 35 degrees F. Wet feet plus cold is how trench foot and numb toes start.Course data
- Long aid gaps12.5 miles between stations at the widest gap. Carry what you need to fix a hot spot alone.Course data
Downhill shear
Where gravity works on your toes.
Sustained descents pulled straight from the elevation profile. Pretape before these, not after.
Heat and moisture
When the shoe stops drying out.
Modeled across the cutoff window from 7 years of race-date weather at points along the course.
- HEATSweat outruns the shoe
- HUMIDNothing dries out
- WETPlan on soaked feet
- COLDNumb toes hide damage
The schedule
Where you sit down and take the shoes off.
Set your goal time. The clocks, the stop plan, and the kit all move together.
- FruitaMI 006:00
Eyes only
Named station on course.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
- Desert RATS mile 12MI 1209:13
Shoes off
12.4 mi since the last stop, 850 ft of descent into it, cutoff 3.6 h.
- Shoes and socks off. Pat completely dry, fresh socks, powder if the last pair was soaked.
- Warm the feet before tape. Cold damp skin will not hold adhesive.
- Desert RATS mile 25MI 2512:20
Shoes off
12.5 mi since the last stop, cutoff 7.2 h.
- Shoes and socks off. Pat completely dry, fresh socks, powder if the last pair was soaked.
- Warm the feet before tape. Cold damp skin will not hold adhesive.
- Desert RATS mile 37MI 3715:06
Socks and a look
12.4 mi since the last stop, cutoff 10.799999999999999 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- Desert RATS mile 50MI 5017:59
Socks and a look
12.4 mi since the last stop, cutoff 14.4 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- Finish ColoradoMI 6221:00
Eyes only
12.4 mi since the last stop, cutoff 18 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
Checked on top of the essentials for Desert RATS.
Vest / pack
Crew bag
Drop bag
Kit deltas
What Desert RATS adds to the standard kit.
- Powder and a moisture barrierSweat is the friction multiplier on this course.
- Pretape for toes and heelsLong descents load the front of the shoe and lift the heel.
- Extra dry socks and a towelCold wet feet break down faster than cold dry feet.
- Vest foot kit you can use aloneThe widest gap is long enough that a hot spot becomes a blister before the next station.
Shoes
What survives this course.
Matched on terrain, technicality, and distance. Fit still beats every spec, so try them on a long run first.
- Craft Nordlite Ultra Pro81% MATCH32mm heel · 6mm drop · 4mm lugs. Cushion that keeps feeling like cushion at hour twenty.
- adidas Fluidflow 2081% MATCH26.4mm heel · 8.1mm drop. Weighs 316g without giving up stack.
- adidas Pureboost 2381% MATCH27.6mm heel · 11.5mm drop. Weighs 305g without giving up stack.
Crew
What your crew needs on paper.
Two plates. On the left, the race-specific notes that never make it into the standard script. On the right, the printable card your crew reads at two in the morning under a headlamp.
Race day notes
- Crux near Rim Rock Drive exposure and Wedding Canyon sandstone grades near mile 40. Plan foot work before the field splits.
- Surfaces: 75% singletrack / 20% dirt road / 5% slickrock. Match lugs and tape adhesion to the dominant surface.
- Air band 35°F to 85°F. Crew should carry dry socks and skin lube when heat or rain is in range.
- Cutoff 18 hours. Longer stops only where the schedule has real buffer.
- Educational only. Test every tape, sock, and shoe combination on long runs before race day.
Where you sit down
- Desert RATS mile 12MI 12
- Desert RATS mile 25MI 25
Print card
A single sheet your crew reads at two in the morning: the stop script, the mandatory kit, and the calls that pull the runner. Print it, laminate it, staple it to the drop bag.
Crew foot care card
Station script. Three to eight minutes if organized.
- Runner sits. Shoes and socks off both feet.
- Inspect: hot spots, maceration, nails, blisters.
- Clean with wipe. Pat completely dry. No tape on damp skin.
- Treat hot spots first. Drain blisters only if necessary with clean technique.
- Fresh socks. Relace shoes. Runner stands and tests before leaving.
Mandatory kit
- Leukotape, kinesiology tape, wipes, blister patches, moleskin
- Scissors, nail clippers, lubricant, powder, spare socks (2+)
- Antibiotic ointment, gloves, cohesive wrap, small towel
When to pull runner: spreading redness, loss of feeling, gait collapse, unmanageable pain.
PR Run · pr.run/foot-care
FAQ
Desert RATS foot questions.
- 01
Where should I stop for foot care at Desert RATS?
Desert RATS mile 12 at mile 12.4, Desert RATS mile 25 at mile 24.9. Those stops carry the most ground and descent behind them, so a sock change and a tape check pay for the minutes they cost.
- 02
Which section of Desert RATS wrecks feet?
Mile 3 to 8 drops 850 ft at 3.2 percent average grade. That is where toes meet the front of the shoe and heels start to lift. Pretape before it, not after.
- 03
How do I keep my feet dry at Desert RATS?
April highs reach 85 degrees F. Sweat saturates socks, skin softens, friction climbs. Change socks at every stop you can, run powder or a moisture barrier, and lean forward when you dump water on your head so it misses your shoes.
- 04
Do I need dry socks for the cold sections of Desert RATS?
Lows near 35 degrees F. Wet feet plus cold is how trench foot and numb toes start. Put a dry pair in every bag you will see after dark and warm your feet before you tape.
- 05
How many sock changes for Desert RATS?
Plan one at every foot stop you have access to, and carry one spare pair beyond that. 62.1 miles inside 18 hours is long enough that dry socks are faster than the five minutes they cost.
- 06
What goes in my vest for Desert RATS?
12.5 miles between stations at the widest gap. Carry what you need to fix a hot spot alone. Tape, two wipes, a blister patch, and a small tube of lube covers a hot spot without waiting for crew.
- 07
How do I stop blisters at Desert RATS?
Start from the biggest threat on this course. April highs reach 85 degrees F. Sweat saturates socks, skin softens, friction climbs. Fit the shoe with room for swelling, pretape the spots that have blistered on you before, keep grit out, and change socks at every stop you have access to. Blisters come from pressure, friction, and moisture, so remove whichever one this course hands you the most of.
- 08
What foot care kit should I pack for Desert RATS?
Beyond the standard kit, this course calls for powder and a moisture barrier, pretape for toes and heels, extra dry socks and a towel, vest foot kit you can use alone. Sweat is the friction multiplier on this course.
- 09
What shoes work for Desert RATS?
75% singletrack / 20% dirt road / 5% slickrock at technicality 5/10 points toward Craft Nordlite Ultra Pro, adidas Fluidflow 20, adidas Pureboost 23. Whatever you pick, race it on a long run first and leave room for feet that swell over the back half.
Educational only. Not medical advice. Persistent pain, infection, or numbness: see a podiatrist or sports medicine clinician.
Train for it
Feet get you to the finish. The plan gets you there on the clock.
Foot care is one system on Desert RATS. Climbs, descents, heat, fueling, and cutoffs are the rest of it.