Blister Management. Your Opinion?
When you enter a road or trail race, or start an adventure race, or plan a group or solo event, whether single day or multi-day, do you think about blister management? There can be many responses to this question. Here are my guesses at the most common three responses. For many, I’d guess the answer […]
How Important are Gaiters?
Many runners have a love-hate relationship with gaiters. Some love them and swear by them when running trails. Others never wear them, and dislike them. Which camp do you fall in? I have regularly promoted the value of gaiters since I made my first homemade set from a pair of old white cotton crew socks. […]
Consequences of Wet Feet at a Dry Western States!
Last Saturday was the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run over the California Sierras. As you probably know, California is in year four of a severe drought. Most of us expected the trails to be dusty and dry. From everything I heard, they were. So in a dry Western States year, why did so many runners have […]
Foot Care Study at the Tahoe Rim Trail 100
This weekend is the running of the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) series of trail runs – a 55K, 50-miler, and a 100-miler. After a lot of planning, the dream of doing a foot care study has materialized. The TRT is perfect for a study. There are two main medical aid stations, Tunnel Creek and Diamond Peak. 55K […]
Toenails – Again #@!$#@
A month ago I provided foot care at the Western States 100. Then two weeks ago I worked the Tahoe Rim Trail 55KM, 50M, and 100M. And finally this week I worked Badwater in Death Valley. As much as I hate to say it, I saw a negative common denominator as I worked on or […]
Foot Care Preparation for Primal Quest – or Your Next Event
The seven tips below are written for the Primal Quest Expedition Adventure Race starting next week. They are also applicable to any race you may have coming up. Primal Quest is less than two weeks away and here are seven things you can do to improve your chances of finishing with healthy feet. 1. Wear […]
Feet at Primal Quest
The 2015 Primal Quest Expedition Adventure Race concluded a few days ago, after nine days of challenges to the 11 four person teams. This was an unsupported race, meaning there was no crew support. Race organizers, medical staff, and general volunteers all worked together to provide levels of support that were awe-inspiring. People worked together to help […]
8 Top Tips for Foot Care
If you are a subscriber to Backpacker magazine, check out the October issue, page 34 for a full page of eight top tips to care for your feet. I have included an image of the page in this post. If you click on the image, you’ll get a larger view. I was contacted by Backpacker several months ago […]
When Your Shoes Fail You
It’s not common but it can happen. At the worst opportune moment, your shoes fail you. Maybe it’s on a training run, or worse yet, it’s during a race or somewhere where you are miles from getting help or another pair of shoes. I’ve seen it more than a few times. Shoes that fell apart […]
Foot Care – Help Yourself and Study Up
My October issue of Backpacker magazine featured an article about Bil Vandergraff, a Search and Rescue (SAR) Ranger. He served as a ranger for 25 years in the Grand Canyon backcountry. In the article he shared tips on surviving in the backcountry – especially in the harsh and unforgiving Grand Canyon with its heat and extreme elevation […]