DOWNHILL SHEAR68,400 FT OF LOSS
Brigerbad to Le Bouveret, Switzerland · August · 397 km
Foot care for SwissPeaks Trail Legend
SwissPeaks Trail Legend is hours on feet. Shear adds up.
Threat matrix
What SwissPeaks Trail Legend does to feet.
Every line below is computed from published course data or written by PR Run and labeled as such.
- Hours on feet246.7 miles inside a 159 hour limit. Every hour adds shear, swelling, and sock saturation.Course data
- Total descent load68,400 ft of cumulative descent. Nail beds and forefoot pay for all of it.Course data
- Downhill shearMile 161.6 to 170.2 drops 4,950 ft at 10.8 percent average grade. Toes hit the front of the shoe, heels lift.Course data
- Heat and sweatAugust highs reach 85 degrees F. Sweat saturates socks, skin softens, friction climbs.Course data
- Dust and grit85% trail / 10% jeep / 5% paved in dry heat. Fine grit works through mesh and sands the skin under your sock.Course data
- Long aid gaps161.6 miles between stations at the widest gap. Carry what you need to fix a hot spot alone.Course data
- Night hoursA 159 hour window means hours of taping in the dark with cold hands. Practice it that way.Course data
- Cold and numb toesLows near 28 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.
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.
- Life base 1MI 6218:04
Socks and a look
62.1 mi since the last stop, cutoff 40 h.
- Socks off. Shake the grit out, wipe the foot, and check the pressure points.
- FinishMI 22416:00
Shoes off
161.6 mi since the last stop, 14,150 ft of descent into it, cutoff 159 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. 14,150 ft of descent came into this stop.
Checked on top of the essentials for SwissPeaks Trail Legend.
Vest / pack
Crew bag
Drop bag
Kit deltas
What SwissPeaks Trail Legend adds to the standard kit.
- Powder and a moisture barrierSweat is the friction multiplier on this course.
- GaitersDry trail grit gets into the shoe and stays there.
- 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 Pro88% MATCH32mm heel · 6mm drop · 4mm lugs. Cushion that keeps feeling like cushion at hour twenty.
- Altra Olympus 286% MATCH33mm heel · zero drop · 4mm lugs. Cushion that keeps feeling like cushion at hour twenty.
- Nike Zegama Trail85% MATCH38mm heel · 4mm drop · 4mm lugs. Protection where the toes hit the front of the shoe.
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 Col de Torrent 2,916 m and the Grimentz to Thyon 2000 traverse near mile 160. Plan foot work before the field splits.
- Surfaces: 85% trail / 10% jeep / 5% paved. Match lugs and tape adhesion to the dominant surface.
- Air band 28°F to 85°F. Crew should carry dry socks and skin lube when heat or rain is in range.
- Cutoff 159 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
- FinishMI 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 Trail Legend foot questions.
- 01
Where should I stop for foot care at SwissPeaks Trail Legend?
Finish 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 Trail Legend wrecks feet?
Mile 161.6 to 170.2 drops 4,950 ft at 10.8 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 SwissPeaks Trail Legend?
August 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 SwissPeaks Trail Legend?
Lows near 28 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 SwissPeaks Trail Legend?
Plan one at every foot stop you have access to, and carry one spare pair beyond that. 246.7 miles inside 159 hours is long enough that dry socks are faster than the five minutes they cost.
- 06
What goes in my vest for SwissPeaks Trail Legend?
161.6 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 SwissPeaks Trail Legend?
Start from the biggest threat on this course. 246.7 miles inside a 159 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 SwissPeaks Trail Legend?
Beyond the standard kit, this course calls for powder and a moisture barrier, gaiters, 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 SwissPeaks Trail Legend?
85% trail / 10% jeep / 5% paved at technicality 5/10 points toward Craft Nordlite Ultra Pro, Altra Olympus 2, Nike Zegama Trail. 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 Trail Legend. Climbs, descents, heat, fueling, and cutoffs are the rest of it.