DOWNHILL SHEAR11,700 FT OF LOSS
Xiamen, China · March · 104 km
Foot care for Xiamen
Xiamen is a descent race. Toes and nail beds pay first.
Threat matrix
What Xiamen does to feet.
Every line below is computed from published course data or written by PR Run and labeled as such.
- Downhill shearMile 25 to 31.1 drops 3,150 ft at 9.9 percent average grade. Toes hit the front of the shoe, heels lift.Course data
- Hours on feet64.6 miles inside a 24 hour limit. Every hour adds shear, swelling, and sock saturation.Course data
- Technical groundTechnicality 6/10. Rock strikes, side loading, and constant foot correction grind the same spots.Course data
- Long aid gaps13 miles between stations at the widest gap. Carry what you need to fix a hot spot alone.Course data
- Night hoursA 24 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.
- XiamenMI 006:00
Eyes only
Named station on course.
- Eyes only. Feel for hot spots through the sock and keep moving.
- Xiamen mile 13MI 1309:40
Socks and a look
12.9 mi since the last stop, 1,100 ft of descent into it, cutoff 4.800000000000001 h.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- Xiamen mile 26MI 2613:54
Socks and a look
12.9 mi since the last stop, 700 ft of descent into it, cutoff 9.600000000000001 h.
- Socks off. Check the pressure points and swap if the pair is wet.
- Xiamen mile 39MI 3917:55
Shoes off
13 mi since the last stop, 2,750 ft of descent into it, cutoff 14.399999999999999 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Shoes and socks off. Wipe down, pat dry, fresh socks.
- Check toes and nail beds. 2,750 ft of descent came into this stop.
- Pretape hot spots. 2,300 ft down through mile 43 to 48 is next.
- Xiamen mile 52MI 5222:31
Shoes off
12.9 mi since the last stop, 2,300 ft of descent into it, cutoff 19.200000000000003 h, late race, feet already soft.
- Shoes and socks off. Wipe down, pat dry, fresh socks.
- Check toes and nail beds. 2,300 ft of descent came into this stop.
- Finish ChinaMI 6502:00
Eyes only
12.9 mi since the last stop, cutoff 24 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 Xiamen.
Vest / pack
Crew bag
Drop bag
Kit deltas
What Xiamen adds to the standard kit.
- 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.
- Light you can tape byTaping in the dark with cold hands is a different skill than taping at your kitchen table.
- Moleskin for pressure pointsRock strikes and side loading build hot spots off the usual map.
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 Coastal Fujian hill climbs in March humidity near mile 42. Plan foot work before the field splits.
- Surfaces: 65% trail / 30% dirt road / 5% paved. Match lugs and tape adhesion to the dominant surface.
- Air band 50°F to 75°F. Crew should carry dry socks and skin lube when heat or rain is in range.
- Cutoff 24 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
- Xiamen mile 39MI 39
- Xiamen mile 52MI 52
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
Xiamen foot questions.
- 01
Where should I stop for foot care at Xiamen?
Xiamen mile 39 at mile 38.8, Xiamen mile 52 at mile 51.7. 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 Xiamen wrecks feet?
Mile 25 to 31.1 drops 3,150 ft at 9.9 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 many sock changes for Xiamen?
Plan one at every foot stop you have access to, and carry one spare pair beyond that. 64.6 miles inside 24 hours is long enough that dry socks are faster than the five minutes they cost.
- 04
What goes in my vest for Xiamen?
13 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 Xiamen?
Start from the biggest threat on this course. Mile 25 to 31.1 drops 3,150 ft at 9.9 percent average grade. Toes hit the front of the shoe, heels lift. 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 Xiamen?
Beyond the standard kit, this course calls for pretape for toes and heels, vest foot kit you can use alone, light you can tape by, moleskin for pressure points. Long descents load the front of the shoe and lift the heel.
- 07
What shoes work for Xiamen?
65% trail / 30% dirt road / 5% paved at technicality 6/10 points toward Norda 055, Hoka Mafate X, Hoka Mafate X. 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 Xiamen. Climbs, descents, heat, fueling, and cutoffs are the rest of it.