DOWNHILL SHEAR28,950 FT OF LOSS
Ouray, Colorado · July · 102.1 mi
Foot care for Ouray 100
Ouray is shale, vert, and time above treeline.
Threat matrix
What Ouray 100 does to feet.
Every line below is computed from published course data or written by PR Run and labeled as such.
- Shale and loose rockShale slides under the foot on every step and drives grit into the shoe. Lateral edges and the little toe side take the damage.PR Run field call
- Total descent load28,950 ft of cumulative descent. Nail beds and forefoot pay for all of it.Course data
- Hours on feet102.1 miles inside a 52 hour limit. Every hour adds shear, swelling, and sock saturation.Course data
- Downhill shearMile 97.1 to 102.1 drops 4,250 ft at 16 percent average grade. Toes hit the front of the shoe, heels lift.Course data
- Heat and sweatJuly highs reach 85 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 9/10. Rock strikes, side loading, and constant foot correction grind the same spots.Course data
- Altitude swellingHigh point near 12,763 ft. Feet swell at altitude, so shoes that fit at the start pinch by dark.Course data
- Long aid gaps44.8 miles between stations at the widest gap. Carry what you need to fix a hot spot alone.Course data
- Night hoursA 52 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.
- Camp BirdMI 3018:50
Eyes only
29.8 mi since the last stop, cutoff 12 h.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
- Bridge of HeavenMI 7514:06
Shoes off
44.8 mi since the last stop, 6,800 ft of descent into it, cutoff 28 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. 6,800 ft of descent came into this stop.
- Pretape hot spots. 4,250 ft down through mile 97 to 102 is next.
- FinishMI 10001:00
Socks and a look
25.4 mi since the last stop, 2,750 ft of descent into it, cutoff 52 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- Check toes and nail beds. 2,750 ft of descent came into this stop.
Checked on top of the essentials for Ouray 100.
Vest / pack
Crew bag
Drop bag
Kit deltas
What Ouray 100 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.
- 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
- Bridge of Heaven and thousands of feet of shale above treeline. Loose rock loads the sides of the foot constantly.
- Nearly half jeep road, which is hard and abrasive under a tired foot.
- Educational only. Test every tape, sock, and shoe combination on long runs before race day.
Where you sit down
- Bridge of HeavenMI 75
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
Ouray 100 foot questions.
- 01
Where should I stop for foot care at Ouray 100?
Bridge of Heaven at mile 74.6. 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 Ouray 100 wrecks feet?
Mile 97.1 to 102.1 drops 4,250 ft at 16 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 Ouray 100?
July 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 Ouray 100?
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 Ouray 100?
Plan one at every foot stop you have access to, and carry one spare pair beyond that. 102.1 miles inside 52 hours is long enough that dry socks are faster than the five minutes they cost.
- 06
What goes in my vest for Ouray 100?
44.8 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 Ouray 100?
Start from the biggest threat on this course. 28,950 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 Ouray 100?
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, moleskin for pressure points. Sweat is the friction multiplier on this course.
- 09
What shoes work for Ouray 100?
50% trail / 45% jeep / 5% paved at technicality 9/10 points toward Nike Zegama Trail, Norda 055, Brooks Cascadia 19 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 Ouray 100. Climbs, descents, heat, fueling, and cutoffs are the rest of it.