DOWNHILL SHEAR9,950 FT OF LOSS
Colorado · August · 100 mi
Foot care for Leadville Trail
Leadville sends you over Hope Pass twice. Feet feel both.
Threat matrix
What Leadville Trail does to feet.
Every line below is computed from published course data or written by PR Run and labeled as such.
- Hope Pass, both directionsThe descent off Hope Pass happens twice, at miles forty five and fifty five, with altitude swelling already underway. Toes take it both times.PR Run field call
- Twin Lakes waterYou go through water on both sides of the Hope Pass out and back. Have dry socks at Twin Lakes for the return.PR Run field call
- Hours on feet100 miles inside a 30 hour limit. Every hour adds shear, swelling, and sock saturation.Course data
- Downhill shearMile 58.5 to 64 drops 3,000 ft at 10.3 percent average grade. Toes hit the front of the shoe, heels lift.Course data
- Heat and sweatAugust highs reach 75 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
- Altitude swellingHigh point near 12,214 ft. Feet swell at altitude, so shoes that fit at the start pinch by dark.Course data
- Long aid gaps13.5 miles between stations at the widest gap. Carry what you need to fix a hot spot alone.Course data
- Night hoursA 30 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.
- May QueenMI 1407:22
Socks and a look
13.5 mi since the last stop, cutoff 3.25 h.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- Outward BoundMI 2409:52
Eyes only
10 mi since the last stop, cutoff 6 h.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
- Twin LakesMI 4013:53
Shoes off
16 mi since the last stop, 600 ft of descent into it, cutoff 10.25 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.
- Pretape hot spots. 1,900 ft down through mile 47 to 50 is next.
- Pull the spare pair, tape, and lube from the drop bag before you close it.
- WinfieldMI 5016:30
Shoes off
10.5 mi since the last stop, 2,600 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. 2,600 ft of descent came into this stop.
- Pretape hot spots. 3,000 ft down through mile 59 to 64 is next.
- Pull the spare pair, tape, and lube from the drop bag before you close it.
- Twin Lakes IIMI 6119:08
Socks and a look
10.5 mi since the last stop, 1,100 ft of descent into it, cutoff 18 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- Outward Bound IIMI 7723:08
Shoes off
16 mi since the last stop, 1,900 ft of descent into it, cutoff 22.5 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. 1,900 ft of descent came into this stop.
- Pull the spare pair, tape, and lube from the drop bag before you close it.
- May Queen IIMI 8701:38
Eyes only
10 mi since the last stop, cutoff 26.5 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
- Finish LeadvilleMI 10005:00
Socks and a look
13.5 mi since the last stop, cutoff 30 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 Leadville Trail.
Vest / pack
Crew bag
Drop bag
Kit deltas
What Leadville Trail 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.
- 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.
- Craft Nordlite Ultra Pro89% MATCH32mm heel · 6mm drop · 4mm lugs. Cushion that keeps feeling like cushion at hour twenty.
- Altra Olympus 287% MATCH33mm heel · zero drop · 4mm lugs. Cushion that keeps feeling like cushion at hour twenty.
- New Balance Fresh Foam X More Trail V386% MATCH38.6mm heel · 7.1mm drop · 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
- Hope Pass at twelve thousand six hundred feet, out and back, means the same steep descent twice in the middle of the race.
- The Twin Lakes crossings put you into dry high country with wet feet, twice.
- Powerline and the jeep roads are dusty and hard. Half this course is road surface.
- Educational only. Test every tape, sock, and shoe combination on long runs before race day.
Where you sit down
- Twin LakesMI 40
- WinfieldMI 50
- Outward Bound IIMI 77
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
Leadville Trail foot questions.
- 01
Where should I stop for foot care at Leadville Trail?
Twin Lakes at mile 39.5, Winfield at mile 50, Outward Bound II at mile 76.5. 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 Leadville Trail wrecks feet?
Mile 58.5 to 64 drops 3,000 ft at 10.3 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 Leadville Trail?
August highs reach 75 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 Leadville Trail?
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.
- 05
How many sock changes for Leadville Trail?
Plan one at every foot stop you have access to, and carry one spare pair beyond that. 100 miles inside 30 hours is long enough that dry socks are faster than the five minutes they cost.
- 06
What goes in my vest for Leadville Trail?
13.5 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 Leadville Trail?
Start from the biggest threat on this course. 100 miles inside a 30 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.
- 08
What foot care kit should I pack for Leadville Trail?
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, light you can tape by, half size up in the crew bag. Sweat is the friction multiplier on this course.
- 09
What shoes work for Leadville Trail?
40% trail / 50% jeep / 10% paved at technicality 5/10 points toward Craft Nordlite Ultra Pro, Altra Olympus 2, New Balance Fresh Foam X More Trail V3. 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 Leadville Trail. Climbs, descents, heat, fueling, and cutoffs are the rest of it.