DOWNHILL SHEAR13,050 FT OF LOSS
Hilo, Hawaii · December · 148 mi
Foot care for Go Big 260
Go Big 260 is hours on feet. Shear adds up.
Threat matrix
What Go Big 260 does to feet.
Every line below is computed from published course data or written by PR Run and labeled as such.
- Hours on feet148 miles inside a 96 hour limit. Every hour adds shear, swelling, and sock saturation.Course data
- Downhill shearMile 66 to 80 drops 4,950 ft at 6.7 percent average grade. Toes hit the front of the shoe, heels lift.Course data
- Total descent load13,050 ft of cumulative descent. Nail beds and forefoot pay for all of it.Course data
- Heat and sweatDecember highs reach 85 degrees F. Sweat saturates socks, skin softens, friction climbs.Course data
- Long aid gaps29.6 miles between stations at the widest gap. Carry what you need to fix a hot spot alone.Course data
- Night hoursA 96 hour window means hours of taping in the dark with cold hands. Practice it that way.Course data
- Altitude swellingHigh point near 11,420 ft. Feet swell at altitude, so shoes that fit at the start pinch by dark.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.
- HiloMI 006:00
Eyes only
Named station on course.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
- Go Big 260 mile 30MI 3018:21
Socks and a look
29.6 mi since the last stop, cutoff 19.200000000000003 h.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- Go Big 260 mile 59MI 5911:32
Eyes only
29.6 mi since the last stop, cutoff 38.400000000000006 h.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
- Go Big 260 mile 89MI 8908:14
Shoes off
29.6 mi since the last stop, 5,750 ft of descent into it, cutoff 57.599999999999994 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Shoes and socks off. Pat completely dry, fresh socks, powder if the last pair was soaked.
- Check toes and nail beds. 5,750 ft of descent came into this stop.
- Pretape hot spots. 3,800 ft down through mile 101 to 148 is next.
- Go Big 260 mile 118MI 11800:09
Shoes off
29.6 mi since the last stop, 4,850 ft of descent into it, cutoff 76.80000000000001 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Shoes and socks off. Pat completely dry, fresh socks, powder if the last pair was soaked.
- Check toes and nail beds. 4,850 ft of descent came into this stop.
- Finish HawaiiMI 14813:00
Socks and a look
29.6 mi since the last stop, 2,400 ft of descent into it, cutoff 96 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- Check toes and nail beds. 2,400 ft of descent came into this stop.
Checked on top of the essentials for Go Big 260.
Vest / pack
Crew bag
Drop bag
Kit deltas
What Go Big 260 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.
- Vest foot kit you can use aloneThe widest gap is long enough that a hot spot becomes a blister before the next station.
- Light you can tape byTaping in the dark with cold hands is a different skill than taping at your kitchen table.
- Half size up in the crew bagFeet swell over the back half. A tight shoe at midnight ends races.
Shoes
What survives this course.
Matched on terrain, technicality, and distance. Fit still beats every spec, so try them on a long run first.
- Inov-8 Trailfly Ultra G 30089% MATCH30mm heel · zero drop · 4mm lugs. Cushion that keeps feeling like cushion at hour twenty.
- Nike Zegama 288% MATCH35mm heel · 4mm drop · 4mm lugs. Cushion that keeps feeling like cushion at hour twenty.
- Topo Athletic Ultraventure 488% MATCH30mm heel · zero drop · 4.5mm lugs. Cushion that keeps feeling like cushion at hour twenty.
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 Day three when 65 miles per 24 hours catches up near mile 169. Plan foot work before the field splits.
- Surfaces: 100% pavement. Match lugs and tape adhesion to the dominant surface.
- Air band 60°F to 85°F. Crew should carry dry socks and skin lube when heat or rain is in range.
- Cutoff 96 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
- Go Big 260 mile 89MI 89
- Go Big 260 mile 118MI 118
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
Go Big 260 foot questions.
- 01
Where should I stop for foot care at Go Big 260?
Go Big 260 mile 89 at mile 88.8, Go Big 260 mile 118 at mile 118.4. 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 Go Big 260 wrecks feet?
Mile 66 to 80 drops 4,950 ft at 6.7 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 Go Big 260?
December 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
How many sock changes for Go Big 260?
Plan one at every foot stop you have access to, and carry one spare pair beyond that. 148 miles inside 96 hours is long enough that dry socks are faster than the five minutes they cost.
- 05
What goes in my vest for Go Big 260?
29.6 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.
- 06
How do I stop blisters at Go Big 260?
Start from the biggest threat on this course. 148 miles inside a 96 hour limit. Every hour adds shear, swelling, and sock saturation. 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.
- 07
What foot care kit should I pack for Go Big 260?
Beyond the standard kit, this course calls for powder and a moisture barrier, pretape for toes and heels, vest foot kit you can use alone, light you can tape by, half size up in the crew bag. Sweat is the friction multiplier on this course.
- 08
What shoes work for Go Big 260?
100% pavement at technicality 5/10 points toward Inov-8 Trailfly Ultra G 300, Nike Zegama 2, Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4. 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 Go Big 260. Climbs, descents, heat, fueling, and cutoffs are the rest of it.