When you begin running, your feet are often the source of a lot of aches and pains. Part of this is due to conditioning and your body adapting to the stress of your feet pounding the pavement. The seasoned runner comes to understand that shoes also play a huge role in running comfort, and knowing how to properly tie running shoes can help.
4 Ways to Properly Tie Your Running Shoes
- Window Lacing: One way to increase comfort is to apply window lacing to any part of the foot that is getting too much pressure. This typically occurs at the arch or at the box of the foot. Adding window lacing just to this part of your lacing scheme allows the foot to get some relief from the bondage of lacing while still providing adequate support for the rest of the foot. Window lacing is simple. Simply unlace your shoe to the point of the pressure. Instead of re-lacing in crisscross fashion, lace straight up one eyelet giving a break in the cross-patterned support. Then, resume lacing as normal. It really does create a window for your foot, and it gives your foot some room.
- Runner’s Loop: If you feel like your heel is lifting when you run, or your foot is sliding forward and toes hitting the front end of your shoe, you need to try a runner’s loop. That last hole (eyelet) on the top of the shoe that is rarely used is actually made for this loop. In order to lace your shoes this way, you actually start with a normally laced shoe. Then, you make a loop with that last hole (on the same side), and pull the lace on the opposite side through the loop. Effectively, you get a different support system that holds your foot down instead of simply securing it. This is especially helpful if you have custom inserts (orthotics) because they tend to lift the heel a little higher than average.
- Diagonal Lacing: The toe box of certain shoes can be very restrictive and limit the natural motion of the foot. If this is a problem, diagonal lacing could be the solution. This is a very different lacing scheme because the first lace from the big toe extends all the way to the top eyelet, so the lace extends diagonally up the front of the foot without entering any other eyelets. The other side of the lacing continues diagonally then straight across, one eyelet at a time until reaching the top. The shoe is then tied normally.
- Skipping an Eyelet: Skipping an eyelet in the lacing process (on both sides) will actually make the shoe tighter, which is great for narrow feet. If you are suffering from insecure lacing and looking for a way to cinch the shoe together a little bit more, simply skipping an eyelet can work wonders.
Every foot is a little bit different, which is why there are so many running shoe styles available. Once you have found the perfect shoe, it is still going to take the perfect lace pattern to secure your foot in a way that increases safety and comfort. Some of the most experienced runners aren’t aware of the many lace patterns available to enhance the security of their foot, which is why it is important to get running shoes fitted in a professional location. Shoe experts are well-versed in lacing patterns and will have the unique lacing solution that best fits your needs.
At Omega Sports, we offer free foot scans and fitting evaluations in order to pair you with the perfect shoes and laces for increased safety and performance. Contact us at this link, and schedule a fitting today. Your running experience will improve with proper foot gear.
