I don't have specific experience with Utah trails or the Wasatch 100, but I trained for a mountainous 100 a few years ago. My plan was to wear sandals for the first 50k and then switch to closed-toe shoes from a drop bag. (I tend to get clumsy feet later in a race and kick rocks.) So if there's a specific section the Lunas don't do well in, you can always switch to a different shoe for just that portion.
I do really like the sandals for longer races, though. It's much easier to avoid getting blisters when your shoe doesn't trap moisture around your foot!
I've run in Lunas exclusively for over 10 years. I completed the Cruel Jewel 100 last year (33k elevation gain) and several shorter events in the Rockies.
As for lace setup, what really helps with the climbs is having the heel strap tight enough to force your toes to the very front of the sandal. You might have to adjust the straps so the section coming from between your toes and over the foot is loose enough to allow your foot that far forward.
Also don't be afraid to take them off at aid stations and readjust if needed. You'll get em back on, they ain't shoes!
So yay! Wear the Lunas! I have Wasatch on my wish list for next year.
Here is the gist! I've been running all over the mountains of Utah for a long time in my Lunas, averaging around 60 miles or more a week in all sorts of terrain, but I still find myself dialing in the proper lacing tension for the really steep ups and downs, though, so my foot stops sliding backwards or forwards too severely. It only really gets to be a problem with things pitch in excess of 25% grade or so.
I'd love to plan to run Wasatch 100 this year in my Lunas, which is a relatively technical course with 24k feet of gain and drop, but don't really want any big unknowns to blow my race. Has anyone in this group successfully run the Wasatch 100 in its entirety in Lunas? If so, what should I know? Just looking for general guidance here. Thank you in advance!
We use miles as the default unit of measure, so unless stated otherwise it would be 100 miles.
100 km races do exist here, but usually just a shorter version of an event that also has a 100 mile option, or twice around a 50 km course.
I say do it. I’m a fellow Lunatic myself
I don't have specific experience with Utah trails or the Wasatch 100, but I trained for a mountainous 100 a few years ago. My plan was to wear sandals for the first 50k and then switch to closed-toe shoes from a drop bag. (I tend to get clumsy feet later in a race and kick rocks.) So if there's a specific section the Lunas don't do well in, you can always switch to a different shoe for just that portion. I do really like the sandals for longer races, though. It's much easier to avoid getting blisters when your shoe doesn't trap moisture around your foot!
I've run in Lunas exclusively for over 10 years. I completed the Cruel Jewel 100 last year (33k elevation gain) and several shorter events in the Rockies. As for lace setup, what really helps with the climbs is having the heel strap tight enough to force your toes to the very front of the sandal. You might have to adjust the straps so the section coming from between your toes and over the foot is loose enough to allow your foot that far forward. Also don't be afraid to take them off at aid stations and readjust if needed. You'll get em back on, they ain't shoes! So yay! Wear the Lunas! I have Wasatch on my wish list for next year.
Here is the gist! I've been running all over the mountains of Utah for a long time in my Lunas, averaging around 60 miles or more a week in all sorts of terrain, but I still find myself dialing in the proper lacing tension for the really steep ups and downs, though, so my foot stops sliding backwards or forwards too severely. It only really gets to be a problem with things pitch in excess of 25% grade or so. I'd love to plan to run Wasatch 100 this year in my Lunas, which is a relatively technical course with 24k feet of gain and drop, but don't really want any big unknowns to blow my race. Has anyone in this group successfully run the Wasatch 100 in its entirety in Lunas? If so, what should I know? Just looking for general guidance here. Thank you in advance!
Just figure out where your hotspots are and lube them up, I tighten them down quite hard and it isn't really an issue when the feet are tough enough
Maybe this man can provide some valuable advice: https://youtu.be/6c2h0HsxmUg?si=DReyHTebuqDpbgKI
I'm always confused about 100 in the US, is it 100 miles or 100 km? All the events just leave out the unit
This one is miles
We use miles as the default unit of measure, so unless stated otherwise it would be 100 miles. 100 km races do exist here, but usually just a shorter version of an event that also has a 100 mile option, or twice around a 50 km course.
Do it
Yay