No sustained descent long enough to shear skin on its own. Friction here comes from time on feet, not gravity.
Hong Kong · November · 75 mi
Foot care for TransLantau
TransLantau is hours on feet. Shear adds up.
Threat matrix
What TransLantau does to feet.
Every line below is computed from published course data or written by PR Run and labeled as such.
- Hours on feet75 miles inside a 36 hour limit. Every hour adds shear, swelling, and sock saturation.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 36 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.
- Hong KongMI 006:00
Eyes only
Named station on course.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
- TransLantau mile 15MI 1511:56
Shoes off
15 mi since the last stop, cutoff 7.2 h.
- Shoes and socks off. Wipe down, pat dry, fresh socks.
- TransLantau mile 30MI 3017:53
Shoes off
15 mi since the last stop, cutoff 14.4 h.
- Shoes and socks off. Wipe down, pat dry, fresh socks.
- TransLantau mile 45MI 4500:03
Socks and a look
15 mi since the last stop, cutoff 21.599999999999998 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- TransLantau mile 60MI 6006:00
Socks and a look
15 mi since the last stop, cutoff 28.8 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- Finish Hong KongMI 7512:00
Eyes only
15 mi since the last stop, cutoff 36 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
Checked on top of the essentials for TransLantau.
Vest / pack
Crew bag
Drop bag
Kit deltas
What TransLantau adds to the standard kit.
- 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.
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 Lantau Peak approach and concrete step descents on tired quads near mile 48. Plan foot work before the field splits.
- Surfaces: 70% trail / 25% concrete steps / 5% road. Match lugs and tape adhesion to the dominant surface.
- Air band 55°F to 80°F. Crew should carry dry socks and skin lube when heat or rain is in range.
- Cutoff 36 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
- TransLantau mile 15MI 15
- TransLantau 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
TransLantau foot questions.
- 01
Where should I stop for foot care at TransLantau?
TransLantau mile 15 at mile 15, TransLantau mile 30 at mile 30. 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
How many sock changes for TransLantau?
Plan one at every foot stop you have access to, and carry one spare pair beyond that. 75 miles inside 36 hours is long enough that dry socks are faster than the five minutes they cost.
- 03
What goes in my vest for TransLantau?
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.
- 04
How do I stop blisters at TransLantau?
Start from the biggest threat on this course. 75 miles inside a 36 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.
- 05
What foot care kit should I pack for TransLantau?
Beyond the standard kit, this course calls for vest foot kit you can use alone, light you can tape by. The widest gap is long enough that a hot spot becomes a blister before the next station.
- 06
What shoes work for TransLantau?
70% trail / 25% concrete steps / 5% road at technicality 5/10 points toward Craft Nordlite Ultra Pro, adidas Fluidflow 20, adidas Pureboost 23. 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 TransLantau. Climbs, descents, heat, fueling, and cutoffs are the rest of it.