DOWNHILL SHEAR28,800 FT OF LOSS
Colorado · July · 100 mi
Foot care for Hardrock
Hardrock keeps feet wet for two days. Plan around that.
Threat matrix
What Hardrock does to feet.
Every line below is computed from published course data or written by PR Run and labeled as such.
- Two days of wet feetSnowmelt crossings and storms keep skin waterlogged for most of the race. Waterlogged skin wrinkles, folds, and tears under load.PR Run field call
- Scree and side loadingLoose rock above treeline pushes the foot sideways in the shoe. The little toe side and the lateral edge take the abuse.PR Run field call
- Total descent load28,800 ft of cumulative descent. Nail beds and forefoot pay for all of it.Course data
- Hours on feet100 miles inside a 48 hour limit. Every hour adds shear, swelling, and sock saturation.Course data
- Downhill shearMile 31.5 to 43.5 drops 4,850 ft at 7.7 percent average grade. Toes hit the front of the shoe, heels lift.Course data
- Heat and sweatJuly highs reach 80 degrees F. Sweat saturates socks, skin softens, friction climbs.Course data
- Cold and numb toesLows near 25 degrees F. Wet feet plus cold is how trench foot and numb toes start.Course data
- Technical groundTechnicality 10/10. Rock strikes, side loading, and constant foot correction grind the same spots.Course data
- Altitude swellingHigh point near 14,003 ft. Feet swell at altitude, so shoes that fit at the start pinch by dark.Course data
- Night hoursA 48 hour window means hours of taping in the dark with cold hands. Practice it that way.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.
- Cunningham GulchMI 909:31
Eyes only
9.1 mi since the last stop, cutoff 5 h.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
- ShermanMI 2917:09
Shoes off
19.6 mi since the last stop, 4,200 ft of descent into it, cutoff 14 h.
- Shoes and socks off. Pat completely dry, fresh socks, powder if the last pair was soaked.
- Check toes and nail beds. 4,200 ft of descent came into this stop.
- Pretape hot spots. 4,850 ft down through mile 32 to 44 is next.
- Pull the spare pair, tape, and lube from the drop bag before you close it.
- Grouse GulchMI 4222:23
Socks and a look
13.5 mi since the last stop, 4,300 ft of descent into it, cutoff 20.5 h.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- Check toes and nail beds. 4,300 ft of descent came into this stop.
- OurayMI 5703:58
Eyes only
14.4 mi since the last stop, 550 ft of descent into it, cutoff 27 h.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
- TellurideMI 7310:17
Shoes off
16.3 mi since the last stop, 4,150 ft of descent into it, cutoff 35.5 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. 4,150 ft of descent came into this stop.
- Pull the spare pair, tape, and lube from the drop bag before you close it.
- Finish SilvertonMI 10121:00
Socks and a look
27.6 mi since the last stop, cutoff 48 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
Checked on top of the essentials for Hardrock.
Vest / pack
Crew bag
Drop bag
Kit deltas
What Hardrock 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.
- 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.
- Moleskin for pressure pointsRock strikes and side loading build hot spots off the usual map.
Shoes
What survives this course.
Matched on terrain, technicality, and distance. Fit still beats every spec, so try them on a long run first.
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
- Creek crossings, snowfields, and afternoon storms mean your feet are wet early and stay wet. This is a maceration race before it is a blister race.
- Forty eight hours is two nights above ten thousand feet. Feet swell, then get cold, then get taped by someone with numb hands.
- Scree and talus load the sides of the foot in ways smooth trail never does.
- Educational only. Test every tape, sock, and shoe combination on long runs before race day.
Where you sit down
- ShermanMI 29
- TellurideMI 73
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
Hardrock foot questions.
- 01
Do waterproof socks work at Hardrock?
For some runners, yes, up to the first crossing that goes over the cuff. After that they hold water in. Most finishers run normal wool socks and change them often instead.
- 02
Where should I stop for foot care at Hardrock?
Sherman at mile 28.7, Telluride at mile 72.9. Those stops carry the most ground and descent behind them, so a sock change and a tape check pay for the minutes they cost.
- 03
Which section of Hardrock wrecks feet?
Mile 31.5 to 43.5 drops 4,850 ft at 7.7 percent average grade. That is where toes meet the front of the shoe and heels start to lift. Pretape before it, not after.
- 04
How do I keep my feet dry at Hardrock?
July highs reach 80 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.
- 05
Do I need dry socks for the cold sections of Hardrock?
Lows near 25 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.
- 06
How many sock changes for Hardrock?
Plan one at every foot stop you have access to, and carry one spare pair beyond that. 100 miles inside 48 hours is long enough that dry socks are faster than the five minutes they cost.
- 07
How do I stop blisters at Hardrock?
Start from the biggest threat on this course. 28,800 ft of cumulative descent. Nail beds and forefoot pay for all of it. 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 Hardrock?
Beyond the standard kit, this course calls for powder and a moisture barrier, pretape for toes and heels, extra dry socks and a towel, light you can tape by, half size up in the crew bag, moleskin for pressure points. Sweat is the friction multiplier on this course.
- 09
What shoes work for Hardrock?
65% trail / 30% jeep / 5% paved at technicality 10/10 points toward Nike Zegama Trail, Norda 055, Brooks Cascadia 19. 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 Hardrock. Climbs, descents, heat, fueling, and cutoffs are the rest of it.