Costa Rica: The Coastal Challenge
One week racing in the tropics...
Jacqueline Windh / 21.01.2008
The countdown is on... I leave for Costa Rica’s Coastal Challenge tomorrow: 250 km over 6 days. I am as prepared as I can possibly be. I have trained well, and for the first time in a couple of years, I am miraculously pretty much injury-free! You can only do so much, right?In your training, at least. But, you can do a lot with your gear. In any distance footrace, but especially in tropical environments, foot care is a big issue. I can only train so much – but here is what I am doing and using to take care of my feet.
First of all, I would not even think of doing this race without my Injinji socks! To me, these toe-socks are a must-have for any distance running – I would never go on any run over two hours in anything else. They just totally keep you from getting blisters between the toes. They are not for blister treatment, they are for blister prevention, and I will be wearing them right from the start.
Keeping feet and legs from swelling is also a task on a multi-day race. I’ve learnt about this from my friend, Spanish racing legend Antonio de la Rosa. Again, prevention is the aim. Antonio uses compression socks, both while racing and between stages. I’ll stick to my Injinjis during the race (because I’ll be wearing compression tights, see below), but as soon as I finish each day I will don my ultra-hip granny socks – you know, those ones that old ladies wear for their varicose veins? I’m sure I’ll be the total style queen in camp. But it’ll be well worth it.
OK, now the compression tights... this is something I am really excited about! I’ve got two new pairs of CW-X brand tights – an insulated pair for training here in Canada, and the regular ones for once I get to Costa Rica. They compress your legs as well as support your core and lower back, and they also have support-bands built in to support joints and muscles. (The result is something like taping your knees). See All Event Posts
