An army might march on its stomach but a desert ultra runner really does march on his feet. And you’ve just got to get your system right – from preparing your feet, to clothing your feet, to looking after your feet. This is our approach:
1. Prep = go naked. Or at least, barefoot. Spend as much time as you can, all year round, barefoot. Indoors, outdoors – all doors! In the UK people think you’re odd. In NZ, where we grew up, they don’t even notice. Your feet really harden up and seem to cope much better with the desert thrashing. When you can comfortably jog across gravel barefoot you know you are there.
2. Clothing = shoes are obviously key. It’s a very personal choice. Be prepared to experiment and if it doesn’t feel 100% right it isn’t right. DO NOT TRY AND RUN ACROSS A DESERT IN THEM. Lots of people suggest you go 1 or 2 sizes bigger to allow for swelling. I find that is too much. Your feet slip too much in the shoe and you bruise your toes as they bash on the end of your shoes. I go for .5 of a size bigger. Having tried everything, I find North Face Single Track II shoes great. They have a snake plate in the sole to protect from rocks but they are still light and flexible. They breath well and they have good grip. Decent shock absorption and they seem well made. After smashing them in 6 consecutive desert marathons in Jordan they were still in good shape.
And you MUST keep the sand out. Standard gaiters do not work – trust me! They do not seal properly and keep falling off. Waste of time. As below, I use handmade (Sandbaggers in Scotland) parachute silk. They have drawstrings mid calf and top so no sand penetrates. I get the local cobbler to glue AND stitch them to the shoe. Means you cant take them off but it also means the sand cant get in – and you just roll them down when you are on hard pack (and the silk breathes very well).
Socks? I go crazy. I wear Injinji finger socks AND over the top of that, Hilly Twin Skins. AND I lubricate every toe before putting them on. That’s 3 layers! Sounds excessive and you’d think it would be too hot. Maybe I am lucky and don’t have sweaty feet but I have no problems. With multiple layers of fabric the layers of fabric slide, rather than the layers of skin – bingo! Again, personal choice, but I have run 6 consecutive desert marathons across deserts in the Sahara, Gobi, Atacama, Jordan and Namibia without barely ever getting a blister.
3. Foot care = the second you feel ANYTHING isn’t right you MUST stop. Do not put it off until the checkpoint or another mile. There’s a crease in your sock that you can feel? Stop, fix it! Hot spot? Yes, its the start of a blister, stop and treat it! Treatment of choice? Old skool! If its blistered, pierce it first (with needle sterilised in a flame), and pour iodine on it, and leave in the air. Stings like hell but kills the bugs and quickly dries it out. Try and go barefoot all evening – taking your shoes and socks off the second the days racing finishes. The heat and dust of the desert actually works really well to harden up the skin and get it ready for the next day. A lot of people tape. I don’t tape anything. I find it traps moisture, softening the skin and creating bigger issues. Better to harden and dry your skin and expose it to the air.
MARCH on!
