From Trench Foot to the Tor: How Dawn Transformed Her Ultra Running Thanks to Better Foot Care 

Dawn Nunes’ 2025 year in running sounds like a dream highlight reel for the “regular runner”: a top 10 at the gruelling 100-mile race at Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB, nailing the 100k at the notoriously tough Val d’Aran in the Pyrenees, and topping it all with completing the Tor des Géants TOR330. But behind that highlight reel is a story of painful lessons, quiet determination, and one game-changing shift: learning to look after her feet.

From Running Fast to… Slowing Down

Dawn has been running since she was “dot,” as she puts it: always more at home on her feet than standing still. In 2018-2019, she moved into trail running, quickly discovering she had both the engine and the mindset for long days in the mountains.

Then, unfortunately, came a huge setback: a hamstring detachment on her left side that required surgery. She went from flying over trails to not being able to walk without crutches. But, as with all life experiences, this helped change perspective. As a physiotherapist, trail runner, and mum, she already understood resilience. Coming back from a serious injury deepened her appreciation for what her body could do. Instead of going straight back to chasing speed, she pivoted:

• Less focus on pure pace
• More enjoyment of long, slow, durable efforts
• A growing love for big, adventurous days out, especially in the mountains of South Africa, where she completed the iconic 100-miler at Ultra-Trail Cape Town. 

Her running “took off” in a new direction: longer, tougher, more exploration-focused.

Learning the Foot Care Equation

The turning point in Dawn’s relationship with foot care came after the Arc of Attrition 100 miler in 2024. Although she finished off another 100-mile change, it was a slog and she walked in agony for the final 30 miles. Her feet were “messy”: trench foot, not enough cushioning, no experience of foot care previous to the race… all a recipe for disaster. With long stretches of coastal path in wet conditions, Dawn learnt that yes, sheer grit can get you through the toughest foot pain (as long as it’s not injury related!), but something needed to change.

Not long after, she lined up for the Ultra-Trail Snowdonia 100 miler (UTS). Although she got timed out 70 miles in, something important had shifted: she had started working seriously on her foot care, and this is where TrailSkin enters her story.

Using TrailSkin to “Rebuild From the Ground Up”

We often say that trail running starts with your feet - after all, they carry the rest of you to that finish line! Dawn started making foot care her priority between when she finished that long slog to the end of Arc 100 and her run in Wales, and she reaped the benefits. Here’s an insight into how she approached pre-race prep and race-day optimisation.

Daily & Pre-race Foot Prep

• Using the TrailSkin Revival Foot Balm, plus regularly buffing and gently scraping to remove calluses when needed;
• Focusing on hydrating, not hardening to get soft, moisturised skin for the long days ahead

Race-Day Routine

• Applying a proper layer of TrailSkin Trench Foot Cream under the foot
• Reapplying at sock changes, especially in wet conditions
• Carrying race tubes or tins of TrailSkin products in her pack for long stretches between drop bags

She tested this approach in some brutally wet and technical environments, including a nine-hour UTS recce through bogs and constant rain and all her long training runs. The verdict: instead of having “blisters for days,” the feet were now looking great, no soreness, no issues. A stark contrast to the original experience of the Arc of Attrition and a confidence builder for future 100-mile+ racing. 

Although she didn’t complete the 100 miler at UTS that year, she saw clear evidence that her feet were transformed: over 70 miles in tough terrain, she finished with just one small blister and feet that were fundamentally sound.

2025 - A Year of Achievements Backed by Solid Planning

Going back to UTS was a given, to sort out “unfinished business” at the 100-mile race. Feet were one of Dawn’s chief concerns, in addition to getting more focused on structured training and starting to work with a coach to address any performance questions before the race. 

• And then, she also got drawn into the Tor des Géants lottery without expecting it. “When all the pieces of the puzzle fit just right… you have to go with it!” UTS 100-miles became a great preparation race and a terrain to test out new approaches, including mental training, using poles better thanks to improving upper body strength, and “life discipline” changes. At the end of the road, the Tor was waiting, a dream race that Dawn was inspired to try after seeing friends do it and thinking the challenge of big alpine climbs and long days in the wilderness was definitely worth it. 

