Western States 100 Archives - Fixing Your Feet

Jul 4, 2015 · by John · In: blister care, Foot Care, Footcare, Footwear Tagged: blistered feet, Foot Care, macerated feet, maceration, Western States 100

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 macerated feet from being wet? [bctt tweet="So in a dry Western States year, why did so many runners have macerated feet from being wet?"] There are several reasons. First, runners often …

Jun 12, 2015 · by John · In: blister care, Foot Care, Foot Care Products, Footcare, Footwear, Footwear Products Tagged: gaiters, jay batchen, Lisa de Speville, rough country gaiters, shoe gaiters, Tahoe Rim Trail 100, Western States 100

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. I believe it was one of the first years I ran Western States, maybe in 1985 or 86. I cut the foot out of the socks, leaving the ankle part to pull on my foot and fold over to cover the top of …

Jul 7, 2013 · by John · In: blister care, Foot Care, Health, Sports Tagged: Auburn High School, blistered feet, blisters, Calm Afternoon, Creases, Finish Line, Foot Care, George Miller, Kiddy Pools, Last Saturday, macerated feet, maceration, Michigan Bluff, Mile Endurance, Parking Space, Saturday And Sunday, Skin Folds, Tonya, Washtub, Water And Ice, Western States 100, Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run, wet feet

Last Saturday and Sunday I worked medical at the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. I spent Saturday at the Michigan Bluff aid station at mile 55. With the help of Tonya Olson, we patched a bunch of feet. Some had blisters, one needed shoe modification, one had severe heel blisters that had split, and lots of maceration. We saw more maceration than in many past years. After we closed our aid station at 9:45 pm, I went to Foresthill and talked to George Miller, who was doing foot care there. …

Jun 25, 2013 · by John · In: blister care, Foot Care, Health, Sports Tagged: blister prevention, blisters, bodyglide, calluses, Cold Heat, Extreme Heat, feet problems, Finish Line, foot blisters, foot problems, heel blisters, insoles, Michigan Bluff, Mile Endurance Race, Problem Areas, Rough Edges, Rough Patches, Second Sunrise, Sierras, sore feet, Squaw Valley, toe blisters, Water Crossings, Western States, Western States 100

This weekend close to 400 runners will start at Squaw Valley and make the trek over the Sierras towards Auburn – 100 miles away. It’s the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Race. I love the race, having completed it three times in the late 80’s. It’s tough and throws a lot at the runners. Cold, heat, extreme heat, streams running down the trail, rocks, dust and grit, water crossings, long ups and long down through numerous canyons – and for many runners, a second sunrise with renewed heat. I …

Jun 3, 2013 · by John · In: blister care, Foot Care, Footwear, Health, Sports, toenails Tagged: Adventure Race, Amazon, Blister Formation, blister prevention, Blister Treatment, blisters, Canada Colorado, Care Skin, death valley, Foot Care, Gold Rush Adventure, Image Caption, insoles, Many Different Types, Ointments, Prevention Options, Rei Stores, Salves, Silicone Pads, Stage Race, Training And Conditioning, Western States 100

Which is more important, blister prevention or blister treatment? For more than 17 years, I’ve taught foot care techniques to anyone who will listen. I have taught classes at running stores, REI stores, events, and more. In addition, I have worked medical at many races, helping provide foot care to participants. These races have been in Death Valley, Chile, Costa Rica, BC Canada, Colorado and Washington, and many in California. This year I will be at Western States 100, Badwater, the Gold Rush …

Jun 27, 2010 · by John · In: Foot Care Tagged: Foot Care, Footcare, medical aid station, Western States 100

Yesterday I work medical at the mid-point Michigan Bluff aid station at the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. We had a team of about 12 people: doctors, RNs, LVNs, a chiropractor, a physical therapist, and paramedic. What happens when I work medical is that I spend my whole time working on feet. Of course, that's what is expected of me. If there was a major medical that stretched the "pure' medical folks, I would step over to that side of the aid station. So, what happened? Runners kept us …

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