From owner-ultra@caligari.Dartmouth.EDU Fri Jul 18 07:41:08 1997 Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 07:27:43 -0700 From: Suzi Thibeault <4suzit@neworld.net> To: IUS-L@american.edu CC: Ultra@caligari.Dartmouth.EDU Subject: Hardfeet XP Thanks Stan..... I think? It's quite nice having a pacer that will even write the race report ;) I didn't buy any earrings for him, but I think I remembered to say thank you. Several listers have asked me more technical questions about the run, and I thought I'd share those answers with all of you, for what they are worth: Feet.....Yes, I still have two ;) The recent references to John Vonhof's book, and my taping technique seems to have really drawn more attention to a serious ultra problem. No matter how hard you train, blisters can end your race. Blisters ended one of my Hardrock attempts, at mile 92. This year I finished with NO BLISTERS at all!!!!! I'm not saying I have all the answers, but here is what I did: Taped the night before the race, with the technique described in John's book (Elasticon, covering the entire bottom, sides and heels of each foot). I did not tape my toes this time, as the Addidas Trail Response have not been a toe box crisis for me. MOST important, I carried a blister repair kit the whole race. Contained a pair of sox (Ultimax trail running "scrambler") Tiny Swiss Army knife with sissors (a gift from Milan Milonovic, Pink with "Suzi" engraved on it) a regular pair would probably work ;) small 2" roll of Elasticon 2-3 Compeed patches 2 Second Skin squares Bag Balm, in a film canister With this kit I was able to stop and FIX the feet when I started to get a problem, rather than tough it out to an aid station. I worked on my feet 4 times. Once at about mile 25 on the trail when I felt a rub on top of the toes. I took off the gaitor (socks were always clean because of the (Jim O'Brien) gaitor protection. Removed shoe and wet sock, then applied Bag Balm to the area rubbing. One guy came by while I was doing all this, and PJ told him I was "doing my nails". I Put on a NEW sock, and was able to go to mile 40 before it started to rub again. I had replaced the used sock in the pack, so was able to change both socks in a quick foot care break before the 7 mile DRY road run into Ouray. I had one more "rub repair" at about 65 miles, even though we had now crossed a million creeks! At the aid station 92 miles, where I changed into my "Bunny suit" as Stan so graciously called it, I changed both socks again. The fleece jump suit is really toasty, but is easier to put on without shoes. I did at that point peel off the Elasticon, which had held it's position for 92 miles, and then peeled off completely with one pull on each foot. Clean socks, Bag Balm the toes, replace the same shoes, and immediately cross a knee deep creek ;) Electrolytes: The only electrolyte source I used was SUCCEED capsules, "Karl's capsules". I took one hourly for the first 30-35 hours. I personally have great difficulty in taking pills of any kind, so it gets pretty hard to swollow these after awhile. I eventually started opening the gel caps and pouring the contents on my tongue. I wish I had kept this up in the last 15 miles, as I may have avoided the "official vomit Queen" session at mile 97. There is some speculation that hydration and electrolyte balance help with blister prevention, and if that is true, I certainly did what I could to make that possible. Food: CLIP Yes, another great "Karl" invention. If you've been around Ultra running for awhile, you've tried EVERYTHING. CLIP is a calorie source in powder, and seems to work very well. We even had caffeine added for the night sections. I was able to carry baggies of CLIP which I added to stream water in my bottles the whole way. I drank 1 bottle of CLIP (about 200 calories) per hour for the first 85 miles. I also ate 3 salami sandwiches the first day, some GU, some Power Gel, some newtons, some hard candies, some soup, and drank OVER 80 ounces of Mountain Dew. "Mountain Dew, CAN DO MOUNTAIN" Funny about the way Hardrock has Mountain Dew and Coke at the aid stations, not generic stuff, the real thing! THANK YOU!!! Just keep the Coke out of your pockets over Buffalo Boy ;)))))) Suzi T -- Suzi T for Travel http://users.neworld.net/2tbows