After UTS, Dawn used the Val d’Aran 100k to test herself on technical trails and confirm her training and her foot care approach were working. “Consistency of foot care was key throughout the summer,” she explains. There were only weeks between the races, but she wanted to secure the double Running Stones that Val d’Aran race completion awards (as a Major in the UTMB World Series, a finish there gives runners more opportunities in the UTMB Finals lottery - where Dawn was eyeing the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc… more on that below!). 

The Tor des Géants TOR330 is a legendary endurance challenge in the Italian Alps, covering 330 km (205 miles) and 24,000 m of ascent. It is notoriously difficult as runners have to navigate long stretches without support, staying autonomous, then benefiting from “life bases” where they can restock from their drop bags. 

Having planned to do the race without a crew, Dawn knew that meticulous planning and self-sufficiency would be critical. Here’s her recipe for completion:

1. Systematic Foot Care at Every Major Stop

At every mountain refuge and life base, Dawn followed a set routine, almost like a checklist so she didn’t have to think on course and possibly forget any part of it:

Shoes and socks off, immediately

• Feet aired properly (not just untying laces, but bare feet exposed to air, particularly as it was hot throughout) 
• Old cream wiped away, skin assessed
• Fresh TrailSkin Trench Cream applied under the feet before setting off
• Clean, dry socks put on, often prepped with cream inside before she went to sleep during her longer stops (a great tip so you don’t forget it!)

She also carried race tins of TrailSkin products (including the Anti-Chafe Salve for any hot spots) plus a spare pair of socks in her pack for the long 20–24 hour stretches between drop bags. At one critical point, she stopped for about 30 minutes to completely air and reset her feet when they started to feel sensitive. She’s convinced that decision (and having the right products on hand) was the difference between a repeat of the Arc of Attrition levels of damage and finishing the Tor with “feet that were absolutely fine.”

2. Hydrated, Not Hardened

One of Dawn’s biggest learnings is that the old idea of “hardening your feet” doesn’t serve you well in multi-day mountain ultras. Instead, she tends to focus on removing calluses regularly so they don’t crack, while keeping skin supple and hydrated. This helped her withstand friction and moisture from sweat in a hot summer race that goes on for multiple days, such as the Tor des Géants.

TrailSkin formulas supported this approach, helping her skin become resilient over hundreds of kilometres.

3. Confidence Through Consistency

Tor des Géants is not just a physical test; it’s a mental one, involving:

• Days of sleep deprivation (Dawn estimates only about two total hours of actual sleep over six days)
• Long stretches alone on the trail, making all her own decisions
• Managing altitude, weather, fuelling, and navigation

Because she trusted her foot care routine and had seen it work at UTS, Val d’Aran, and long training days, she could free up mental bandwidth to focus on pace, safety, and problem-solving, instead of constantly worrying about what was happening inside her shoes.

By the time she reached the later stages of Tor, she could keep moving with intent, backed by thorough preparation and the quiet confidence that her feet would hold. She also had a very clear mantra: “I am not giving up, I’ll only stop if I physically cannot move or get timed out.” Luckily, she didn’t need to worry about either, finishing this iconic event in a fantastic time of 137 hours 31 minutes 12 seconds.

From Pain to Possibility

Dawn’s journey from the trench-foot misery of Arc of Attrition to a strong finish at Tor des Géants isn’t just about products, but a mindset shift and a very careful approach to training and racing. She moved from not considering critical elements of performance like foot care, to understanding its impact. Of course, TrailSkin didn’t do the climbing for her or carry her through the cold nights, but it removed one of the biggest limiting factors in long ultras: damaged, painful feet that force you to slow down, or stop altogether.

In Dawn’s words, her feet went from being her biggest concern to a quiet strength. And that change unlocked the physical and mental space for her to take on one of the most gruelling races in the world and come out the other side not just intact, but proud of what she’d achieved.

Dawn’s story is a reminder that sometimes the biggest breakthroughs can come from taking care of the things that carry you there mile after mile. In 2026, she’ll get to prove that again, having got a successful draw in the UTMB! We’ll be looking forward to her new summer adventures.

As you plan for your new goals and exciting days out, remember to look after your feet, but also the rest of the body that carries you through. Have a look at our new Revival Ritual bundles to soothe aching muscles and indulge the senses after a long day out, or get methodical about foot care with the Endurance and Arc special edition bundle. 

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