[IEatHills4Meals]

I am scared to death. I will be doing my first 50K and first trail race this Saturday and I know I will be SLOW since it's a new distance and I just raced Disney.<br>
There will be a few creeks to be crossed through the water.<br>
Predicted temps for race day: low 10-15, although we may be lucky to hit low 30s later.<br><br>
I can't swing the cash for the Sealskinz.<br>
What can I do to avoid total numbness of my feet and issues with circulation due to the freezing water? I have no clue of how to deal with that.<br><br>
Any input appreciated. Tks!

 

[formationflier]

Run through it, being careful not to slip on the rocks, and keep<br>
running. Hopefully your shoes have decent drainage. If you don't<br>
stop to think about it, it will be a brief shock and then you'll get<br>
it over with. It will freeze up on your lower legs if you're down<br>
in the low teens, but before long you won't even notice. I've done<br>
5 degrees in one race and 10-15 several times in another race.<br>
Some folks brought hefty bags and ran through them that way, but<br>
it really seemed to be a big hassle.

 

[IEatHills4Meals]

tks formation... I thought about the bags (and the hassle). I don't even have trail shoes and will run with a pair of Brooks Dyad. The mesh is pretty open and the same way it will be easy to get water in, it should be to let it out (hopefully).

 

[mykemp1971]

IEH4M - I have trail shoes but I'm just wearing road shoes for Swinging Bridge.<br><br>
I've run the last 10 miles of the 50k - so the first 35k that I'm running Saturday will be a first for me. In the last 10 miles that you'll be doing - there are creeks, but they aren't really that bad. For the most part, the creeks are either shallow, or in the deeper sections (which aren't much more than ankle deep) I remember there being 'rock hop' points.<br><br>
My advice is just to (limited as it is) is just to lube your toes up with some extra vaseline on race morning.<br><br>
Knowing what I do know of the course - you cross by the start/finish at the 35k point - you could leave a change of socks/shoes there if you wanted to. I do know that you will get your feet at least a little damp though in the last 10 miles.<br><br>
Looking forward to seeing you out there on Saturday - you rock!

 

[IEatHills4Meals]

Myron, thanks for the info. I was wondering if and where we could plan a drop bag. I will certailny have fresh socks and shoes waiting there. My feet get numb very easily when it's cold.

 

[merigayle]

wool socks. they will drain the best.

 

[Durt]

1!<br><br>
Smartwools, and lot's of hydropel, or vaseline, or something that you can schmear ALL over your feet.

 

[merigayle]

Durt and I had a creek crossing experiment last winter. I wore seal skinz and he wore a comparable goretex sock. It was SOOOOOO weird to go thru the icy cold water (which was about knee high i think). You could tell you were going thru icy water, but your feet did not get wet. Weird stuff.

 

[Durt]

IEatHills... Check your pm's

 

[mykemp1971]

IEH4M - the trailhead that you'll cross at the 35k point (which is the start finish for both races) is probably between 1/4 and 1/2 mile from where parking is, so if you're going to do a drop factor in a few minutes to get your stuff down there...

 

[sk8dog]

If you are going to go through all the trouble of a drop bag and change your shoes and socks which takes quite a while seeing how your shoe laces will probably be frozen and you need to find your drop bag. Why not just bring a garbage bag and walk through the creek in that, sure you will waste a little time but you will waste waaaayyyy more time changing your shoes and socks at an aid station. Or just keep running i bet 5 min after you run through the water you wont even feel the cold or wet on your feet.<br><br>
Later<br><br>
Marc

 

[Rockhopper]

Wearing gaiters will trap some heat and should prevent your shoelaces from freezing solid. Tested to about 15 deg.<br><br>
I have had little luck with Sealskinz. Theyre expensive, leak like a sieve, the ankle seals delaminate quickly, and they give me blisters.<br><br>
But as already stated, just run through it and in a 1/2 hour it won't matter anymore as long as you're moving along O.K.

 

[IEatHills4Meals]

Thank you all for all the info and huge help!<br><br>
Durt - you rock!<br><br>
I'll be wearing the goretex with thorlos. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br>
I thought about the plastic bag idea too and I will have that as a back up. I am hoping not to have to change shoes, etc... I will do it in worst case scenario then...<br><br>
meri - frozen water to your knee???? oh goodness, I don't think my race will have that. you're tuff!

 

[batmomm]

hey Ty, my plan is to hop on your back! I figure that oughta help keep my feet dry <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

 

[IEatHills4Meals]

lol... course... suuuuuure <img alt="rolleyes.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/rolleyes.gif"> hop on...

 

[crunningman]

If your shoes drain well and you aren't prone to blisters then I say run right through them. This past weekend I ran for 1.5hrs at our local trails and some areas were swollen with high water. I said what the heck and ran knee deep through them. It was cold, yes, but my Flyrocs drain quite well.<br><br>
Just be careful and don't slip and fall in. CR

 

[IEatHills4Meals]

Tks CR... I will be running with road shoes and this is my first trail race...OMG, what was I thinking... (note to self: kill Batmomm) <img alt="rolleyes.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/rolleyes.gif"> I have no clue of how it will drain...<br>
today I am getting the jitters and haven't even gotten back to my weight from the water retention from Disney yet <img alt="surprised.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/surprised.gif">