DOWNHILL SHEAR11,750 FT OF LOSS
Katoomba, Australia · May · 102 mi
Foot care for Ultra-Trail Australia 102 mi
Ultra-Trail Australia 102 mi cooks feet. Heat, sweat, and soft skin.
Threat matrix
What Ultra-Trail Australia 102 mi does to feet.
Every line below is computed from published course data or written by PR Run and labeled as such.
- Heat and sweatMay highs reach 75 degrees F. Sweat saturates socks, skin softens, friction climbs.Course data
- Long aid gaps20.4 miles between stations at the widest gap. Carry what you need to fix a hot spot alone.Course data
- Downhill shearMile 6.5 to 13.5 drops 1,350 ft at 3.6 percent average grade. Toes hit the front of the shoe, heels lift.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.
- KatoombaMI 006:00
Eyes only
Named station on course.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
- Ultra-Trail Australia mile 20MI 2011:02
Shoes off
20.4 mi since the last stop, 1,750 ft of descent into it.
- Shoes and socks off. Pat completely dry, fresh socks, powder if the last pair was soaked.
- Check toes and nail beds. 1,750 ft of descent came into this stop.
- Ultra-Trail Australia mile 41MI 4115:53
Socks and a look
20.4 mi since the last stop, 850 ft of descent into it.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- Ultra-Trail Australia mile 61MI 6120:24
Shoes off
20.4 mi since the last stop, 1,250 ft of descent into it, late race, feet already soft.
- Shoes and socks off. Pat completely dry, fresh socks, powder if the last pair was soaked.
- Ultra-Trail Australia mile 82MI 8201:05
Socks and a look
20.4 mi since the last stop, late race, feet already soft.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- Finish AustraliaMI 10206:00
Eyes only
20.4 mi since the last stop, late race, feet already soft.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
Checked on top of the essentials for Ultra-Trail Australia 102 mi.
Vest / pack
Crew bag
Drop bag
Kit deltas
What Ultra-Trail Australia 102 mi 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.
- Vest foot kit you can use aloneThe widest gap is long enough that a hot spot becomes a blister before the next station.
- 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 Pro87% MATCH32mm heel · 6mm drop · 4mm lugs. Cushion that keeps feeling like cushion at hour twenty.
- Altra Olympus 285% MATCH33mm heel · zero drop · 4mm lugs. Cushion that keeps feeling like cushion at hour twenty.
- New Balance Fresh Foam X More Trail V385% 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
- Crux near Back-half Blue Mountains loops with sleep debt and stair descents near mile 65. Plan foot work before the field splits.
- Surfaces: 75% trail / 20% fire road / 5% steps. Match lugs and tape adhesion to the dominant surface.
- Air band 40°F to 75°F. Crew should carry dry socks and skin lube when heat or rain is in range.
- Cutoff 44:30. 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
- Ultra-Trail Australia mile 20MI 20
- Ultra-Trail Australia mile 61MI 61
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
Ultra-Trail Australia 102 mi foot questions.
- 01
Where should I stop for foot care at Ultra-Trail Australia 102 mi?
Ultra-Trail Australia mile 20 at mile 20.4, Ultra-Trail Australia mile 61 at mile 61.2. 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 Ultra-Trail Australia 102 mi wrecks feet?
Mile 6.5 to 13.5 drops 1,350 ft at 3.6 percent average grade. That is where toes meet the front of the shoe and heels start to lift. Pretape before it, not after.
- 03
How do I keep my feet dry at Ultra-Trail Australia 102 mi?
May 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
What goes in my vest for Ultra-Trail Australia 102 mi?
20.4 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.
- 05
How do I stop blisters at Ultra-Trail Australia 102 mi?
Start from the biggest threat on this course. May highs reach 75 degrees F. Sweat saturates socks, skin softens, friction climbs. 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.
- 06
What foot care kit should I pack for Ultra-Trail Australia 102 mi?
Beyond the standard kit, this course calls for powder and a moisture barrier, pretape for toes and heels, vest foot kit you can use alone, half size up in the crew bag. Sweat is the friction multiplier on this course.
- 07
What shoes work for Ultra-Trail Australia 102 mi?
75% trail / 20% fire road / 5% steps 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 Ultra-Trail Australia 102 mi. Climbs, descents, heat, fueling, and cutoffs are the rest of it.