DOWNHILL SHEAR31,850 FT OF LOSS
Switzerland · September · 360 km
Foot care for SwissPeaks 360 km
SwissPeaks 360 km is hours on feet. Shear adds up.
Threat matrix
What SwissPeaks 360 km does to feet.
Every line below is computed from published course data or written by PR Run and labeled as such.
- Hours on feet223.7 miles inside a 156 hour limit. Every hour adds shear, swelling, and sock saturation.Course data
- Total descent load31,850 ft of cumulative descent. Nail beds and forefoot pay for all of it.Course data
- Downhill shearMile 201.9 to 211.4 drops 4,350 ft at 8.6 percent average grade. Toes hit the front of the shoe, heels lift.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 156 hour window means hours of taping in the dark with cold hands. Practice it that way.Course data
- Cold and numb toesLows near 32 degrees F. Wet feet plus cold is how trench foot and numb toes start.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.
- SwitzerlandMI 006:00
Eyes only
Named station on course.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
- SwissPeaks mile 45MI 4505:34
Socks and a look
44.7 mi since the last stop, 1,450 ft of descent into it, cutoff 31.200000000000003 h.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- SwissPeaks mile 90MI 9006:46
Shoes off
44.8 mi since the last stop, 2,800 ft of descent into it, cutoff 62.400000000000006 h.
- Shoes and socks off. Pat completely dry, fresh socks, powder if the last pair was soaked.
- Check toes and nail beds. 2,800 ft of descent came into this stop.
- SwissPeaks mile 134MI 13408:19
Eyes only
44.7 mi since the last stop, cutoff 93.6 h.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
- SwissPeaks mile 179MI 17910:54
Socks and a look
44.8 mi since the last stop, 1,350 ft of descent into it, cutoff 124.80000000000001 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- Finish SwitzerlandMI 22414:00
Shoes off
44.7 mi since the last stop, 7,100 ft of descent into it, cutoff 156 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. 7,100 ft of descent came into this stop.
Checked on top of the essentials for SwissPeaks 360 km.
Vest / pack
Crew bag
Drop bag
Kit deltas
What SwissPeaks 360 km 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.
- 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. Weighs 300g without giving up stack.
- Nike Zegama 288% MATCH35mm heel · 4mm drop · 4mm lugs. Weighs 298g without giving up stack.
- Topo Athletic Ultraventure 488% MATCH30mm heel · zero drop · 4.5mm lugs. Weighs 288g without giving up stack.
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 High cols above 2,400 m and long stone descents near mile 145. Plan foot work before the field splits.
- Surfaces: 75% trail / 20% dirt road / 5% paved. Match lugs and tape adhesion to the dominant surface.
- Air band 32°F to 75°F. Crew should carry dry socks and skin lube when heat or rain is in range.
- Cutoff 156 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
- SwissPeaks mile 90MI 90
- Finish SwitzerlandMI 224
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
SwissPeaks 360 km foot questions.
- 01
Where should I stop for foot care at SwissPeaks 360 km?
SwissPeaks mile 90 at mile 89.5, Finish Switzerland at mile 223.7. 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 SwissPeaks 360 km wrecks feet?
Mile 201.9 to 211.4 drops 4,350 ft at 8.6 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 SwissPeaks 360 km?
Lows near 32 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 SwissPeaks 360 km?
Plan one at every foot stop you have access to, and carry one spare pair beyond that. 223.7 miles inside 156 hours is long enough that dry socks are faster than the five minutes they cost.
- 05
What goes in my vest for SwissPeaks 360 km?
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.
- 06
How do I stop blisters at SwissPeaks 360 km?
Start from the biggest threat on this course. 223.7 miles inside a 156 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 SwissPeaks 360 km?
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, half size up in the crew bag. Long descents load the front of the shoe and lift the heel.
- 08
What shoes work for SwissPeaks 360 km?
75% trail / 20% dirt road / 5% paved 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 SwissPeaks 360 km. Climbs, descents, heat, fueling, and cutoffs are the rest of it.