DOWNHILL SHEAR37,100 FT OF LOSS
Vielha, Spain · July · 104 mi
Foot care for Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran
Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran is a descent race. Toes and nail beds pay first.
Threat matrix
What Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran does to feet.
Every line below is computed from published course data or written by PR Run and labeled as such.
- Total descent load37,100 ft of cumulative descent. Nail beds and forefoot pay for all of it.Course data
- Hours on feet104 miles inside a 48 hour limit. Every hour adds shear, swelling, and sock saturation.Course data
- Downhill shearMile 12.5 to 15 drops 1,950 ft at 14.7 percent average grade. Toes hit the front of the shoe, heels lift.Course data
- Heat and sweatJuly highs reach 80 degrees F. Sweat saturates socks, skin softens, friction climbs.Course data
- Long aid gaps20.8 miles between stations at the widest gap. Carry what you need to fix a hot spot alone.Course data
- Night hoursA 48 hour window means hours of taping in the dark with cold hands. Practice it that way.Course data
- Cold and numb toesLows near 35 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.
- VielhaMI 006:00
Eyes only
Named station on course.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
- Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran mile 21MI 2114:03
Shoes off
20.8 mi since the last stop, 1,950 ft of descent into it, cutoff 9.600000000000001 h.
- Shoes and socks off. Pat completely dry, fresh socks, powder if the last pair was soaked.
- Check toes and nail beds. 1,950 ft of descent came into this stop.
- Pretape hot spots. 1,850 ft down through mile 27 to 30 is next.
- Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran mile 42MI 4221:40
Socks and a look
20.8 mi since the last stop, 1,850 ft of descent into it, cutoff 19.200000000000003 h.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- Check toes and nail beds. 1,850 ft of descent came into this stop.
- Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran mile 62MI 6205:37
Socks and a look
20.8 mi since the last stop, cutoff 28.799999999999997 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran mile 83MI 8313:24
Eyes only
20.8 mi since the last stop, cutoff 38.400000000000006 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
- Finish SpainMI 10421:00
Shoes off
20.8 mi since the last stop, 1,950 ft of descent into it, cutoff 48 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. 1,950 ft of descent came into this stop.
Checked on top of the essentials for Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran.
Vest / pack
Crew bag
Drop bag
Kit deltas
What Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran 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.
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. Cushion that keeps feeling like cushion at hour twenty.
- Nike Zegama 288% MATCH35mm heel · 4mm drop · 4mm lugs. Cushion that keeps feeling like cushion at hour twenty.
- Topo Athletic Ultraventure 488% MATCH30mm heel · zero drop · 4.5mm 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 Second day high Pyrenees cols with sleep debt above Vielha near mile 68. Plan foot work before the field splits.
- Surfaces: 75% mountain trail / 20% dirt road / 5% paved. Match lugs and tape adhesion to the dominant surface.
- Air band 35°F to 80°F. Crew should carry dry socks and skin lube when heat or rain is in range.
- Cutoff 48 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
- Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran mile 21MI 21
- Finish SpainMI 104
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
Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran foot questions.
- 01
Where should I stop for foot care at Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran?
Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran mile 21 at mile 20.8, Finish Spain at mile 104. 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 Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran wrecks feet?
Mile 12.5 to 15 drops 1,950 ft at 14.7 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 Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran?
July highs reach 80 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 Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran?
Lows near 35 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 Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran?
Plan one at every foot stop you have access to, and carry one spare pair beyond that. 104 miles inside 48 hours is long enough that dry socks are faster than the five minutes they cost.
- 06
What goes in my vest for Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran?
20.8 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 Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran?
Start from the biggest threat on this course. 37,100 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 Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran?
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. Sweat is the friction multiplier on this course.
- 09
What shoes work for Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran?
75% mountain 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 Val d'Aran by UTMB, Torn dera Val d'Aran. Climbs, descents, heat, fueling, and cutoffs are the rest of it.