Lace Locker, keep your laces from coming undone!

First off, I was offered a pair of Lace Lockers from the inventor herself, Carol “Stash” Stanley. I was not paid for this review, besides being given the product for free. 

It’s a simple yet very effective device for holding your shoe laces not only tied, but also from flopping around. With your laces placed inside the velcro attached device, your shoes can’t come untied. 

I use to use an elastic lace type in my running shoes, but have since switches to just the laces that come in with the shoes I wear. I get a better snug on my laces. 

I place the Lace Locker device, like the instructions show and explain, and it does what it says. 

From just walking around with the laces places inside, I don’t have to double knot my laces any longer, knowing that there is no way the laces will be able to undo themselves from the Lace Locker. 

I only ran the back of the Lace Locker through the top of the laces, as they sit on top of the shoe's tongue. I have since placed this stiff part of the back of the Lace Locker running down three laces. 

The initial set up, of placing the Lace Locker on each shoe, takes just a few more seconds than actually using them from then on. After they are installed, simply tie your shoes like normal, place the laces down through the Lace Locker and fold over the velcro top. DONE!  Very quick and easy. 

Check them out for yourself. 

They are sold in a few stores, but most definitely online at LACE LOCKER

Figured it out, kind of, still looking to get new shoes

So last week I was brought down by a blister on my right heel. The rest of the week, I focused on other training without running. Wearing flip-flops as much as possible. 

The blister is healing well. I was able to get a short but very effective training run in on Saturday morning. Focusing on power and speed, getting my heart rate up in Zone 4.  The muggy weather made it tough, but the workout was just what I needed. 

In the process the night before, putting out my shoes, I noticed the laces were broken on my right shoe. This is what was causing the slipping/rubbing on the right heel causing the blister. 

I swapped shoes, to an other pair I often run in, and no slipping. I guess I could have replaced just the laces, but there wasn't time, so I opted just to run in the other shoes. It worked out perfect. 

Broken laces that caused the rubbing and the blister to begin with

The shoes I have been since running in. I am looking into getting a new pair of shoes not just or the training but the race in November. 

Adjusting my training schedule and healing a blister

This past week I have had some great workouts after returning from a brief vacation. For my training I am wearing both my Suunto Spartan WHR to capture my courses as well as my heart rate info. Synched to it is my Stryd Running Power Meter.  I am hoping to increase my strength and speed over the course of the training program. 

Next week I will start adding a weight program into my training. 

Also on my training run this past weekend I was able to get out on the steepest part of the run course. I know I need to update my shoes, to be a more "trail" running shoe, but the shoes I wore, were okay. The steep incline had my foot riding in the back of my shoe more and caused some rubbing. Enough rubbing that the last mile of the 4.5 mile run was a little rough. The rubbing caused a good size blister to occur. My goal now is to figure out a plan to cover it so it can heal fast and I can get out running still. Another goal I have is to find the perfect sock/shoe combination to eliminate the blister situation. 

Do you have any tried and true remedies for fixing this issue fast? I would love to hear and try anything. I am open to your suggestions. Comment or follow me on Twitter @timhakr. 

Link Laces

Link Laces provided me with a pair of their easy to use elastic shoe laces to test out and review.  The shoe laces I typically wear in my running or triathlon shoes, I have used my homemade version of this type of product, but I was willing to try theirs and see what they were all about. Inside the package you will find two elastic, no tie shoe laces which are pre-measured.  Each piece of elastic lace measures 38 inches, or just over three feet in length. Also inside the package are the locking devices, a simple squeeze to release clip.  Lace your shoes like normal and attach the lock where you would normally tie the laces.  Allow three or four inches of lace to extend beyond the lock and attach the end clip to keep the end of the laces together.  They are comfortable in any type of shoe that require shoe laces. I like to use these types of shoe laces as they keep tension on my foot as it expands and contracts with my shoe as I am running or walking.  When it comes to a quick transition in a triathlon, shoe laces like this help save time. They are great for kids and those who have trouble tying shoes.  These are also a great idea for kids whose shoes are constantly coming untied. 

Link Laces would like to extend an offer with a coupon for 25% off a pair of laces for readers of my blog. You can purchase them directly off Amazon's site. 

Here is the directly URL for the offer:  http://bit.ly/locklaces
Coupon code: TRIHAK01

Elastolace

Elastolace’s provided me with a pair of their easy to use elastic shoe laces.  The shoe laces I typically wear in my running or triathlon shoes I have used my homemade version of this product. I was willing to try the Elastolaces and see what they were like. Inside the package you will find two elastic, no tie shoe laces are pre-measured.  They measure 42 inches in length. Also inside the package are the locking devices, a simple squeeze to release clip.  Lace your shoes like normal and attach the lock where you would normally tie the laces. Give the lace extra space before attaching the end clip to keep the end of the laces together.  They are comfortable in any type of shoe with laces. I like to use them, due to the tension on the elastic laces expand and contract with my foot as I am running, keeping the shoe tight on my foot. They are great for kids and those who have trouble tying shoes or kids who find their shoes coming untied all the time.  I like how they come with extra tips for the laces, if you should decide to switch shoes you are wearing them in. 

Two Weeks in and Going Strong

Only two weeks into 2015 and I am feeling strong.  I have kept up with the "at least a mile a day" that was just for the month of December.  I am wearing my Training Mask off and on.  I am starting the hunt for a new pair of running shoes wanting to save my Hoka One One's, which I love.  I am working on setting up my work out at home to be more than just the jump rope, plyo box, bicycle rollers and running.

SOLE Footbeds a cure for "hot feet"

 I use SOLE footbeds to replace, literally, "the liners" shoe companies put inside their shoes. The liners in both running shoes and everyday walking shoes really provide no support I have found.  However, replacing them with SOLE footbeds provides the comfort and support your foot needs.  I replace even my cycling shoes (both road and mountain bike) with SOLE footbeds.  I used to suffer from what cyclist call "hot foot".  It was a burning pain in the ball of my foot moving towards my toes. To me it occurred on long rides or rides with a lot of climbing. The burning is really not heat but rather pressure on nerves in the foot that create a burning like sensation. Dumping or squirting water on your feet will not put the "fire" out. The sensation is caused from wearing too tight of shoe. Here are a few tips of how you can remedy the "hot foot" burning pain.
    1. Use a Thin Sport SOLE custom footbeds and/or thinner socks such as the Lightweight Sport SOLE sock.  This will give your foot more room to swell with out restriction. 
    2. Adjust your shoe straps. Keep the straps closest to your toes (near the bottom of the shoe) the loosest for more room.
    3. Sometimes re-focusing the pressure helps.  Do this by moving your cleats to the rear by as much as 8 mm which sometimes means drilling new holes in the bottom of your cycling shoe. You will want to lower your saddle about the same distance you have moved the cleat back. 
    4. With shoes coming from European manufacturers, sometimes the toe box runs small.  Look for a pair with a wide toe box and a stiff sole.

Making your own speed laces!

I have never bought a pair of name brand speed laces. Some have been given to me by others, or in goodie-bags, but I still prefer to make my own. With every new pair of running shoes I buy I purchase the supplies to make a set. Having trouble with my normal laces early on I had to adjust how I lace my shoes. Now with the elastic type laces it allows my feet to expand when landing and give my feet room in the shoes. I purchase two lace locks at .30 each and 6 yards of elastic cord, 3 yards for each shoe. Tax included it only costs $2.59, compare that to $5 to $8 at the store. There is sometimes a good variety of colors of both lace locks and cord to choose from.