Twenty one kilometres is a long way to run. Then add all the training leading up to the big day, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out your feet are taking a pounding.
The shape of your feet can determine if running is an enjoyable or miserable experience. Runners’ feet blister, bleed, peel, crack, itch, ache, and (as our friends are always quick to point out) runners’ feet get pretty smelly too.
So are you doing enough to care for your all-essential tootsies? As you start ramping up the longer distances in preparation for the Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon, a pair of good quality running shoes fitted by a specialist will provide comfort while helping to reduce the risk of injury.
The Vineyard Half course has less than four km of sealed road, and is fairly uneven underfoot in the vineyards, so a light trail shoe such as Salomon X-Wind Pro is an ideal choice. Light, highly cushioned and with 
great grip the X-Wind Pro is perfect for the Vineyard Half, even if you normally run trails in road shoes.
Another common and painful issue for runners is chafing. You may not have experienced the delight of chafing on short runs, but as the miles add up, and you produce more sweat, the chances of chafing increase. We recommend using your longer training runs to experiment with different tactics for combatting the dreaded chaf. Here’s some tips:
1. Avoid cotton which traps moisture in. If you haven’t already try clothing made of synthetic materials like the Thermatech UPF performance range which are light, breathable materials and will wick away excess moisture and help keep you cool.
2. For thigh chaf, try lycra running shorts. They may not be the sexiest looking garments going, but trust us – it’s worth it.
3. Ladies, look for a supportive, comfortable sports bra with soft cups, flat or covered seams and no hard corners that are likely to dig in and rub.
4. Try lubricant, powder or adhesive cushioning products on areas prone to chafing to prevent your skin from being rubbed raw.
We hope you’re enjoying your training and have been trying out different routes or running with different people to keep things interesting.
Please take care of yourselves – stretch, do some strength and flexibility work, wear decent footwear and get any niggles looked at straight away to prevent yourself from getting hurt.
Keep up the good work, we can’t wait to see you here in Marlborough.
Happy running
Anna Polson and Chris Shaw
Event Organisers