DOWNHILL SHEAR12,900 FT OF LOSS
Kranjska Gora, Slovenia · September · 120 km
Foot care for Julian Alps Trail Run
Julian Alps Trail Run is a descent race. Toes and nail beds pay first.
Threat matrix
What Julian Alps Trail Run does to feet.
Every line below is computed from published course data or written by PR Run and labeled as such.
- Total descent load12,900 ft of cumulative descent. Nail beds and forefoot pay for all of it.Course data
- Hours on feet74.6 miles inside a 26 hour limit. Every hour adds shear, swelling, and sock saturation.Course data
- Downhill shearMile 56 to 63.1 drops 2,850 ft at 7.6 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
- Technical groundTechnicality 6/10. Rock strikes, side loading, and constant foot correction grind the same spots.Course data
- Long aid gaps15 miles between stations at the widest gap. Carry what you need to fix a hot spot alone.Course data
- Night hoursA 26 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.
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.
- Kranjska GoraMI 006:00
Eyes only
Named station on course.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
- Julian Alps Trail Run mile 15MI 1510:05
Shoes off
14.9 mi since the last stop, 2,150 ft of descent into it, cutoff 5.2 h.
- Shoes and socks off. Wipe down, pat dry, fresh socks.
- Check toes and nail beds. 2,150 ft of descent came into this stop.
- Pretape hot spots. 2,500 ft down through mile 20 to 27 is next.
- Julian Alps Trail Run mile 30MI 3014:21
Shoes off
14.9 mi since the last stop, 2,500 ft of descent into it, cutoff 10.4 h.
- Shoes and socks off. Wipe down, pat dry, fresh socks.
- Check toes and nail beds. 2,500 ft of descent came into this stop.
- Julian Alps Trail Run mile 45MI 4519:08
Eyes only
14.9 mi since the last stop, cutoff 15.6 h.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
- Julian Alps Trail Run mile 60MI 6023:19
Socks and a look
15 mi since the last stop, 1,500 ft of descent into it, cutoff 20.8 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- Check toes and nail beds. 1,500 ft of descent came into this stop.
- Finish SloveniaMI 7503:00
Socks and a look
14.9 mi since the last stop, 1,350 ft of descent into it, cutoff 26 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 Julian Alps Trail Run.
Vest / pack
Crew bag
Drop bag
Kit deltas
What Julian Alps Trail Run adds to the standard kit.
- 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.
- Light you can tape byTaping in the dark with cold hands is a different skill than taping at your kitchen table.
- 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
- Crux near Vrsic Pass high traverse and Mangart saddle exposure near mile 48. Plan foot work before the field splits.
- Surfaces: 80% alpine trail / 15% scree / 5% road. Match lugs and tape adhesion to the dominant surface.
- Air band 35°F to 75°F. Crew should carry dry socks and skin lube when heat or rain is in range.
- Cutoff 26 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
- Julian Alps Trail Run mile 15MI 15
- Julian Alps Trail Run mile 30MI 30
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
Julian Alps Trail Run foot questions.
- 01
Where should I stop for foot care at Julian Alps Trail Run?
Julian Alps Trail Run mile 15 at mile 14.9, Julian Alps Trail Run mile 30 at mile 29.8. 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 Julian Alps Trail Run wrecks feet?
Mile 56 to 63.1 drops 2,850 ft at 7.6 percent average grade. That is where toes meet the front of the shoe and heels start to lift. Pretape before it, not after.
- 03
Do I need dry socks for the cold sections of Julian Alps Trail Run?
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.
- 04
How many sock changes for Julian Alps Trail Run?
Plan one at every foot stop you have access to, and carry one spare pair beyond that. 74.6 miles inside 26 hours is long enough that dry socks are faster than the five minutes they cost.
- 05
What goes in my vest for Julian Alps Trail Run?
15 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 Julian Alps Trail Run?
Start from the biggest threat on this course. 12,900 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.
- 07
What foot care kit should I pack for Julian Alps Trail Run?
Beyond the standard kit, this course calls for pretape for toes and heels, extra dry socks and a towel, vest foot kit you can use alone, light you can tape by, moleskin for pressure points. Long descents load the front of the shoe and lift the heel.
- 08
What shoes work for Julian Alps Trail Run?
80% alpine trail / 15% scree / 5% road at technicality 6/10 points toward Norda 055, Hoka Mafate X, Hoka Mafate X. 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 Julian Alps Trail Run. Climbs, descents, heat, fueling, and cutoffs are the rest of it.